Screenwriting : Handling Real Life by Sara Adams

Drama is conflict. Outline your story, position your characters, give them goals and obstacles to overcome and the rest will work itself out. Don't over analyse at this stage, just write, you can review and rewrite later. A word of caution on 'real life': people usually go to the cinema, to watch extra ordinary, rather than ordinary. If your script is 'based on a true story', that only has real gravity, when what we're seeing is extra ordinary, but in a non fictional way, like 127 Hours or Erin Brockovich for example. Good luck with the script :)

Make sure you slice and marinade your meat before you warm the potatoes. If you know what I mean.

You may find it easier to "loosely base" your story on those real people in your life. Change the names, the city, alter some of the circumstances, add characters, et cetera. Basically create a fictional story inspired by true events. Writing a "true story" can be restrictive and complicated, especially since you know these people personally. Freeing yourself slightly will allow you to take creative license. Be able to push the story where it needs to go, help it fit plot structure. Those who inspired your story won't take things personally. Plus, then you won't hear "That's not what happened! I didn't say that!" Good luck! It sounds interesting!

I have written a project that is based on a murder of a relative, and many depictions of characters are essentially fictionalised, however some are, my mother and father, aunt , uncle, and others. I have done the legals of it all so I may be able to offer some advice. It isn't as complex as first thought. But every biopic is different.

Of course, then there is the old bugaboo of the murder of my aunt after my cousin wrote a full length treatment about how my uncle liked his schnitzel in bed with the pet goat while wearing her camisole. One can always produce drama to write about by writing about it before it happens. Tell a family secret and watch what happens. Most families will cooperate.

I agree, for what its worth, it will always be how well the story is told, rather than the subject matter itself. Most murders, crime and investigations really aren't that interesting at all with all the facts and contexts.

Sara, Ask the people who seem uncomfortable what they would want to see in the story, and what details would be ok to include. Getting their concerns might give you different perspectives that will help you get past that first scene. Beth's suggestion of loosely basing a story might put them at ease, as well. If someone is still uncomfortable, I wouldn't write the script as anything more than a personal writing exercise.

Write from your own perspective - this way, all the characters are fictional. You don't know the whole truth -therefore, feel free to add juicy details and cut away the boring. Please ... add your own juicy thoughts and feelings about the situation. Good luck. You can do it. It's your story - not theirs!

Feel free to change their names and appearances - completely re-imagine the characters that way they're virtually unrecognizable from the real people.

True life characters can be some of the best to create stories about. How close you are to your subject can be a double edged sword. Will the story show them in a negative light or positive? can you be objective as you tell the story? can you bring them in as a story consultant? like albert said changing the personalities of the "nervous" people and being honest about the story may be the best approach. I'm in a similar situation. I'm looking for writing partners for input and a second pair of eyes. That may be an option for you as well.

I've just completed a screenplay SHADES OF LOVE which details the experiences of a friend who had a love affair with a man behind his wife's back (she still doesn't know) His lover died and continues to help him beyond the grave It's all amazingly true. Anyway, when I told him I wanted to write a book about it (I did and called it TWO SHADES OF GAY) he was happy with the idea and liked the book but the screenplay really gets inside his head and is quite different from the book. It's a message about the power of love. I sent him each draft and he told me if it is accurate. I've now polished the script and he is flattered I\ve taken the time to dramatise his life. I was up front from the start. i think this is the best way. i changed names and the location is generic (could be Britain, USA or Australia) It was actually NZ. The message here is be open with your friend. If they agree fine. if not, best think of a story that is not directly identifiable with them.

One way out is to write it while its fresh in your mind and then save it.Time and distance will put everything in perhaps in better perspective and take some of the emotional sting out of it. I have a friend who wrote a film as a slice of his life and I am sure he has no clue as to how bad it makes him look.He is evolving at his own pace.My other friend and I who encouraged him to write it, now have to beg off because any of the needed criticism of the movie will probably be seen as a personal attack.This is on top of demanding that he must have major control over the whole movie, when he is as green as they get.Its a danger to bring in family and friends on projects you see as work,Generally its best not to unless you have a very honest and open good working relationship. Its why many bands and entertainment relationships don't last and its a better choice to go for trust love and privacy with family with an occasional steal of character traits or odd story line.that's not true when you are doing a loving nostalgic story but if you are dealing with sensitive issues its a one sided bomb that is going to go off.

I have a similar situation one of my pals! I've asked to write her story and she's concerned about jeopardizing individuals she came in contact with who had security clearances. I decided on developing composite fictional characters and accounts "inspired by actual events." Otherwise I'd be forever stymied by getting clearances from hundreds of persons I don't know. -kaf