Dem Bones of Dramatic Structure

I think I've always known I was going to teach--professionally.

But to be honest, I imagined that my professorship would occur in the winter of my years, where I would  sport a white beard, smoked a pipe and tossed a scarf around my neck for dramatic effect. But time and circumstance don't always adhere to our plans, so I find myself in the early fall of my years, still a strapping young man, happily working my professional gigs and teaching in a college or holding workshops in various communities. 

Even in my youth there was always a particular joy I got in breaking things down, de-constructing them and then explaining them in a way that people understood how the darn thing actually works.  This is what I do in my screenwriting or film and TV related courses.

I stand on the premise that there is structure and there are fundamental elements in dramatic writing.  It's not just an outpouring of formless inspiration.

Of course there are some filmmakers or writers who make it look easy--who just pour it out like the final project was pre-made and they're just laying it down.  The reason they can do that is because the fundamental and often intrinsic structures that give shape to well-wrought drama (or comedy) has been grafted into their DNA.  In other words, the underlying foundational elements of good dramatic structure has been so molded into their consciousness, that they can often crank out good work instinctually.  That is not to say they don't work hard to do it or make it better, it's just that they've mastered the fundamentals so darn well.

Dem dramatic bones!

How else can Woody Allen (please try to divorce your feelings about his personal life from his professional achievements!) crank out movies year after year, or J.K. Rowling write such world building work or Stephen King hammer out books like he's a one-man printing press?  It's simple: they know the fundamentals.

That's what I teach in my class.  I like to say I give students the bones of dramatic structure. Then, through the individuality of their own creative expressions, they will put the skin and muscle (or fat!) on those bones. Thus each body of work will ultimately differ from the other as you and I differ from each other.  No need to go further with that analogy. You get it. ( I hope! If not, write me.)

So, in the pursuit of building those bones I always start with the number one guiding principal for me when it comes to writing movies.  I'll discuss what that is, and more, in my next post.

My Crack, And Yours

Let me put this out there: I have never used crack. And I feel ultimately confident that I never will use crack. There.

That being said, I admit I do sometimes understand the need to have one's senses revved up and the brain cells firing on all cylinders.  (Supposedly that's what crack and some other illegal drugs do for some people.)  As writers gaping at the blank page or anybody else who stares into the white space of a Google query or at a growing stack of paperwork to sort through, we often find ourselves in these soul-dampened, brain numbing moods.  At these times it feels easier to take a nap or lay about on the couch watching "Jersey Shore." So how do you kick start your batteries to put you in that Rocky workout montage mind set where you feel ultimately confident, charged up and ready to fly now-- without smoking crack?

It varies for every person, but identifying your personal battery chargers can be key to achieving success.

We all get down, tired, sluggish, weary, anxiety worried and just damn lazy at times.  Yet, there is a consistent part of our brain that knows we must get off our ass, write the pages, be focused, make smart decisions and maximize each minute in our day so we can ultimately finish the screenplay, get the movie made, publish the book, sort through those papers so we can take that trip, purchase that car or buy a beach house on a Jersey shore.  Whatever.

In the next few posts I will share with you my crack supply.

These are things that keep me fired up and moving when I don't feel like doing the right thing.  Perhaps these tricks of my trade can help you too, or at the very least, help you identify what your particular crack is.  I do not condone the use of illegal drugs, but if some of these tips make sense, if they can be an emotional or mind lifting drug to help you achieve all that you dream, then by all means, puff puff, pass (it on).

Stay tuned!

Writer's Addiction

We all know the Internet is an amazing, powerful tool.  With it, we're getting close to that Star Trek onboard computer where you ask it anything and you'll get some kind of answer.  (Trekkie sidebar: I'm really waiting for the holodeck!) However, for all its collective wisdom, cool things to do, read and interact with, the Internet can be a dangerously addictive distraction for writers.

Most times, after you've read your email, tweeted and checked your Facebook account, your most probable foray into the cyber universe is labeled under "research."  And it all starts so innocently.  You tip toe into that Google portal (still don't understand why I should use Bing) searching for a list of Ben Franklin's 13 Virtues and before you can say, heavens to murgatroid, you find yourself spiraling through an Internet wormhole taking you to fifteen new sites that have nothing to do with your "research," reading celebrity web sites and even landing on some order page whipping out your credit card.

So, how to prevent being sucked down the Internet rabbit hole?  Let me offer a few suggestions:

1.  Set your computer clock to announce the time.  I've got mine set at 30 minute intervals.  Oftentimes all it takes is her (yes I've personalized it) shouting the time to awaken me to the fact that I started "research" a half hour ago and I still haven't returned to my script.

2. Close all those open tabs.  The more tabs you have open, the easier it is to just flip into that world rather than working out the mechanics of a difficult scene.

3.  Create an Internet Want To Do List.  This can be a physical pad on your desk or a computer file with bookmarks.  Whatever works for you.  If you find an interesting site, just jot it down and come back  later. Trust me it'll be there.

4.  Fight for Focus.  Look at Internet time wasting as addictive. And like any addict you will oftentimes convince yourself that I'll only look at this one Facebook page, click this one button or read this one celebrity photo. However, you must constantly fight temptation and remind yourself of what you should really be doing with your time at this particular moment.

Don't fool yourself. Admit that you have an addiction; then write.  That's the fix.  And keep in mind that the world, and yes the Internet too, is waiting--hungrily waiting-- for your wonderful work. But you have to get it done first.  Now get off this blog and go write something. I'll be here with something new when you get back.