Homework

Day One Homework

  • WATCH:
    • The Station Agent
  • READ:
  • RECOMMEND READING:
    • Creating Unforgettable Characters by Linda Seger
  • EXERCISES:
    • Work through the hero questions handout
    • Create 3 characters using the following prompts.
      • Name:
      • Age:
      • Occupation:
      • Characteristic #1:
      • Characteristic #2:
      • Characteristic #3:
      • Quirk:
      • Flaw/Weakness/Need:Want:

Day Two Homework

  • WATCH (Relates to Beautiful Movies):
    • The Lives of Others
  • READ (Relates to Beautiful Movies):
  • EXERCISES (Relates to Brainstorming):
    • A GUY WALKS INTO A BAR IN EIGHT DIRECTIONS: Figure out & write down eight different scenarios that begin with “A Guy Walks Into A Bar…”
    • TITLES AS A BRAINSTORMING TOOL: Pick 2 of the following idioms and come up with a premise that is suggested by the phrase itself (you can use any genre and the story/phrase connection doesn’t have to be literal):  “Water Under The Bridge”, “Sticks and Stones”, “Sink or Swim” , “Baptism by Fire”, “By Any Means Necessary”
    • JUMP ON THE GOOGLE NEWS FEED: Find three compelling stories/headlines. Write down the headline and a three sentence synopsis that gives us the beginning, middle and end of the story.

Day Three Homework

  • WATCH:
    • The Wizard of Oz
  • READ:
    • Handout for Loglines, Treatments, Outlines and Beat (Just the Loglines Section)
  • EXERCISES:
    • (1) Work on the exercise in the handout.
    • (2) Work on a logline for your current story or a new story. Here is the formula to use: Protagonist + Obstacle = Goal
      • Answer the following:
        • Who is your protagonist?
        • What or who do they want? What or who are they after?
        • What or who stands in their way of getting it?
        • What do they do to get what or who they want?

Day Four Homework

  • WATCH:
    • Star Wars (the original, A New Hope)
  • READ:
    • Eight Essential Story Points Handout
    • Chapter 2 “The Three Act Structure”, MAKING A GOOD SCRIPT GREAT by Linda Seger (If you have it)
  • EXERCISES:
    • From Star Wars, Citizen Kane, and The Lives of Others, write down the context, catalyst, and central question in each one.
    • Take your story idea, and write out:
      • Beginning, middle and end (One sentence of each.)
      • Then, write out the Eight Essential Story Points (one sentence each.)

Day Five Homework

  • READ:
    • Forest Gump
  • WATCH:
    • Ordinary People
  • EXERCISES:
    • 1. Think of 3 potential images you could begin your script(s) with that would creatively express your theme. How might you bookend your story with a similar idea or image?
    • 2. How do at least 3 specific elements/details of your script support or reflect its theme? You can describe certain plot points, character backstory details, setting/arena, subplots, supporting characters, character goals, the climax, the twist, etc. If your own script isn’t developed enough yet, you can answer this question using Forest Gump, Ordinary People or another of the scripts we’ve read:
      • Examples:
        • (Arena) Your film explores how the choices we make can often trap us, so you’ve set your story in a prison and made your main character a prison guard.
        • (Premise) Your film deals with how the more we get often the greedier we become, so your story revolves around a woman who tricks a genie into giving her unlimited wishes instead of just three, but she finds herself continually dissatisfied.