So yeah, I love films, and I even attend a local film school. We have this screenwriting class, and we are supposed to come up with a magnificent three-act story for a short film. This is not to ask you what to write, I realize that’s my job.
I never thought it could be so difficult for me, I simply can’t think of anything…I feel awful. Everyone’s got their little stories and I’ve got nothing. I think maybe, if I can’t do this then I shouldn’t be in film school. Do you have any advice on how to handle this situation?
2007-09-25 06:33:02 · 5 answers · asked by amrf-4 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Fortunately, the director of a film isn't the one who comes up with the stories. Even if screenwriting isn't your forte, you can still have a future in directing--which is more about telling a story someone else has written, and getting the actors to tell it the way you want it told, than it is coming up with the story itself.
What's your favorite thing about films: the photography, the characters, the action, or something else?
Start with that one element. Let's say you love the characters the most. What kind of character do you think would be a perfect main character? OK--a young woman who grew up poor but has a secret past. Then go from there--who are the people around her, what happens to her, what's different at the end of the film?
You can go through this exercise with just about any part of a film--a great setting, a single action scene, whatever. Start there, and build outwards, and before you know it, you'll have more story than you know what to do with.
Good luck! I'm sure you'll find your stride soon.
2007-09-25 06:48:53 · answer #1 · answered by Elissa 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First, if you do start directing in real life, you'll have a screenwriter, so don't let that get to you.
Second, I'm guessing most of your classmates won't come up with a "magnificent story." There aren't that many around, ha!
Finally, maybe you can write about a brilliant film student who can't find a story to tell. This student goes online to find help from the rest of the world.
2007-09-25 13:44:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Give yourself a break. Everyone hits what is called "writer's block" in which you blank when you need to come up with an idea. What you should do is sit down and play "what if" games with yourself. What if the garden gnomes come alive at night? What if my car became a space ship? What if this film was the hit of Sundance next year? What if I had decided to be a chef rather than film director? Keep going and soon you should be rolling in ideas.
2007-09-25 13:39:32 · answer #3 · answered by Jess 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do your best, think of something from your life, write about a screen writer who's under a deadline and can't come up with a story,LOL!!!!!!!! This is just a lesson, they want you to understand ALL of the aspects of film making. As a Director, you will not be responsible for writing scripts. To be a good Director you should know how scripts are written and be able to choose a good one. Alot of things in school are absolutely maddening and have nothing to do with the area that you want to focus on. You just have to suck it up and deal. Good luck :)
2007-09-25 13:44:08 · answer #4 · answered by sheyna 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Read the internet. watch tv. Go take a walk. Sooner or later, something will inspire you.
2007-09-25 13:40:54 · answer #5 · answered by theCATALYST 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋