Scott at 2008-06-08 19:01:00:

Glad you're enjoying it, UV. After I'm done slogging through my thoughts, I'm starting a thread called "How THEY write a script," interviews available online with notable screenwriters on their writing process. The first one we look at -- Shane Black. Look for that toward the end of next week.

unpaid villain at 2008-06-08 20:02:00:

Will do. You mentioned trawling occupations for inspiration - have you seen the low budget Aussie comedy "Kenny" about a porta-loo fitter. The comedian who starred got about 400K from a supplier of portable toilets for film finish.

Re the bedside pad for stray thoughts, I was at a talk given by author Janet Evanovich who admitted she never used one, had forgotten a few things she really wished she'd remembered. She finally submitted to the pressure to have pen and pad handy for the 3am blinding insight.

She duly went to bed, woke as predicted, grabbed pen and paper and wrote it all down.

When she woke, she found she had written "Must not forget this. Must not forget this".

Scott at 2008-06-08 22:13:00:

That is a great story about Janet Evanovich! Definitely goes into my repertoire. Because of tape recorders and voice mail (call up / record thoughts), I manage to keep most ideas. However, I still to this day have problems when I go out for a run. I'll think of something, then say to myself, "Okay, remember that," then sometimes, get back, and it's just gone. Poof!

BTW, I've found running is a great way to work through story problems. Something about changing perspective or increased blood flow, I don't know, but very often when I'm stuck story-wise, a run un-sticks me.

Re Kenny: Have not caught that, but will do.

Re "trawling occuptions": Burg & Myers used to occasionally go through the yellow pages, looking at occupations, putting interesting ones on a list, anything to try to spark ideas.

Reminds me one time in a screenwriting class, I gave out index cards to the students -- one set for "occupations," the other for "locations." Then we dumped then into two hats and drew them out in pairs. We actually hit this combination: "Kindergarten" and "Policeman." That's right, Kindergarten Cop! Too bad it was after the movie had been released!

Julien at 2009-08-19 00:16:23:

Hi Scott,

Thanks a lot for all the good advices. I really like your post about the Narrative throughline. It helps a lot.
It's great to find a place like that for someone who's trying to make his way into the screenwriting world.

Oh, by the way, one of your favorite movie is Jean de Florette...that is very good choice :))

Cheers,
Julien