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This week's Answer:
A
Story about a Story Should
I tell you a story about how one comes up with a good
story? Nah. It's a great question, At a loss, and there
are many books and information out there about how to do
just that: come up with a good story. (Probably good stories,
too.) I'll
toss a few questions at you that might help get the wheels
moving. (Wheels moving! That's a great idea for a good
story, all about somebody who has wheels and he has to get
them moving! -- and he's up against somebody who doesn't
want that to happen! Title: Wheels!) Here
are some of those questions: 1.
What story would you like to see in a movie that would
truly intrigue you? 2.
What movie would you like to see in a story
that would truly intrigue you? (No. Skip that.) 3.
Right now, at this moment, what do you really care about? 4.
What kind of person/character would you like to see win
overcome obstacles and strong forces set against
him/her/it (if it's an animal or spirit or a monster or
creature with a heart). 5.
What do you feel or know you are devoted to? 6.
If you had to give a lot of your time to get some message,
some theme, some idea across, what would it be? (Because
that's what you will do if you write a screenplay about
it.) 7.
Have you ever wanted to write a script about something
that you've referred to as "Hey, nobody has ever
written about that"? 8.
What story idea (no matter how unusual or crazy or
outlandish) could you get passionately excited writing
about? 9.
What movie stories are you so tired of and that make you
think or say, "Something different needs to be on the
screen!" (if you shout it, wait until you leave the
theatre.) Then immediately ask yourself without thinking
too much, "What could that something different
be?" (Don't worry if nothing comes to you. Just go
back in the theatre and shout some more until it does --
or an usher escorts you out.) 10.
What or who do you love? 11.
If you could be anybody in this world, who would you be? 12.
If you were a superhero, what would be your super power? 13.
What would be your super weakness? 14.
If you only had 24 hours to live, what would you do? And,
if all of the above fails miserably... ...
you can always write a screenplay about a writer who is
trying to come up with a good story. Doug
Herman Script
Advisor
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