I’m really proud to have been interviewed by film courage. You really get to the heart of what’s important in terms of storytelling and all sides of the business. It’s been great to watch your platform grow.
I love her traveling analogy. That's exactly how you start a story. Bring the audience into the setting. Fill the senses of the audience with sights, sounds, smells... everything, including the thoughts, emotions, and actions of characters.
It's funny, while I was listening to her talk, I was thinking, "well, we have to do all that in games, all the time," then ...Wow, someone from outside of games who actually gets it and has respect for what we do! Thank you so very much!
When hooking the audience--which Quentin Tarantino always does from the first line--always follow through with something even more amazing. What's happening soon should always be hinted at with a bit of foreshadowing and be more interesting than what's happening right now.
I was told in a tv/film writing class is to make sure the 1st 5 pages (5 min) bitchin. Something compelling, exciting or mysterious. Keep the reader interested in turning the page. Of course the entire story needs to be interesting, but the question was about the start. Make sure to fully flesh out your characters before you put them into your story. That way you already know what type of people you’re telling the viewing audience about. It really is overwhelming if you don’t prep before you write. Best of luck everyone. I personally feel that my dream for being an employed screenwriter isn’t going to happen. That’s fine, cuz now I’m no longer in my 20’s & just about starting my 40’s my dream is to finish all of the scripts still in my mind. That way they are written and I can move on. I hate knowing that I have like 6-8 good stories I want to tell the world and they are currently dormant somewhere in my brain. Daily life /9-5 day job just zaps my energy to go home and write. To change up the creative process I like to paint. When working on a painting I easily spend like 4-5hours on it before I set my brush down. Abstract art is a great form of therapy. It clears my mind of stress and negativity. Then again it’s not all roses either. I have gotten frustrated many times and paint brushes go flying across the room 😝 ----- They say to ask yourself would you still write even if you never sold 1 page? Once you are truthful with yourself it relieves a lot of pressure. Practice is vital too. Let’s gather around everyone for a big group hug. Now go kick ass on that story. Anyone still write notes or rough draft scenes in a spiral notebook and a favorite pen? I do, but then I’m bummed I didn’t have it typed with screenwriting software..
@D Frazier I feel like it gives me a more organic feel to my story. Which is vital when you’re in the creation process. Spiral notebooks rule 😝. When I hit that road block and the writing pauses, I tend to doodle a bit too. I will draw some little trippy flower or strange design of shapes. Anything really. When I’m developing a character, I have tried sketching my character’s look. What style do they have? I don’t always do that, but I I have when I’m not getting a good visual in my mind. Like is it a stoner guy w/long hair, baggy pants , etc. I also will use like 3-4 different colors. Blue ink is dialogue, black ink is narration, red could be important camera angles, but usually that is just for me to vision the scene again when I go to rewrite my notes.
The details needed to create an immersive environment. Like your movie is a ride. This actually helps me so much in making my opening scene. Give the visitor what they came for! Thank you! I’m saving this interview.
Once I read poem. Old trees, dark sky, skinny horses. I feel so engaged in the scene immediately. It gets me thinking: there is no story in here, nothing is happening, how come a few nouns got me so engaged? It feels very meditative to be aware of what is there. I think this is the beauty of space. Instead of telling what is happening, getting the viewers into the space of the story can be even more engaging.
Another thing is that, the protagonist may starts his journey of adventure after the inciting incidents, but the viewers journey starts right at the beginning of the movie, where they enter an entirely different world. I think this is why a well designed environment is so engaging: it marks the start of a viewer's journey.
The Nest reminds me of this book I read called The Inheritance Games where an old rich guy with an obsession for riddles passed on a giant mansion and all his money to a poor seemingly random girl but in order to get it all she has to live in it with his grandsons for a year and they're trying to solve why he left it all for her instead of them.
I would think that telling a story in a non-linear fashion would help to create the effect that you are in another, unfamiliar environment. Thank you! Still another reason why Film Courage is turning my writing world upside down! I would love to know a good example of a novel that involves immersive storytelling!
I wonder if she's played the game Unpacking, because that's very much similar. Sidenote: I'm posting this here because if anyone knows the answer, people watching this video hopefully would... In a film studies class in the 90s, we watched a short film that told the story of someone's life solely through the medium of answering machines. Visually, the machine would change every now and then, to mirror the advance of time and technology. The messages on the tapes told the life story of the subject of the film. It was incredibly powerful and moving. My brain says it was 20-25 minutes long but I watched it once nearly 30 years ago, so who the heck knows. I still look online for it every few years. I've found TWO forums over the years where someone was seemingly describing that exact short... with no conclusive answer to what it was. Anyone here know? And, of course, I love Film Courage
I've practiced visualizing that I have someone in front of me and visualizing how the characters emotions are gonna sound or expression so I just explained 2 acting techniques but I haven't thought of visualizing that I'm in an actual different environment which wouldn't be that hard I've already great at the other 2.
How is this for a great opening. I've been a science fiction horror author since 2005. I sell my books on Amazon on a regular basis. I just recently finished this screenplay and now I'm turning it into a novel. Tell me if this is a great opening. Don't worry I'll be brief. A husband and wife are asleep in bed. The woman is 9 months pregnant. She suddenly goes into labor. They get rushed to the hospital. And the delivery room the doctor picks up the handheld scanner and scans the baby that was just born into his arms. There's no response. When the doctor and the nurses View the screen on the handheld scanner. There is a gasp of shock on their faces. The doctor looks at the mother and says to her...."It's...its a toy!" How's that for the beginning of a great novel?
@D Frazier Thank you for your observations. I only gave the highlights of the intro for the sake of RUclips standards. The detail's of that intro are some six pages of story. The Science Fiction story takes place near the year of 2067. The protagonist is a young 24 year old woman who is the Scientist.
I’m really proud to have been interviewed by film courage. You really get to the heart of what’s important in terms of storytelling and all sides of the business. It’s been great to watch your platform grow.
I would be too…..congrats! Love Film Courage🧡
@@cherirose6660 Thanks Cheri!
Thank U, Bryan
I love her traveling analogy. That's exactly how you start a story. Bring the audience into the setting. Fill the senses of the audience with sights, sounds, smells... everything, including the thoughts, emotions, and actions of characters.
It's funny, while I was listening to her talk, I was thinking, "well, we have to do all that in games, all the time," then ...Wow, someone from outside of games who actually gets it and has respect for what we do! Thank you so very much!
When hooking the audience--which Quentin Tarantino always does from the first line--always follow through with something even more amazing. What's happening soon should always be hinted at with a bit of foreshadowing and be more interesting than what's happening right now.
"Of course! People LOOOOVE interesting writing!" --Elaine Benes
I was told in a tv/film writing class is to make sure the 1st 5 pages (5 min) bitchin. Something compelling, exciting or mysterious. Keep the reader interested in turning the page. Of course the entire story needs to be interesting, but the question was about the start.
Make sure to fully flesh out your characters before you put them into your story. That way you already know what type of people you’re telling the viewing audience about. It really is overwhelming if you don’t prep before you write. Best of luck everyone.
I personally feel that my dream for being an employed screenwriter isn’t going to happen. That’s fine, cuz now I’m no longer in my 20’s & just about starting my 40’s my dream is to finish all of the scripts still in my mind. That way they are written and I can move on. I hate knowing that I have like 6-8 good stories I want to tell the world and they are currently dormant somewhere in my brain.
Daily life /9-5 day job just zaps my energy to go home and write.
To change up the creative process I like to paint. When working on a painting I easily spend like 4-5hours on it before I set my brush down. Abstract art is a great form of therapy. It clears my mind of stress and negativity. Then again it’s not all roses either. I have gotten frustrated many times and paint brushes go flying across the room 😝
-----
They say to ask yourself would you still write even if you never sold 1 page? Once you are truthful with yourself it relieves a lot of pressure. Practice is vital too.
Let’s gather around everyone for a big group hug. Now go kick ass on that story.
Anyone still write notes or rough draft scenes in a spiral notebook and a favorite pen? I do, but then I’m bummed I didn’t have it typed with screenwriting software..
Damn...you and I are really having the same experience. Nice:)
@D Frazier I feel like it gives me a more organic feel to my story. Which is vital when you’re in the creation process. Spiral notebooks rule 😝. When I hit that road block and the writing pauses, I tend to doodle a bit too. I will draw some little trippy flower or strange design of shapes. Anything really.
When I’m developing a character, I have tried sketching my character’s look. What style do they have? I don’t always do that, but I I have when I’m not getting a good visual in my mind.
Like is it a stoner guy w/long hair, baggy pants , etc.
I also will use like 3-4 different colors. Blue ink is dialogue, black ink is narration, red could be important camera angles, but usually that is just for me to vision the scene again when I go to rewrite my notes.
@@themoonsharksquirrel8937 me? I’m a mess 😝.
I write in the morning before work. I do what I love first. It makes the day go better.
I still write scenes on any piece of paper
The details needed to create an immersive environment. Like your movie is a ride. This actually helps me so much in making my opening scene. Give the visitor what they came for! Thank you! I’m saving this interview.
You do film?
@@J3rr3LL filing a Korean folk tale: a ghost story
Once I read poem. Old trees, dark sky, skinny horses. I feel so engaged in the scene immediately. It gets me thinking: there is no story in here, nothing is happening, how come a few nouns got me so engaged?
It feels very meditative to be aware of what is there. I think this is the beauty of space. Instead of telling what is happening, getting the viewers into the space of the story can be even more engaging.
Another thing is that, the protagonist may starts his journey of adventure after the inciting incidents, but the viewers journey starts right at the beginning of the movie, where they enter an entirely different world. I think this is why a well designed environment is so engaging: it marks the start of a viewer's journey.
As a 3-time attendant, I was super excited to hear the Sleep No More shout out! :)
The opening scene of The Matrix was a win for me.
I bought her book, it’s incredible I highly recommend it 👏🏼
Hamlet. Opens on a dark misty night. First line:
Who's there?
The Nest reminds me of this book I read called The Inheritance Games where an old rich guy with an obsession for riddles passed on a giant mansion and all his money to a poor seemingly random girl but in order to get it all she has to live in it with his grandsons for a year and they're trying to solve why he left it all for her instead of them.
I would think that telling a story in a non-linear fashion would help to create the effect that you are in another, unfamiliar environment. Thank you! Still another reason why Film Courage is turning my writing world upside down! I would love to know a good example of a novel that involves immersive storytelling!
I wonder if she's played the game Unpacking, because that's very much similar.
Sidenote: I'm posting this here because if anyone knows the answer, people watching this video hopefully would...
In a film studies class in the 90s, we watched a short film that told the story of someone's life solely through the medium of answering machines. Visually, the machine would change every now and then, to mirror the advance of time and technology. The messages on the tapes told the life story of the subject of the film. It was incredibly powerful and moving. My brain says it was 20-25 minutes long but I watched it once nearly 30 years ago, so who the heck knows.
I still look online for it every few years. I've found TWO forums over the years where someone was seemingly describing that exact short... with no conclusive answer to what it was.
Anyone here know?
And, of course, I love Film Courage
Very insightful thoughts - thank you Margaret!!!
Immersive immersive… immersive… immersive… immersive
i missed these interviews. thank you so much for sharing them (:
Welcome back!
I've practiced visualizing that I have someone in front of me and visualizing how the characters emotions are gonna sound or expression so I just explained 2 acting techniques but I haven't thought of visualizing that I'm in an actual different environment which wouldn't be that hard I've already great at the other 2.
Thanks!
Thank you David! It's great to see you find so much value in our interview with Margaret! Our best to you and your creative work!
brilliant
Love this content
First you’re really supposed to start with the thumbnail.
👋
Hook....similar to music.🤔
How you start a story sets it up
Major truth.
If she does not play dungeons and dragons... No She does!
How is this for a great opening. I've been a science fiction horror author since 2005. I sell my books on Amazon on a regular basis. I just recently finished this screenplay and now I'm turning it into a novel. Tell me if this is a great opening. Don't worry I'll be brief. A husband and wife are asleep in bed. The woman is 9 months pregnant. She suddenly goes into labor. They get rushed to the hospital. And the delivery room the doctor picks up the handheld scanner and scans the baby that was just born into his arms. There's no response. When the doctor and the nurses View the screen on the handheld scanner. There is a gasp of shock on their faces. The doctor looks at the mother and says to her...."It's...its a toy!"
How's that for the beginning of a great novel?
It certainly sets up a dramatic question
@D Frazier Thank you for your observations. I only gave the highlights of the intro for the sake of RUclips standards. The detail's of that intro are some six pages of story. The Science Fiction story takes place near the year of 2067. The protagonist is a young 24 year old woman who is the Scientist.
@@Luke_Stoltenberg Thanks.
Her Baby was born "hollowed" out. Empty of it's insides. Like a Toy baby. In other words. Organ theft from within the womb.
I love the delight of it being a toy coupled with the wtf - because it's kind of weird... and the anticipation of an explanation of what happened.