#18 - Focusing On Now
Edition #18 of the Lighthouse miniLetter!
You'll always get:
Three examples of great screenwriting
Two quotes about storytelling
One thing to think about
Plus some fun links at the bottom.
Three examples of great screenwriting
Galaxy Quest
Story by David Howard, Screenplay by David Howard & Robert Gordon
One of the best character introductions I’ve ever seen or read.
From Dusty’s line, we know that this isn’t just a one-time thing. This is who this man has become. This is who he is.
Lost (Pilot)
Written by JJ Abrams & Damon Lindelof
Just because the show’s language has to be safe for broadcast doesn’t mean the script has to be.
Uppercut (Pilot)
Written by Scott Leger
I love the way Leger uses specific actions (smiles, nods) to show us what’s happening, and uses italics to contextualize it. Just look at how many micromoments happen in this exchange between three people, with one of them (Alex, the kid) not noticing.
Amazing work. We’re in the scene rather than being directed on what to watch.
Two quotes about screenwriting
“Writing is a really good first step toward that goal of knowing yourself.”
“It is better to write a bad first draft than to write no first draft at all.”
One thing to think about
What do you need to get “right” right now?
Whatever your process is, there’s no way you can do everything at once.
Identify and focus on what you need to accomplish now, and trust that the process will allow you to focus on whatever’s nagging you at another point.
I used to take forever on first drafts because “my dialogue was bad.” Once I realized that’s not the point of a first draft (in my process anyway) I was able to get them done faster, see story problems earlier, and address them before nitpicking over dialogue.
And then when I got to dialogue tightening and tweaking, it was also easier because not only could I focus on it, but I knew the story was stronger.
In this moment, where should your attention be?
What do you need to get “right” right now?
Have a great draft,
David Wappel
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