Cannot tell a lie

The transition from life being dominated by the extremes of Covid awareness to the easing of the Covid crisis has been strange for me. I cannot tell a lie, it has not been easy. Rather like getting in a car and it doesn’t start. Hmm, is it just lack of use or do I need a new transmission? Can’t be lack of use because I have written three drafts of a full feature length script during this time and have received some great feedback. Unfortunately my malaise was compounded when a few months ago I had a rotator cuff injury and am still struggling with it, it is my right shoulder and I am right handed.

But during this time there was of course the build up to the Oscars and I saw most of the films and invariably there is debate about which nominees should have won. There were good films and up and down the slate and I hope you managed to see at least some of them.

From this film immersive there was one thing I took away in particular, It was from an interview with Jane Campion when she was talking about writing and directing. She said she always tries to, “find ways to increase the pressure on my characters.” To me that made so much more sense than the usual, “build in conflict,” or “what is the conflict?”

So that is what I want to share with you today to chew on. I hope it stimulates you to a fresher approach to writing your scripts. Make your characters uncomfortable. Every day is rich with ideas.

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See you next time, stay well, and keep writing!