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BIGGEST LESSONS:
1) Third act is about righting wrongs and making amends. 2) This is an event that changes not just the main characters but also the SCHOOL. This is possible because this story is really about something ALL kids struggle with, so it effects all kids in the end. We have that in the story we're working on too. 3) Using tent pole HS movie moments like "spring fling" helps provide structure to the third act. 4) Adults are basically all stupid or inept (and somewhat also caught up in image) except one KEY ally. 5) Characters are connected in a great way. (I.E. Regina George and Janis being ex best friends). 6) Runners are used really well (bleeping expletives) and side characters ALL have their own comedic games which makes it fun when they are on screen (Karen, Kevin G., come to mind.) This MUST be done. - What is our “say one nice thing about your body” scene? ARC ALERT “So that’s how I went from homeschooled jungle freak to solid plastic to most hated person in the world to partial spring fling queen to actual human being.” —> so much great character changing stuff in this movie. it’s not just something that happens at the end. she isn’t in a fixed state and then realizes something and then morphs. she is changing the whole time, then at the end realizes the right way to be. NOTE: Classic tools like spring fling are ESSENTIAL in movies like these to create an obvious symbol and third act thing NOTE: Third act can be about righting social wrongs. Message of self acceptance is HUGE. Realizing who you are and being that person. and everyone at this school feeling better about themselves. Like… THIS SHOULD CHANGE THE SCHOOL, not just the characters.
2 Comments
Wow. This was heart wrenching in a way that pissed me off but still had plenty of lessons attached. More info on next page...
So, I read a bunch of plots, and I distilled them down to a basic repeated structure/ series of devices and beats that are listed above.
A lot of traditional treasure hunt stories are about the idea of greed corrupting people — I don’t think we necessarily want to go the corruption route, but I do think the message can be something about the ‘real’ treasure being something unexpected. Interesting movie. Followed the ghost hunters and the family with the haunted house almost equally which was a cool angle.
Lessons and outline on the next page... This was a scary script.
Great reference for AWESOME supernatural writing that is creative and practical. Unique twist on haunted house movie. Great reference for setting up sequels, too... Outline and lessons on next page: US by Jordan Peele. Outline on next page.
LESSONS: - Good interpersonal tension. Husbands and wives don't get along. Family friends don't quite click. Brother and sister don't get along. That's what kept the story interesting before the horror started. - MORE GOOD IMAGERY. Rabbits. Carnivals. Kid's drawings. Etc. Haunting imagery is important. - for us... less is more. We don't need all the gore that this movie used. Let's go more in the direction of THE RING or SCREAM. Constant suspense to create fear more than gore and guts and stuff. |
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October 2023
NOTEThese outlines are not polished and they are not politically correct. They are bare bones and often do no justice to the script or the writers of said script. Posting the outlines here so they can be easily referenced when working on new pilots. Also thought they might be helpful to other writers out there. Archives
October 2023
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