Come and hear some behind-the-scene stories about my life as an actor/writer and the pitfalls you should avoid. In class discussion with no topic off limits. Bold questions get bold answers. What’s the Big Idea?
Two areas where writers tend to stumble when putting together a story are “the big idea” and pacing. For “the big idea,” this means, “Does this story need to be told as a book or a movie and will it keep audiences engaged for 300 pages or 90-120 minutes?” Engaging the audience, however, starts on the page. You need a reader to keep turning pages of your book or screenplay in rapid succession because the story propels them forward with energy and purpose.
Readers need to see the movie as they turn pages, and if the script drags, the movie certainly will. How do you determine if your idea is “big” enough to carry a movie? And how do you make sure your script has strong pacing? In this class we will be delving into detail about the importance of the big idea and solid pacing. I’ll be using some of my own stories as examples.