Saturday, November 7, 2009

A. THIS IS A POEM THAT BECOMES A MOVIE SCRIPT

Hi, everyone. Here is PART "A".  It's a poem called "Unknown Strength". 

I turned it into a screenplay. 

After reading the poem, click on "B - Sample Movie Script Page (based on poem ... )"
which is on the green bar to the right.
There, you can read the first page of the screenplay.  Enjoy!

Unknown Strength
In a land not far away, there lives a certain woman
Who possesses unknown strengh ... unknown to every human.
She has but one lone relative, a kind and doting brother,
And even he, of different blood; they were orphans together.

When they were young, they ran away from cruel adoptive parents
Who slaved and beat them every day and shamed the face of heaven.
He, being older, sheltered her and gave her education
On how to cuss and how to fight and drink wine on occasion.

The two of them were always in some trouble or the other
Living by their love and wits; oh, how she loved her brother!
One day when she was fully grown and he, of course, a man
A giant stranger kidnapped him who had a secret plan.

The sister hunted high and low for her beloved brother
And in the hunt, a different thing was what she did discover.
It made her wonder: what am I? with fervent desperation.
For she was killed but could not die nor heed death's invitation.

It was a kind of unknown strength that poured from in her soul
First, she was killed, then quickly lived, and never growing old.
And so this girl who knew no roots, no father and no mother
Spent all her never-ending life searching for her brother.

End


Have your story or book turned into a professional movie script!


or call (916) 801-5491 and ask for Valerie

B: SAMPLE MOVIE SCRIPT PAGE (Based On Poem "Unknown Strength")

O.k, here's a sample movie script page (unformatted) that is based on the poem "Unknown Strength", which you will find in PART "A" (see green bar on the right).

FADE IN

EXT. A CITY STREET - NIGHT (SPRING)
This is a poor neighborhood. The streets are empty. A man in his late thirties, dressed in casual, functional clothes is striding swiftly down the sidewalk. With a worried frown, he turns to look behind him periodically. This man, named ALVIN, is good-looking and muscular. His face is friendly and open; he appears easy to like.

Following him: three rough-looking men that are walking in a straight line. They have grim expressions. One of them, BIG POP, is about six feet eight inches tall and has the physique of a gorilla. Directly behind him: PUTTY, who's trying hard to keep up with his leader. Behind PUTTY is the third man, named GO-GO.

PUTTY
We're gonna kill him, right?
BIG POP
He's got something I want. I can't get it until he's dead.

Alvin sweats; they're gaining on him. He reaches the end of the block and speed-walks past an apartment complex on the corner; he crosses the street and almost gets hit by a car.

The car horn emits a long, nasal blare and the driver halts the car. Because the car has stopped in the street, it separates Alvin from his pursuers. Alvin runs. He doesn't notice the young woman who's watching him, hiding near an apartment building, as he goes by her. His three pursuers pound angrily on the car that has blocked their way.

The driver of the car takes a look at the three snarling men. Big Pop's countenance is so hostile that the driver's mouth falls open in surprise and horror; he wastes no time continuing his journey.

The three men cross the street. Alvin is still in their line of view. They run after him.  The three men fail to look toward the apartment building where the woman hides and spies on them as they run past her. She is in her early thirties, pretty... tough and yet sensual-looking. She, like Alvin, is dressed casually. But her clothes cling to the contours of her body, revealing her shapeliness. Her name is GIA.

End Page One of Script

Have your writing turned into an amazing screenplay!

or call (858) 368-9156 and ask for  Valerie.


Talk soon,
Valerie

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Re-Writes -- How Many Are Enough?

dayradiance@gmail.com

Valerie (916) 801-5491

Hi, everyone.  Valerie, here.  I understand why you're fed up with information overload regarding how to achieve success as a writer.  It's because you keep asking very simple questions and the "writing experts" keep giving you very complicated answers.  I've been in your shoes and I'm here to help you with a clear, simple path to fulfilling yourself as a writer.  Those fancy-pants folks can have their fancy path.

I know sometimes you ask yourself, why don't I finish my writings faster?  Because you love the process.  You enjoy living with the characters and you don't want to say goodbye.  For a writer, writing is pleasure.  It's not like a runner in a race, where being first to the finish line is a tremendous part of the pleasure.  If you must finish and submit your work, sometimes the only way to accomplish it is, don't look back.  Don't re-read anymore.  Turn it in as it is.  Stop saying to yourself, "I'll have one last re-write and then it's done." 

Because I promise you, one story or novel can go on forever.  It's alive.  It won't stop breathing and it won't stop doing things.  You have to push the baby bird out of the nest, much as you hate to do it.  2 re-writes is plenty; 4 re-writes is a deadline amount!  Think about it; that's 5 times you've written that same story!  After that, close the door and don't look back.  You'll kill the freshness if you look back.   With one re-write too many, it will morph into a whole different story .  You'll have demolished the wonder of what you first created.  So re-write it once (at least) or a couple of times (4 times, maximum).  After that, let it fly free.  Say this to yourself just before that final re-write: "Here it goes."  And live up to those words.

Feel free to contact me with questions/comments about writing.  If I don't have the answer, chances are huge that I know someone who does.
Cheers,
Valerie

dayradiance@gmail.com

Valerie
(916) 801-5491