The Visual Medium

I have finally managed to watch Metropolis.

And all I can say is "Wow!".

Alright, it's true, I can say a lot more. But it's just classic storytelling, and it's visual because that's pretty much all they had. (My 13 year old son wasn't particularly taken with the story - but he thought the music was fantastic, which it was.)

Metropolis is an epic, cast of thousands (really) and the scale is something you just wouldn't get nowadays. It's easy to laugh at the special effects, but they are actually pretty good, given this was created 80 years ago. And there are some very exciting and daring camera moves - Fritz Lang was an innovator.

The acting is interesting and bears comparison with today. Because the two leads (well, three leads except two of them are the same actress) are forced into the highly stylised silent movie big dramatic moves approach: the style they are expected to display. And yet all the other actors just act, and it's good. The reason I say it's comparable to today is because today the big stars are cast by type, just expected to play the part they always play - and it's the supporting cast who have the opportunity to really act. (Johnny Depp is excluded from the previous comment.)

It's interesting to note how many reviewers on IMDb say  they were shocked by how impressive this film is.

I have to agree. It is astonishing.

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What's on the turntable? "Layla" by Derek & the Dominoes from "Layla and Other Assorted Love Stories"

So ... Bolivia?

What? Bolivia? No. I mean, in a minute.

First things first. Writing. Oh yes.

The talented Bill Martell has a great screen tip, which was recently re-aired, about the Antagonist. He makes the point that there's loads written on the journey of your Protagonist, but very little about the Antagonist.

Which is odd because the Antagonist is the most important character in the story. Without the Antagonist there is no story. It's obvious, so obvious it's not regarded as important. But it is.

Case in point, as you know I've been re-writing Running and it's been going a bit slowly. So I've been yanking tools out of the writers toolbox and trying them for size. They've been handy, given me some ideas and so on, but nothing's really solved the problem.

Until this script tip of Bill's popped up again and I realised that this tool had lying buried at the bottom of the toolkit  under a layer of old sandpaper and blunt blades.

The story's Antagonist wasn't clearly delineated: Why was she doing what she was doing? What is her ultimate goal? I had got some of it but there was no real plan. So I sat down and had a good think - train journeys are good for sitting down and thinking - and I got it. I know what she's doing and why she's doing it. And as soon as I did that the whole story fell into my lap. (Yes, the Antagonist is female, so is the Protagonist, I might make Detective Sergeant female too, that would balance it out.)

I should probably mention that one of Jeff Kitchen's tools implies the importance of the Antagonist's actions but doesn't emphasise it as much as Bill does.

So that was good. It meant I had to change the beginning of the story, which was a shame because I liked the opening, but that's the way it goes. Sometimes you have to kill your babies.

Bolivia? Not yet.

I've started another blog but I'm guessing most people who read this one won't be interested in that one, it's a technical blog about Drupal 7 for people who know what they're doing.

Bolivia!

My daughter is going to Bolivia as a volunteer to work with the animals, to help with her own Zoo Biology degree. She needs donations so it would be really good if you (yes you! Noo not the person beside you, well that person too, but YOU) make it easier for her to get there.

She's got herself a part-time job, while studying at University. She's taken up running so she's fit enough when she gets there. And the person who contributes the most will get a Jaguar cub as a prize. (What? No jaguar cub?) Alright, well everybody who contributes can pat themselves on the back.

How do you do that? You go here or here.

She's got a way to go to collect everything she needs - and everything helps. Do something else good today.

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What's on the turntable? "Flowers never bend with the rainfall" by Simon & Garfunkel (I've lost my harmonica, Albert.) 

Story, Structure and Time

Just felt I had to draw your attention to this Script Secret by Bill Martell:

It's not about time

Which explains why structure isn't the limiter that some people think it is.

It's good stuff.

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What's on the turntable? "Do What You Like" by Blind Faith from "Blind Faith"

Procrastination station

I'm on a train heading back to London to begin a new web development contract, having got my head screwed on straight during my Birmingham getaway.

There are two main types of contract job in my field: one where you are embedded in the company you're working for (as I was at NBC); or working for the client of an agency, as I am this time.

This job is much easier to get to than the previous one - no train changes required, going to and from, plus the station is quite close to the agency. Much more convenient.

To be honest I'm procrastinating. I've been working on Running for the past hour and a half, and have hit a logical but awkward scene. Not quite sure how it will reach the resolution it needs to reach yet, so I need to think about it a bit. The script is progressing nicely however.

I saw The Green Hornet today. Quite entertaining in general, though not a "great" film. However there was one aspect which had me in writer-gasms (hm, might not use that term again) when it came to the film's Inciting Incident. You might think that in a comedy action movie the Inciting Incident might be something huge, at least very funny or even action-y.

But it isn't, it is a tiny thing which is set-up very well and fits the main character perfectly. Quality writing, but given the main character's complete lack of caring for others, it had to be something that would reach and move him.

I also watched Jonah Hex. Even disregarding the terrible liberties they took with the story and the character, this is a poorly written film. A shame.

I also need you to start thinking about Bolivia.

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What's on the turntable? "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits from "Brothers in Arms"

Good news...

...but I can't tell you exactly what it is.

Except that it is to do with someone liking a script what I wrote. But there are a few more hoops to jump through before I can say what it is ... or, if I trip in a hoop, what it isn't.

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What's on the turntable? Nuffink.