screenwriters toolkit

Go! Your Task: Write a chase scene using one of these methods of travel: horse, helicoptor, boat, foot, car or combo of methods. Now, re-write that same scene 3 other times. Switch the method of travel each time you write it.

Getting out of writer’s block can occasionally be done by pushing oneself out of the ordinary of our everyday lives. Your Task: Go to this week’s headline from “News of the Weird”. Imagine the actions that are taking place in the story (or, the actions that took place to make this story possible). Write a 2-page scene that shows these actions.

It’s time to listen. Your Task: Poll 10 people with the following questions:

- What’s your favorite action movie?
- What are 2 specific things you like about this movie?
- What’s your favorite scene or scenes in that movie?
- What’s your least favorite action movie?
- What are 2 specific things you disliked about this movie?
- What scene or scenes made the movie so bad?

Now, find and watch at least 4 of these movies. Pay close attention to the specific scenes mentioned.

Lastly, freewrite about your impressions of each movie; about whether your opinion is in line or differs from the people polled; and, about what you can learn from these movies about how to write action in a script.

Learning how we get ideas out of our head can give us a better understanding of how we write action sequences. If the screenplay is merely a map for actors, directors, producers and other crew, then action is really creative instruction. Your Task: Get a partner. In pairs, partner B is to instruct partner A how to put on a shoe (preferrably one with laces). To do this, parter A must start by taking off one of their shoes. They are also to pretend that they have never seen a shoe, don’t know what it is and don’t know what it’s various parts are or do. Now, partner B needs to explain the process of putting on a shoe. Partner B should do this verbally and without pointing at the parts of the shoe. Every part of the explanation should try to be clear, verbal and effective enough to get partner A to get that shoe on. Lastly, partner B can freewrite for 10 minutes, answering the question: How was it to give clear instructions?

Screenwriting teacher Hal Ackerman states, “In describing action, don’t let it take longer to read then it would to do it on screen.” Keeping this in mind, let’s practice some action writing. Your Task: Watch an action movie of your choice. Pick one scene to focus on and write out the action (using screenplay format). Use as few words as possible.

Try this! Your Task: Grab a novel. Flip to a random page. For context, read one page before and after your randomly selected page. Pluck the main character you’ve just read about from this novel. Turn on your TV. What location do you see? What’s happening? Turn off your TV. Now, write an action scene with your character from the novel in the location from the TV. Address these two questions: How did they get here? What happens next!

Because we’re working in a visual medium, it’s important to show what we’re talking about with our characters’ actions. Your Task: Re-write these 5 sentences as short action scenarios.

1. I love you.
2. I hate you.
3. I’m hungry
4. I’m scared
5. We need to get out of here

How does action grab us? Your Task: Watch a movie - any movie. Now, look back at your movie watching experience. Answer these questions: When did you feel the first sense of excitement (and starting to get drawn in)? What captivated you? What actions did you take when responding to the movie (did you move forward in your seat?)? Now, describe in detail what happened when you first got pulled into the movie. Try to write this as an action sequence.

Is all action fast paced? What other ways are movies paced that draw audiences in? Your Task: Find a movie with slower pacing that you find compelling. Answer these questions: What are 4 elements that draw you in? How did the movie makers use other things to make it interesting?

Scenes move viewers through action at a specific pace. Mastering the art of pacing gives you the freedom to adapt the physics of your screenplay. Your Task: Pick an action scenerio. One person chasing another down a city block is one example. Next, write this scenerio once as a 3 page scene. Now, write the same exact scenerio as a 1 page scene.