The Screenplay

A script, may seem like a simple document when one looks at it. In fact a script is less a document, and more like a breathing animal. You pour your heart and ideas on to a page, and as the production goes on the script changes and grows, hopefully for the better.  The first draft will always be my most daunting part of the production. A blank word document is an open canvas, that stares at you, almost taunting you with its emptiness.

Steven Moffat, the showrunner of Doctor Who and Sherlock, said the art of good writing is making the reader want to read the next sentence. This is something I grasped early in the process, we obviously want people to read the screenplay to the end, and if they don't, its safe to say we've failed. I believe the trick is to acknowledge that each word is important, even the smallest word can help define a mode and the story. This isn't to say you should be in your thesaurus every other word, that curbs on the pretentious.

I have written scripts before, two, two scripts and they have gotten me nowhere, but from writing them, I have learnt multiple things, one of them being write as quick as possible. This not only gets your ideas out onto a page quicker, but also makes it easier to finish the script, and I have a lot of unfinished scripts due to me taking my time.

I recently rushed out the first draft of my upcoming project, 'Dance again', it took me a day. It's only ten pages, I rushed out the first draft and spent the day checking it, making sure everything is OK and it made sense. I cut scenes, changed dialogue, and tried to develop characters more.

I now ended up with a script that I think is my best, and Richard Curtisesk (which is only ever a good thing). It's subtle and sweet, and is the style I want to achieve. I then have sent out the script, to people who I know to try and find any hiccups. All feedback so far has been positive, I have had zero notes, which you could say it is good. I was pretty impressed how these people couldn't find any problems with it, and they weren't just being nice, I'd rather they rip it apart then worry about my feelings.

In my gut, I know I have something special here, and I know have months to makes sure that the story is perfect, as my friend said 'there's always room for improvement.' I am sceptical about sharing my script so early on, I want people to be surprised when they see the film, but I have promised to show the process from script to screen, so here is a link to the script, I hope you enjoy it, and any notes, or ideas please email me.

Link to Dance again: http://terryhall11.wix.com/script#!screenplays/ckys

Email: Terryhall_11@hotmail.co.uk

Till next time, Terry. x

Dance Again concept sketch. 

Drama Project 2016

OK, OK I know, this could possibly be getting ahead of myself. 2015 is still young and I shouldn't be wishing away my time away, cherish it and blah, blah, blah. I know all that, however, 2016 is going to be an exciting year, the year I finish my undergraduate study, and hopefully move on to study (maybe) Television Drama, Masters degree (again maybe). 

While there is a lot of uncertainty about my future, a lot of maybes, a lot of roads I could take. There is a certain, to graduate my course, I have to produce a 10 minute original drama. Something I've always wanted to do, is to blog the stages of the production. This final drama, feels like the perfect opportunity to show you how a film grows, from a blank piece of paper, to a ten minute piece. 

Granted, it doesn't sound like the biggest task, a ten minute film, pft, try making an hour, or a two hour film. Today however, productions have multiple outlets, where work can be shown, and different spaces have different attention spans. Face it when you click on Youtube and see '20  Minute short film' next to '10 Minute short film' you're more likely to watch the 10  minute film. Like wise for the cinema, you've gone for a day out, you've paid money, if its less then 90 minutes, you're likely to feel ripped off. 

So my film maybe short, but this no negotiable time, helps me place where my film should go, and the audience that come with that format. The short running time, also makes it a perfect chance for it to be entered into film festivals. I have entered a film  into a festival before, a film which I knew would fail to make the cut, but once promises have been made 'yes I'm entering it into a film festival' its hard not to go back on that. 

Now is the perfect time to research festivals and to find the dates. See if you can work them around your production, and see if your film needs to fit into any rules. 

2016 Film festivals: 
Sundance - (currently accepting submissions) Festival dates - January 21st -31st 2016 
London Short Film Festival - (currently accepting submissions) Festival dates - January 8th - 17th 2016 
Berlinale - Festival dates - February 11 - 21st 2016
Manchester Film festival  (currently accepting submissions) Festival dates- March 3rd  - 6th 2016
Glasgow Films Festival (accepting submissions 31st August -16 November) - Festival dates- March 16 - 20 2016 

All the festivals I have listed have relatively early submission dates, and for me personally, the submission dates would be impossible, preproduction on my film wouldn't begin till late January. If you are unlike me though and are well scheduled, and already have a film, give the festivals a Google and submit. For most festivals they will charge a submission fee, the more prestigious the festival, the  higher the submission fee, but, if you believe in your film, and think it needs to be seen, then get it out there. SUBMIT! 'Just do it' - Shia Labeouf 2015. 

For us least prepared, (the filmless) we don't need  to worry, as history repeats itself. So if you really want to submit to say Sundance, but you've missed the submission dates, then wait for the next one. Its good practice to look around other festivals, most festivals post updates on the films, and their makers, letting you get a grasp on what other people are producing.

So we've looked about and seen the ways we can get out film out their, my first priority is to produce a film that earns me a first in my degree, but I would like to get it out there, not collecting dust on Youtube. 

But the first step we must take, is getting an idea, and a good idea is like a good fart. You get one every now and again, and when you do get one, you want to share it with people, and feed of their reaction. Like farts however, nobody wants to smell your idea, if your friends and families are like mine, yes their supportive and want you to succeeded, but frankly they don't care. You can spend hours wafting the best idea in their face and all they're going to say 'yeah its good', you want to know what's good about it, what is bad about it, but when it comes to family and friends you might as well ask a wall. 

This is where its good to know other people who, also want to work in that industry, to test you're idea on. They understand the  process and will be able to tell you where their highs and lows of the idea is, and if its worth pursuing. This stage is horrifying, it feels like standing in the middle of boxing ring, with no defence, just waiting to receive that killer blow from Mike Tyson. 'I don't get it' is something nobody ever wants to hear, but if it keeps coming back and people are not grasping the concept, then maybe think of moving onto another idea. 

If you don't have any one to talk to, you can email me, if you like, I'm more then happy to talk though ideas, and listen to people, email me: Terryhall_11@hotmail.co.uk 

Being scared of someone stealing you're idea, is a stupid reason not to test your idea. Social anxiety is a pain, but you have to break through and trust people. Nobody is going to steal you're idea, and if they do, BIG IF, and your film sells for millions at the box office, move on, ideas come and go, there will be more. One of my ideas recently became a TV programme, 'You, me, and the Apocalypse' coming to Sky One, is an idea me and the writer must of shared, because I wrote a proposal, and I left it to collect dust, every now and again I'd return to it, and think 'Someone should make this' and so someone did. I was upset at first, yes I felt robbed, my idea, just gone, but so what, theirs millions of people trying to produce and make television and of course people are going to have the same ideas. Just make sure you're the first one to produce the piece, and don't get beaten to the punch. By the way, I'm really looking forward to watching 'You, me and the Apocalypse' it looks good. 

Where do good ideas come from though? Well that's hell of a question, my ideas, so far, have been inspired by music. 

It was a cold winters night, their was no food in the flat, and my friend offered to take me to Tesco. Together we went on our quest for walkers crisp, it was late, and this song came on the radio, we didn't speak, we just listened to 'The clouds over Pompeii' by Bears Den. A beautiful song, with a man's soft voice and plucks of the guitar strings, it had highs and lows, even though the lyrics felt dreary. We got are food and rushed home, I had to Youtube the song, it was in my head. And then I saw the music video, an old man dancing by himself, but he's not sad, he's happy, happy that he's dancing, the memory of his wife, knowing she would want him to be happy. Was truly powerful. 

Its been just under a year since I first heard that song,  and I always returned to the man, the joy on his face, even though he was alone. How can he keep dancing? With his wife gone, surely the last thing you'd want to be doing is dancing. It wouldn't leave my head, and in my gut, I knew, this is the idea I should to explore with my drama, having to carry on with life, even though you've lost those who you love most. How do you learn how to dance again? 

That's where my idea for Dance Again came from. But Ideas can come from anywhere, paintings, music, film, but there not going to come to you, if you only sit behind a desk banging your head on a the keyboard, wishing an idea would come to mind. My idea came out from a shopping trip to Tesco, its by living life we learn, we experience things and then are able to share. So if you can't get an idea, stop thinking so much, get out, live life, let the idea come to you, and god knows lives to short to waste forming words on a word processor. 

And on that note good bye.

Till next time, Terry.  x

   

Four Favourite Films

The Dark Knight (2008, Nolan), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996, Trousdale), Hot Fuzz (2007, Wright), Love Actually (2003, Curtis)

This is a photo taken from one of my recent Instagram post. Four of my favourite films, and boy was it hard to choose them. Once you begin to consider all the movies you've seen, and decided to rank them, its hard too choose as they're all so different, from script, to the look, to the actors. All were taken into consideration when I was trying to choose my Fantastic four.

When asked 'What's your favourite film?' by a friend, 'The Dark Knight' rolls with easy from my tongue, with no doubt. I like most of our generation, grew up with superheroes as an ever constant in my life. We all had out favourites and mine, was Batman. I did eventually grow out of the point eared, caped crusader. Then Christopher Nolan, a new director, with the structural nightmare of the film Memento under his belt (Don't worry I like Memento, I just happen to agree with the six act structure)

Batman was back, with a welsh man, known for being an 'American Psycho' (2000, Harron) playing Bruce Wayne, the man behind the famous cowl. The campy films of my youth, were dead in an ally way, with the shadow of a new, darker, saga standing over its corpse.

Batman Begins was good, and in hindsight, a little under rated. The Dark Knight Rises (2012, Nolan) was good, and in hindsight, full of plot holes. Wedge between the two The Dark Knight, a dark gripping thrill ride, that sealed the trilogy as one of the best.

Its with no doubt, that Heath Ledger, who passed away after the films release, stole the show. He was perfect for bringing the role into this new dark treachery. I was 15, my older sister had been gloating about how she had seen the ground breaking film before me, and it wasn't until the cinemas had became empty, and the buzz had worn down, that I finally slipped into a the cinema and saw the sceptical for myself.

Never had a film, captured so much of my attention, this must of been how John Lasseter felt when he was watching Tron (1982, Lisberger). The hairs on the back of my neck never got a rest constantly on end, as I watched Batman glide on his bike and growled at the creepy Joker. This feeling became somewhat of a drug, chasing my next high when the DVD came out, watching the film constantly and it is a feeling that isn't as potent today, but it still remains my favourite.

Along with everyone favourite superheroes, we had our favourite Disney film. The bitter sweet tale of Quosimodo, become my favourite. A tale of a man who is forced to live life in the famous French church and ring the bells, whilst wishing he could live down below with the rest of us, but the evil Judge Claude Frollo, keeping him imprisoned, brainwashed into believing he's a monster, Quosimodo remains in his keep.

Fresh of the back of the success of  Beauty and the Beast, (1991) Gary Trousdale adapted from the Victor Hugo book, he was the perfect director to adapt such a dark story of lust, murder, and revenge. Granted, the film is still especially dark, scenes of the gentle hunchback, being tied down like a beast, pelted by food, is a terrifying scene, even still as an adult. The songs are not as joyous as Beauty and the Beast, with lyrics such as 'Remember what I taught you, Quasimodo. You are deforemed... You are ugly.' Its not quite 'Be Our Guest' is it.

That said the tale, with its dark tones of sex, with Frollo lusting for gypsy Esmerelda, and the heart breaking story of Quosimodo, it's an unforgettable tale, and can bring children and adult to tears and cheers, with music that will give you goosebumps every time you hear it. Frozen (2013, Buck) eat your heart out I say.

These last two films, have been constant favourites, always in the background, you forget they're there at times but when you see them on the TV guide, you can't help but stick them on. Hot Fuzz, the second film in the Pegg and Frost 'Cornetto Trilogy' and is my favourite next to the brilliant original Shaun of the Dead (2004, Wright) and the lack luster The Worlds End (2013, Wright) (which by the way is on Netflix, but this is not me recommending it).

Hot Fuzz pays homage to the action films it features, Bad Boys II (2003, Bay) and Point Break (1991, Bigelow). This film is proudly British and is a film that can be watched and watched again, with so many set ups, each joke ending with a brilliant pay off. That's what makes Hot Fuzz stick out for me, I am a film maker, and like to think that I am educated in analysing film, this film sucks you in, stops you from breaking it down, because you end up laugh, it however does follow the six act structure perfectly. It's a film that I always laugh at and is Wright, Pegg, and Frost at their peak.

Love Actually, makes me shriek with joy, Curtis inspired by films like Pulp Fiction (1994, Tarantino) created a film that many have tried to replicate, with films like New Years Eve (2011, Marshall) failing to replicate the formula. The cast is brilliant, but it has to be Bill Nighy who is the star in this film. Playing a washed up rock star Billy Mack, trying to push a 'shit' rehash of one of his original songs, now with a Christmas theme.

Alan Rickman, plays our bad guy we cant help but love who cheats on his wife. Liam Neeson struggling with the lose of his wife distracts himself helping his step son find love. My personal favourite story is Andrew Lincoln and Keira Knightly, a story I can relate with. Loving a girl who's with your friend, The story ends with a bitter sweet scene that will haunt cinema for life. This is the best example of romcom anyone can give.

This are my favourites, there's many more I could talk about, but this will remain the best and the films I admire the most.

Till next time, Terry. X