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We're back in the Writers' Room for the Breakdown Webcast: The First 10 Pages! The first 10 pages - or the opening sequence of the script - is so important and a good "First 10" will establish the tone and genre, introduce the main character, clarify the world of the story and the status quo, indicate the theme, and above all set up the dramatic question. That is why we will be breaking down some of the most memorable scenes and sequences found with the first 10 pages of our favorite film and TV series. We will also explore 7 types of openings and how they can launch your narrative - without falling into the trap of being cliche or derivative. As part of the webcast, you can download the complete scripts we discuss by clicking here. Once you have wrapped up the webcast, make sure to head on over to the Private Writers' Room Lounge to discuss your favorite opening scenes from film and television. And let us know why! Full Bio »
We're back in the Writers' Room for the Breakdown Webcast: The First 10 Pages! The first 10 pages - or the opening sequence of the script - is so important and a good "First 10" will establish the tone and genre, introduce the main character, clarify the world of the story and the status quo, indicate the theme, and above all set up the dramatic question.
That is why we will be breaking down some of the most memorable scenes and sequences found with the first 10 pages of our favorite film and TV series. We will also explore 7 types of openings and how they can launch your narrative - without falling into the trap of being cliche or derivative.
As part of the webcast, you can download the complete scripts we discuss by clicking here.
Once you have wrapped up the webcast, make sure to head on over to the Private Writers' Room Lounge to discuss your favorite opening scenes from film and television. And let us know why!
The Breakdown
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"Thank you Jason--this webinar was PHENOMENAL--I never heard anyone break down first 10 like this--I loved the way you described each way it's done, then the clip, and then the screenplay. It gives us frameworks for watching the first 10 of movies, and options for ways to look at our own scripts. You are a genius instructor!" - Ricki L.
"Jason - you have raised the bar AGAIN with this breakdown. Thank you so much." - Stephen P.
"Ditto, Stephen" - Jenny R.
"Jason, thanks for breaking down the first 10 pages in a new way with so many great examples! So much food for thought as I examine and rethink the openings of my screenplays!" - Martha C.
In this Break Down we are seeing what it takes to build a world during the Breakdown Webcast: World Building! This comes as a request from several of our members who want to discuss how to build worlds in your writing...and pre-writing. World Building is one of most important tasks in writing - it lays the foundation for everything that occurs in your story. So how can you do it within your screenplay without feeling expository or over the top? We're going to talk about how to avoid common mistakes in World Building, key ways to get better at World Building, and even look at some examples of World Building from both script and screen to see how your favorite screenwriters and filmmakers tackled this difficult task. During this webcast, we watch clips and analyze the scripts for features including TITANIC, BLADE RUNNER, JOKER and more!
We're back in the Writers Room this afternoon for a special The Breakdown Webcast: Writing Adaptations with Special Guest, Writers' Room Member Stephen Potts! Stephen Potts is a screenwriter specializing in adaptations with one feature film produced (a Philip Pullman adaptation), four others optioned. Also author of children's adventure fiction (seven books published) and writer for stage and radio.
We love to hate them...or hate to love them! We're kicking off another month of a packed Writers' Room schedule with the Breakdown Webcast: Antagonists! During one of our character building webcasts, we noted that many of our examples of great characters, were characters who we traditionally see as antagonists! So let's dig in and really explore what makes these baddies so good. Stories need conflict, certainly, but conflict doesn't have to come at the hands of a cackling, mustache-twirling supervillain. There's more than one way to shape your story's antagonist! During this webcast we'll discuss 4 types of antagonists, 6 ways in which to develop a well-rounded and authentic antagonist, how to intrude your antagonists and explore our favorite antagonists from film and television, and a whole lot more!
Show, don't tell! We take a look at how screenwriters use silence in the horror film A QUIET PLACE, the caper film THE DEPARTED, the action-drama DRIVE, and the adventure of LORD OF THE RINGS.
Toph Eggers is a screenwriter and author with 15 years of experience as a working writer. He's had scripts optioned by Montecito Picture Company for Paramount Pictures. He is also the screenwriter of the Fox Searchlight project, "THE THREE NIGHT STAND".
Remember that every line of dialogue matters, every image has a purpose, and there are no wasted bullets in the gun! We're kicking off another month of a packed Writers' Room schedule with the Breakdown Webcast: Exposition as Ammunition! Many writers struggle with how to get out critical information and backstory to the audience in an organic way. So during this webcast, we discuss how to get the audience the information they need without a lecture they don't want. During this webcast we'll discuss different ways of getting out information in a way that feels organic to the narrative and the characters. We examine some of the best - and worst - examples from film and television!