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This week's Answer:
Merrily
We Write Along Terry,
if you're worried about reaching the end of the script, my
advice is to, instead of starting with "FADE
IN:", just start by typing "FADE
OUT." That should do the
trick. Actually, it can take quite a bit of effort
and time to get a script "just right." I
know that "endless" feeling, which can suck the
life right out of you and cause you to want to give up or
stop trying as much or starting another script (and if you
do that, you'll probably end up with that
"endless" feeling again, which will make it
worse because now you'll have two "endless"
feelings, which is like starting with infinity and adding
more infinity to it -- and that would be quite a lot of
whatever is infinite). Sooner
or later, if you're going to be a prolific screenwriter
you're going to have to learn how to deal with this
"wall," this black hole of the script/time
continuum, this screenplay signpost up ahead.
(Sorry. I think I saw too many "Twilight
Zones.") What's called for when you come to the
realization that there is a whole heck of a lot more work
to do to get your screenplay right is a type of stamina,
realizing that it's not always exhilarating to work on a
screenplay, and that sometimes it's just a matter of doing
the next thing, writing the next scene, reading the script
again to make sure it makes sense on a certain level, or
reading the script to make sure a certain character's
emotional track works or something else that sounds very
profound as if you know what you're doing. Here's a
hint: many of don't. Many of us are just
making it up as we go along and hope nobody finds
out. Oops. I gave away the greatest
screenwriting secret known to man. Or not
known to man since it's a secret. I'll say it again,
but this is just between you, me, and whoever else has had
the good fortune to stumble across this esoteric doctrine
hidden in an innocent article. (I don't like the
name, "blog." I think I could call it
"barticle," though.) And the secret once
again and for all of your eyes only is... we're
all just making it up as we go along And
so are the agents. And
so are the managers. And
so are the producers. And
so are the studios. And
so are the critics. And
so... (am I)... Now you
can relax and just write your script until that "FADE
OUT:" feels just right. And everywhere
between that and "FADE
IN"... just
make it up as you go along. DcH
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