Something I do when I outline, write, and rewrite is visualize the scenes. It helps me think of ideas and find problems with the story and characters. I visualize the action, the locations, objects, where characters are standing/sitting/etc., and what’s going on in the background.
I also act out scenes sometimes. It also helps me think of ideas and find problems with the story and characters.
Do you visualize your scenes or act out scenes? Or is there something else you do when you work on a scene?
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Maurice Vaughan, I have no choice but to visualize scenes. I pretty much do it to such an extent that I see everything. I get a premise in my mind and then have an entire script written out in a couple of hours. I don`t act anything out, fortunately. I am defnitely not made to be an actor.
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That's really impressive, Wyman Brent! Writing an entire script in a couple of hours. A feature script?
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Maurice Vaughan, writing out a 30 minute script for one of my animated shows such as What the Mack?
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That's still really impressive, Wyman Brent!
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Maurice Vaughan, thank you. I am on the extreme spectrum of creative synesthesia. Then add having ADHD with hyperfocus. I just move fast. It is the same with my songs, each one written in less than five minutes. I have written more than 200 starting in April this year. That is in addition to developing four TV series, four films and a stage musical. All starting in April.
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Maurice Vaughan I definitely envision it as I write it, hard not to!
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You're welcome, Wyman Brent. Congratulations on getting so much done! And when I act out scenes, it's just basic stuff anyone can do.
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That's great, Rosie Schreiber. Yeah, it's hard not to. Do you picture the movie trailer when you outline a script? It helps me think of scenes, characters, dialogue, locations, props, technology, vehicles, clothes/accessories/etc. for characters, twists, etc.
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When I'm about to start writing a script, I start visualizing every moment of every scene so I can write the scene more accurately and I can figure out the best angles to shoot these scenes.
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Great, Dris Abdel-Rahim. I'm sure visualizing scenes is helpful for actors, directors, cinematographers, etc.
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How can you write scenes without visualizing them? I have acted out some fight scenes with some fellow martial artists.
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Hi, Debra Holland. Having martial artists or actors to act out scenes would be great! Did you have the scenes recorded to watch later and take notes?
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yes it all starts with a tiny idea. then that idea would turn into a tiny movie playing in my head and I would visualize and I would whisper possible lines to myself for dialogue… so yeah I agree it’s kind of hard not to visualize when creating a story.
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Yes, I visualize like mad. I've made gun pew-pew gun noises writing action and my wife looked at me like: "there he is writing again..." But that level of engagement is really good, and I wouldn't write something (yet at least) if I can't see it or feel it.
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Michael Dzurak, I gave up making pew-pew noises when our horses ran off to another farm just to get away from me.
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Haha Michael Dzurak! I do that with sounds. I mentioned this to RB in his Coffee and Content blog last Sunday. I'm going to start coming up with the sounds and scores in my head when I outline and write scenes, like I'm actually listening to the sounds and scores in the movie.
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great question Maurice Vaughan - yeah, for sure I do. Definitely a believer that the screenwriter is the first actor to play that part, so that leads to some behavior, even if just imagined. Plus, putting yourself in that world is great source of inspiration, no?
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You're right, Sebastian Tudores. And something else writers can do is visualize themselves walking around story worlds and interacting with characters and things, like playing a video game. Who knows what ideas, scenes, etc. writers could come up with that way.
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Write a video game script. That should help. Be prepared for HARD work.
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Hey, Jon Shallit. I've been thinking about it.
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Multiple story lines. A butterfly flaps its wings and you have a tornado across the world.
Thanks for the heads-up, Jon Shallit!
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I think about those actors who have participated in my earlier projects. When I hear their voices in my head, I hear how the dialogue will sound when it is filmed.
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Maurice, I like to visualize my scenes...especially locations, places where characters sit or stand, and what the characters might be saying.
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That definitely helps with dialogue, Göran Johansson.
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Hey, Jim Boston. Great. Visualizing where characters sit or stand has helped me a lot. And it makes a difference in a scene if a character is sitting or standing.
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Charles Dickens had a mirror on the wall steps away from his writing desk and in creating his indelible characters would walk up to the mirror and contort his face in various ways and speak in the manner of whatever character he was creating at that moment.
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Eric Christopherson, I did that too until I got tossed out of the coffee shop.
I like that, Eric Christopherson! I'm going to try it with my phone camera. Thanks for sharing that.
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Maurice Vaughan No, but I do envision the posters! :D
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Rosie Schreiber, I envision coffee and donuts, but maybe I am the only one.
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Wyman Brent haha
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Great, Rosie Schreiber. I envision the posters too. I also make them for my scripts.
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Maurice Vaughan Shutup! I thought I was the only one who does that hahahah i use pen usually and sketch it out. LOL
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Do you make posters on the computer too, Rosie Schreiber?
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Maurice Vaughan No! I never go that far haha but i sketch it and then imprint in in my head thru the script, it also helps me remember the main external goal for the main characters in the scripts <3
That's great, Rosie Schreiber. If you ever decide to make posters on the computer, I suggest using Canva. I use it.
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Maurice Vaughan I have made moodboards on canva for a couple of novels I wrote, so same thing, but haven't done it for my scripts yet! OOOH that just gave me an idea! #staytuned
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I love when that happens, Rosie Schreiber. Ok, I will.