Expectations

Bots? Fireflies? Kanye West? With our patchwork world of the possible and the insane, our ability to stay productive is being tested. Michael Hirst, the hugely accomplished and successful writer when questioned about how he writes, said, “It all starts with organized chaos.” Being able to work with, and organize - chaos - is fundamental to writing a screenplay.

One thing for sure, is that as in life and so in art, there is a constant tug of war between light and dark. Life would be pretty boring if that were not the case. And that applies to screenplays too. Old ways that cling like the tentacles of an octopus and laser beams that slice away the rot… hold tight we don’t really know where we’re going.

The secret is to stay grounded. Grounded enough to keep moving.

So as you work this summer, on an existing script or one you have an idea for, here’s one way to stay grounded. Think in terms of beginnings.

The Set Up. What is a Set Up? My past blogs have talked about it. In the simplest of terms, the Set Up is - setting up expectations. Keep that in mind throughout the script. Each scene is setting up the next scene or is seeding a sequence that comes later. Setting up and building expectations, primarily of the character and in turn the audience. It’s all about EXPECTATIONS. Meeting those expectations at the end of the story. Not easy, but it’s the price of the ticket and worth the ride.

My July and August blogs are never long, leaving room for exploration and sweet times. I hope you can spend this summer welcoming and adjusting to a new reality. It’s also a good time to browse through my past blogs as every one touches on a key element in the craft of screenwriting. 

For now…I thank you for reading my blog and as always I look forward to hearing from you so please post a Comment in the box below. And if you are not already subscribed you can receive my future blogs by clicking on the Subscribe via e-mail link.

Enjoy July. Stay well, stay safe and… take the journey.

See you next time!