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Welcome to… 10 Questions Every Screenwriter Needs To Ask… Before Devloping Their Story

Welcome to… 10 Questions Every Screenwriter Needs To Ask… Before Devloping Their Story. Feel free to submit questions through the ‘Question Submission Form’ box and I will try to address them at the end of the call. Let’s begin!.

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Welcome to… 10 Questions Every Screenwriter Needs To Ask… Before Devloping Their Story

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  1. Welcome to…10 Questions Every Screenwriter Needs To Ask…Before Devloping Their Story Feel free to submit questions through the ‘Question Submission Form’ box and I will try to address them at the end of the call. Let’s begin!

  2. The focus of today’s call is to help screenwriters ask themselves the 10 most important questions they should ask prior to outlining and crafting their story.

  3. Rolando Viñas Screenwriter Story Consultant Script Coach Script Doctor

  4. Upcoming Features… Evil Intentions (Story & Script Consultant) What Lies Beyond (Story Consultant) Manifesto (Writer) Investigation 13 (Producer)

  5. Let’s begin!

  6. Question #1…

  7. What does your Main Character WANT?

  8. Examples: Titanic: Rose WANTS to escape her restrictive aristocratic life. Anchorman: Ron Burgundy WANTS to be the #1 anchorman in San Diego. Toy Story 3: Woody WANTS to get all the toys back home after being accidentally sent to a daycare. Avatar: Jake Sully WANTS to be able to walk again. Silver Linings Playbook: Pat WANTS to reconcile with his ex-wife. Sinister: Elliot Oswalt is a washed-up true crime writer who WANTS to write a new book that will put him back on the map.

  9. Question #2

  10. How is your Main Character going to go about getting this WANT?

  11. Examples: Titanic: Against her mother’s wishes, Rose spends time with Jack. Anchorman: Ron Burgundy is full of himself and doesn’t need to do anything different. Toy Story 3: Woody makes attempts to escape the daycare. Avatar: Jake Sully becomes an avatar to be a mole for the military. Silver Linings Playbook: Pat makes a deal to take part in a dance routine in order to get a letter to his ex-wife. Sinister: Ellison Oswalt moves his family to a new house in a different state. He doesn’t tell his wife the truth about the murders that happened in the house.

  12. Question #3

  13. Who or What is trying to stop your Main Character from succeeding? Why?

  14. Antagonist or Villain

  15. The Antagonist simply WANTS to stop the Hero/Main Character The Villain WANTS to kill the Hero/Main Character

  16. Examples: Titanic: Rose ‘s fiancée and Mother WANT Rose to tow the line and get married as a partnership that will insure both families benefit. Anchorman: The station director hires a Veronica Corningstone, who winds up taking the spotlight off of Ron Burgundy. Toy Story 3: Lotso and his minions WANT to keep Woody and the other toys imprisoned in the daycare for self preservation. Avatar: The Military WANTS Jake to get the info they need so they can steal the land from the Na’vi, which is sitting above an abundance of natural resources that can become an energy resource. Silver Linings Playbook: Pat’s family and the court WANT Pat to take his meds and to move on from his ex-wife so that Pat can begin to start a new life. Sinister: Ellison’s wife doesn’t want him to put their family through the drama of the past. The Sherriff doesn’t want Ellison to write a book that will only dig up a past the town wants to forget. Oh, and Mr. Boogie is manipulating him to continue his quest for the truth behind the murders, which gets Ellison to spiral out of control.

  17. Question #4

  18. What FEAR, WOUND or FLAW is your Main Character dealing with that’s preventing them from succeeding?

  19. Examples: Titanic: Rose’s fear of taking chances and believing in herself. Anchorman: Ron Burgundy’s arrogance, ignorance and delusions of grandeur. Toy Story 3: Woody’s inability to let go of the past. Avatar: Jake’s selfishness and unwillingness to play by the rules. Silver Linings Playbook: Pat’s anger issues and mental condition. Sinister: Ellison is selfish for only focusing on his needs.

  20. Question #5

  21. What are the STAKES if your Main Character doesn’t succeed?

  22. Examples: Titanic: Rose will stay trapped in the aristocratic life she loathes, possibly lead to suicidal death. Anchorman: Ron Burgundy can lose his job to Veronica and become insignificant. Toy Story 3: Woody and the toys will stay trapped at the daycare and eventually be destroyed by the abusive children. Avatar: Complete decimation of the Na’vi and Jake will never be able to walk again. Silver Linings Playbook: Pat won’t be able to reconcile with his wife, possibly causing him to have another breakdown and be in trouble with the court. Sinister: Ellison stands to continue being a washed up writer and feeling insignificant and lose his family in the process.

  23. For info on upcoming classes or consultations: http://www.screenwritingmentor.vpweb.com RolandoVinas@aol.com

  24. Writing the Actual Script... Step by Step(Wynwood) This class is for those who have a outline/treatment for their story. Saturdays from 10:30am - 12:30pm January 11, 2014 - March 8, 2014 Short Film Writing Boot Camp Florida Film House(570 NW 26st MIAMI, FL 33127) Tuesdays from 7:30pm - 9:30pm January 14, 2014 - March 18, 2014 Screenwriting for Feature Films MDC Kendall Campus (11011 SW 104th St, Miami,FL 33176) Wednesdays from 7:00pm - 9:00pm January 22, 2014 - April 9th, 2014 Screenwriting for Feature Films MDC Wolfson Campus (300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami,FL 33132) Thursdays from 7:00pm - 8:30pm February 6, 2014 - April 10, 2014

  25. Question #6

  26. What is the worst possible situation your Main Character can get into?

  27. Examples: Titanic: Rose is about to be separated from Jack for good when she boards a lifeboat. Anchorman: After telling San Diego to go “F” themselves, Ron Burgundy is fired and ostracized by the entire community. Not to mention his relationship with Veronica is shattered. Toy Story 3: Woody and the toys are about to be destroyed in an incinerator. Avatar: Jack’s relationship with the Na’vi becomes fractured and he is labeled a traitor by his own after the Na’vi’s sacred tree is destroyed. Silver Linings Playbook: Pat learns that the letter he has been waiting for from his wife was kept from him and that his wife wants to move on. Sinister: Ellison and his wife get drugged, tied up and going to be killed by Mr. Boogie’s minions.

  28. Question #7

  29. After being put in the worst situation, how is your Main Character going to solve their problem once and for all?

  30. Examples: Titanic: Rose decides to jump back on the Titanic to reunite with Jack. Once the ship sinks, Rose clings on to life while she floats in the icy water. Anchorman: Ron Burgundy has hit rock bottom. He receives a call from the Station Manager to cover a high profile story. Ron Burgundy tries to make the most of an opportunity and in the process ends up saving Veronica’s life after she falls in a bear pit. Toy Story 3: Woody and the toys are rescued. He manages to get all the toys back home and is properly able to say his goodbyes to Andy. Avatar: Jake Sully fights alongside the Na’vi to reclaim their land from the humans. After the fight is won, Jake Sully does the transfer to become one with his avatar. Silver Linings Playbook: Pat realizes that the dance rehearsals meant something to Tiffany and he follows through with the dance competition. Sinister: Ellison regrets putting his family in danger. Unfortunately he is in a situation he can’t get out of due to being tied up and drugged.

  31. Question #8

  32. What lessons will your Main Character learn during their journey?

  33. Examples: Titanic: Rose decides to jump back on the Titanic to reunite with Jack. Once the ship sinks, Rose clings on to life while she floats in the icy water. Anchorman: Ron Burgundy realizes that times have changed, needs to respect women and the job because he can lose it in an instant. Toy Story 3: Woody and the toys are rescued. He manages to get all the toys back home and is properly able to say his goodbyes to Andy. Avatar: Jake Sully fights alongside the Na’vi to reclaim their land from the humans. After the fight is won, Jake Sully does the transfer to become one with his avatar. Silver Linings Playbook: Pat realizes that the dance rehearsals meant something to Tiffany and he follows through with the dance competition. Sinister: Ellison learns that success comes at a price…a very steep price. Also, not being able to stop obsessing over the previous murders was his downfall.

  34. Question #9

  35. If your Main Character doesn’t get exactly what they originally wanted at the start of your story, how will they be rewarded for their troubles?

  36. Examples: Titanic: Rose doesn’t get a chance to spend her life with Jack, but she lives life to the fullest. Anchorman: Ron Burgundy gets to network news with Veronica at his side. Toy Story 3: Woody is able to let go of the past and find a new home. One with a loving owner who will cherish all the toys for years to come. Avatar: Jake Sully finally gets his legs, but once he transfers his soul over to the avatar’s body. Silver Linings Playbook: Pat realizes how much Tiffany has meant to him and they stay together. Sinister: Ellison is going to be famous alright. Posthumously.

  37. Question #10

  38. How is your Main Character different from when the story began?

  39. Examples: Titanic: Rose feels imprisoned in her life and ends with her feeling free. Anchorman: Ron Burgundy is ignorant and arrogant and ends with him being more open-minded about women in the workplace and more humble. Toy Story 3: Woody is unable to let go of the past and ends with him coming to terms with the change. Avatar: Jake Sully is cocky and selfish and ends with him becoming a selfless hero. Silver Linings Playbook: Pat clings to the past and ends with him realizing that he had something special right in front of him the entire time. Sinister: Ellison is eager to start a new book and finally understands that his stubbornness and selfish nature and doesn’t get an opportunity to repent for his actions.

  40. That concludes the seminar portion. Now we’ll be opening it up for Q & A.

  41. Thank you!

  42. Rolando Vinas@aol.com www.screenwritingmentor.vpweb.com Writing the Actual Script... Step by Step(Wynwood) This class is for those who have a outline/treatment for their story. Saturdays from 10:30am - 12:30pm January 11, 2014 - March 8, 2014 Short Film Writing Boot Camp Florida Film House(570 NW 26st MIAMI, FL 33127) Tuesdays from 7:30pm - 9:30pm January 14, 2014 - March 18, 2014 Screenwriting for Feature Films MDC Kendall Campus (11011 SW 104th St, Miami,FL 33176) Wednesdays from 7:00pm - 9:00pm January 22, 2014 - April 9th, 2014 Screenwriting for Feature Films MDC Wolfson Campus (300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami,FL 33132) Thursdays from 7:00pm - 8:30pm February 6, 2014 - April 10, 2014

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