It's the first of October, one of my favourite months because that means indulging in all things spooky! And while we're on the topic of what goes bump in the night, let's look to one of the greats - Stanley Kubrick - for some Monday morning motivation:
1. 'Everything has already been done. Every story has been told, every scene has been shot. It's our job to do it one better.'
It's true, but don't let that get you down. Rise up the challenge! It's all about creating a FRESH perspective and narrative.
- What's the NEW edge or angle you can come at with your project?
- HOW are audiences going to experience something that's familiar but they've not seen or read before?
- Try and turn a familiar concept on it's head - what's unusual about your approach and WHY will the audience care?
2. 'The screen is a magic medium. It has such power that it can retain interest as it conveys emotions and moods that no other art form can hope to tackle.'
The subtleties that may be missed otherwise, can translate so well on film. A glance can often better convey a feeling to the audience, drawing them in to make that emotional connection.
- Go over your script - Check for words that could be replaced with an ACTION that portrays the same thing.
- READ scripts of films that have made you feel this way. HOW was this achieved?
- Be mindful of FALSE MOVEMENT - making your characters do things; sitting, walking etc, any action in a scene that DOESN'T PROPEL your story forward. Checkout this fab article from Bang2Write which covers EVERYTHING not to do in your script!
3.
We all know that WITHOUT an emotional connection, the audience won't care a damn what happens to your characters or the story!
So, how do we MAKE them care? Here's a few things to note!
- Like music, we are gathering momentum from the beginning to take our audience on a JOURNEY.
- We BUILD towards the climax - don't give up all the information too early on! Sure, some of it - but hold just enough intrigue to keep the audience interested.
- It's like putting a puzzle together, add one more piece at a time and it adds to the finish! Imagine your script like this, and with each scene the audience is getting a deeper connection and perspective on the cinematic journey you're taking them on!
4. 'Perhaps it sounds ridiculous, but the best thing that young filmmakers should do is to get hold of a camera and some film and make a movie of any kind at all. '
Time to get brave! There is NEVER a perfect moment for anything. Wait too long and you run the risk of missing opportunities all together. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and MAKE something!
- Use it as a creative practice or experiment - not everything your write or shoot needs to be for others. Use some time to practice your craft!
- Equipment doesn't have to be fancy, get creative! Heard of David F. Sandberg right? The director of Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation and Shazam? Well his horror shorts were what got him started in Hollywood, look no further for some inspiration! Go check them out ( they are FANTASTIC) but beware, Lights Out - the short that got him recognised by James Wan of The Conjuring - is creepy!
- The best stories usually have simple concepts, so start small and think of something you could write or shoot today. Have fun with it and let go of any pressure! Create this for you, get passionate about it and that will translate well to an audience!
5. 'If It can be written or thought, it can be filmed.'
This doesn't need any further explanation!
What are you waiting for? There are NO limits on what you can create, write or film! So, why not start right now?
Checkout this AMAZING resource from one of my favourites - Indie Film Hustle, where you can read free script downloads of ALL Stanley Kubrick films inc:
The Shining
A Clockwork Orange
Eyes Wide Shut
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