The Villain's Goal
29/Aug/12 15:33 Filed in: The Method
The Villain’s goal is what moves the story towards a climactic showdown. Before you think about your hero, think about your villain first and what he or she wants to achieve. Read More...
WTF?
25/Aug/12 11:06 Filed in: The Method
There’s no better way to grab the audience’s attention than making them ask, WTF? Read More...
Action vs. Suspense
24/Aug/12 16:19 Filed in: The Method
Watch most action movies and they consist of nothing but mindless action with as many explosions and gunfire as possible. Relying on louder and bigger explosions does nothing to help a story. The real purpose of action is not the action itself but the suspense leading up to the action. Read More...
The Elements of Interest
23/Aug/12 18:33 Filed in: The Method
Why do some movies grab your attention while others simply drag and bore you despite lots of action, car crashes, gunfire, and explosions? It all depends on having an emotional stake in the outcome. Read More...
Hammer Home the Theme Multiple Times
22/Aug/12 23:26 Filed in: The Method
When a story has a strong theme, that theme acts like a focal point that everything else in the story revolves around. Such a strong focal point often creates a strong story. Read More...
Something Extraordinary Happens
14/Aug/12 07:16 Filed in: The Method
Before you start writing any screenplay, ask yourself this one question. Does something extraordinary happen? If not, you may not have a good idea in the first place. Read More...
The Martyr Moment
07/Aug/12 22:17 Filed in: The Method
How do you make the ending of a story more suspenseful and emotionally satisfying at the end? You make the hero risk becoming a martyr by facing almost certain death. Read More...
Make It Clear
06/Aug/12 16:36 Filed in: The Method
Right from the start, you must make your story clear. We don’t need to know the details, but we do need to know what the story is about and whether it’s a serious drama or a comedy. Read More...
Make It Different
05/Aug/12 20:08 Filed in: The Method
Every scene should be interesting to watch. If a scene looks like something you could see everyday, it’s probably not good enough for a movie. Read More...
