I should probably put the script away for a week or so and remember that I have a life, but I can't. I just can't. I am tinkering obsessively.
I moved up a scene where my male and female lead meet, so now they're not meeting at a post office where they can move around and interact with things around them; they're essentially meeting in a car. So I have to figure out a way to reveal necessary exposition while doing that whole - I kind of hate you but am also kind of attracted to you - thing, while also having my characters react appropriately to some serious shit that just went down, while also being funny in an absurd kind of way. It's a lot to ask out what is almost all dialogue.
In the end I spent about three days one what turned out to be a three page scene. I tried every permutation. At one point I had a gun go off, which made the driver swerve and crash the car. I did this just to inject something interesting into what was becoming a really boring conversation and I hated it. In the end, I had to ramp up their reactions. They were way too calm about the whole thing, when one of my strengths in comedy is giving characters absurd situations and letting them react. Once again, I needed to stop thinking so much and let my brain do its thing.
In working that thought, I also realized that this guy would be afraid of her and would have his gun on her, and she'd be afraid of him and would have her gun on him. Before, he had his gun out but she was oddly calm because somehow she knew he wouldn't shoot her. She knew because I knew. Didn't work.
I had a scene where two people explained their exposition to each other. Now I have two people in a car who try to get information while each thinks the other one is trying to kill him/her.
That took three days but it was worth it.
like the blog, don't like the blog title.
ReplyDeletei thought we agreed on 80s!!!!!!!
also, your word verification is forcing me to type some racist words to type this message. N-word this, C-word that, F-this, S-that.
Wow.
Woohoo more explosive! More pop always good. Like a blister in the scene.
ReplyDeleteGreat, now I'm going to be humming 80s punk all day. Least I found a sweet live version.
Emily, you are a winner. Good for you. It's all about progressing and writing. Sad, I just finished reading a forum which I will not name, where the members post what they wish to become and "pat" themselves on their own back for their celebrating their "comfort zone" and nebulus vision, without telling us about their own progress or real success stories.
ReplyDeleteGood for you Emily for being a leader and realistic screenwriter.
We all could use more realistic writers like yourself in these forums.
Jennifer
Man, this sounds like a really good movie. Can't wait to see it.
ReplyDelete