Nifty Robot Filmmaking and Screenwriting Podcast

Putting Together Your Treatment and Outline

// April 30th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // podcast, screenwriting

In today’s podcast episode we’ll be talking about putting together your treatment and outline. Andy and I have similar methods when it comes to putting these things together. But it turns out we also have differences when it comes to actually executing these documents. In this episode we’ll discuss our tactics and strategies when it comes to writing a treatment and outline for your script.

Importance of note cards

• allows you to visually see your story in front of you
• allows you to easily rearrange, add, and delete scenes, characters, and sub plots without doing too much damage
• complete freedom in regards to creative story development

What should be in your screenplay treatment or “brain dump”

• producers want to know what happens next after your initial “idea”
• helps you pitch a story and not just a story idea
• makes writing your script less stressful and allows creativity to focus on action and character
• allows major story changes to not set you back or require massive rework
• treatments should exist on many levels, free form brain dump, short story structure and flow, story and character short summary

Leave us your pre-writing methods in the comments section below. I always enjoy learning about other writers methods.

Dealing With Writer’s Block

// April 29th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // podcast, screenwriting

Writer’s block is an issue I think eventually effects every young screenwriter. We all know there is nothing worse than sitting there staring at that blank page without an idea in your head how to finish that script.

In this episode Andy and I talk about some of the ways we try avoid writer’s block and methods we use to work through it when it does strike. Below are some show notes and topics.

How to work past writers block while continue working forward

• go back to your note cards
• get yourself re-inspired about your story
• watch your movie in your head
• write character back stories
• do whatever you can to get the creative juices flowing again
• take an entire week off
• write in small chunks, 30 min
• write a side story about one of your characters to find that joyful writing place again
• feel free to skip around your story, you don’t have to write from page 1 to 110
• write where in your story you are inspired to write

How to avoid writers block altogether

• be prepared, plan, plot, scheme
• KNOW YOUR STORY BEFORE YOU WRITE
• write a treatment/outline
• have confidence in yourself and ability to write a good story, wait till after to hate your work
• be a complete egotistical maniac asshole

Establishing A Strong Protagonist

// April 29th, 2009 // No Comments » // podcast, screenwriting

Hi everyone! We made it back again with another show. This time we spend some time discussing protagonists. It’s crucial for every story to have a strong protagonist and in this podcast episode we share some of our thoughts and methods to establish a strong protagonist in your story. Below are some of my quick notes from the episode.

• Character has to have understandable wants and needs
• Story needs to reveal a clear and consistent goal for the protagonist
• Needs to be able to realisticly overcome obstacles
• Let the character show the audience who is not tell us through dialogue
• Audience needs to care about the protagonist
• Don’t wait too long to introduce your protagonist, they might fall for someone else
• Needs to have a clear antagonist

Working With A Writing Partner

// April 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // filmmaking, podcast, screenwriting

Ok everyone this is it, the first ever Nifty Robot Filmmaking and Screenwriting Podcast episode. And trust me it is a good one! In this first episode of our filmmaking and screenwriting podcast we spend half the time introducing ourselves and talking a bit about current projects we’re working on.

After we get past all that dribble we get on to the main topic, working with a writing partner. We discuss some of the methods and writing strategies that we are exploring as a new writing team.

We encourage you to leave us some comments below. Tell us how crappy we are. It’s cool we can take it. Seriously though we really want some audience participation here people, so get commenting!