Screenwriting Basics

Like all workshops, the major benefit normally derives from the interaction with other people. Further, a workshop may instil a degree of discipline the lecturer may take the potential screenwriter through numerous stages that result in a words-on-paper first draft. But, generally, the drawbacks outweigh the positives:

a) It is easy to pick up wrong thinking and bad patterns of behaviour through long term osmosis.

b) Most people who attend workshops suffer from their own blocks which are, inadvertently, easily passed on.

c) Lecturer(s) may direct the novice screenwriter towards the wrong structural models (plot points etc as opposed to the Heros Journey).

d) Worst of all, the new screenwriter will learn to think like everyone else!

Workshop or not, the screenwriter will have to eventually build up writing competencies through sustained engagement with a number of projects (stories). This will usually be achieved alone or in a pair.

The fastest route to success is to generate ideas and apply the Heros Journey the template for the most successful stories and CERTAINLY the template for ALL the ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS (Best Film) of the past 25 years (at least). Consider this:

a) Titanic (1997) grossed over $600,000,000 uses the Heros Journey as a template.

b) Star Wars (1977) grossed over $460,000,000 – uses the Heros Journey as a template.

c) Shrek 2 (2004) grossed over $436,000,000 – uses the Heros Journey as a template.

d) ET (1982) grossed over $434,000,000 – uses the Heros Journey as a template.

e) Spiderman (2002) grossed over $432,000,000 – uses the Heros Journey as a template.

(the figures above are US Box Office – not worldwide)

The Complete 188 stage Heros Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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Author: Kal Bishop

Related posts:

1. Practical Screenwriting: Hero’s Journey
2. Screenwriting Craft: Hero’s Journey
3. Screenwriting Template: Hero’s Journey
4. Creative Screenwriting: Hero’s Journey and the Apotheosis
5. Screenwriting Blog; Hero’s Journey: Warning Before the Atonement