Sean Lawrence

Springboards & Premise ( Due: Sun, 06 Feb | Status: Not Completed ) Assignment 2: Goals: Writing for television animation and comics often means coming up with a number of story ideas that you can pitch to story editors and producers. These springboards are usually brief (but longer than a log line) and can be about everything from characters flaws, current ideas and situations, unusual locations, a theme, or an exciting visual. You would usually pitch three ideas (3) and then have several more one or two sentence ideas (sometimes called spitballs) that you can also pitch if your main springboards don’t hit. The goal of this assignment is to generate a number of exciting ideas that are fun, fresh and have potential for conflict, action, humor and the big climatic finish. Then, take one of these ideas and develop it into a one to two page premise. Instructions: Submit three springboards of 25-100 words each and a premise of one to two pages. These springboards mu...

The Resolution Instructions 1. Read pages 250-263 in Syd Field’s book The Screenwriter’s Workbook. 2. Watch the: Act Three Video (FSS Act3), which you can find in the assets section. 3. Understand the concept of tracing your narrative action from the end of Plot Point 2 to the end of the story. 4. Understand Field’s example of Annie Hall. 5. Understand Field’s example of Terminator 2.

Assignment Goal: The benefit of this assignment is twofold. First, you will be learning to identify the elements within a script that indicate the author has done research and, thereby, has made her or himself an authority on the topic, characters and locations they’re writing about. Second, you will be gaining exposure to script analysis, which you will utilize later in the program as you critique your own work and the work of your classmates. Instructions: 1. Download the screenplay, The Hurt Locker. 2. Read the script and look for examples where Boal’s research of the war shows authenticity in dialogue and description. You will not be able to print the script, so jot down on a piece of paper when you note an example. 3. Cite examples – one of dialogue, one of description – from each act of the script. Discuss why you think each is a good example of authenticity. (A one sentence answer will suffice.) (Remember, as you learned in Syd Field’s, “Screenplay,” whi...

Discussion Board Goal: Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking your story from logline to basic outline. In order to chart the journey of your protagonist, you need to understand how he or she would respond in any given circumstance. Understanding what obstacles to give your character requires knowing their background, lifestyle, location, current situation, and how all those factors affect their responses to situations, impact their motivations and, therefore, how believable they'll be. If you let your idea for the story dictate character rather than the other way around, you’ll run into scenarios where you’ll end up with contrived characters, scenes and dialogue, and an audience that can’t connect to your story. This discussion is intended for you to better get to know your characters. Instructions: 1. From the story you have chosen for your final thesis project, select a subject your protagonist would be familiar with but that you are not. This can, but doe...

Given the opportunity, talent can come from anywhere and go everywhere. Welcome to the PGLDS monthly newsletter. Follow us on our social channels for the latest contest updates, resources, and events. Highlights: Everyone I Love Is Dead:  Check out the new digital comedy series from our Greenlighters on Blackpills Reel Fear Horror Contest:   Watch the Top 5 finalists' proof of concept scenes #SignedByClive Mini-Contest:  Who will win free a copy of the  Hellraiser  Anthology signed by Clive Barker himself! Advisory Board Spotlight:  Tamara Krinsky WATCH THE TRAILER FOR  EVERYONE I LOVE IS DEAD NOW STREAMING ON BLACKPILLS In this post-post apocalyptic world, sentient Zombies are the new dominant species. Jesse, an actor hoping to tap into his human side, is determined to prove that their pet humans are smarter than everyone thinks. Together with his simpler minded roommates, th...

Beat Sheet for Beyoncé's  Lemonade View this email in your browser News & Updates From Our Master Cats Beat Sheet for Beyoncé's  Lemonade Arguably the most talked about musical work of 2016,  Lemonade  is still sparking discussion, inspiring parodies, and whipping up controversy week after week. Among its many contributions to our culture, however, is its demonstration that an album can be a very powerful medium for telling a dramatic story with a poignant message. On this week's blog, we present a beat sheet for  Lemonade . Enjoy (unless you're Jay-Z or "Becky with the Good Hair")! Read More » Take Our Beat Sheet Screenwriting Workshop From Home! Enroll In  STC!U Discover how you can start with an idea... and five weeks later have the 15 beats of your screenplay. May 31 class - SOLD OUT! June 7 class - only 5 spots left June 21 class - enroll now! July 5...