Scriptwriting Activity Overview
Blogspot Response (Monday):
Please listen to the following interview with Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon.
Respond to this blogspot by identifying what they think about formula. Do you think formula is a good thing or a bad thing in scriptwriting?
Assignment for Week of November 3rd:
Read the following article on scriptwriting, the 8 major plot outlines linked here.
Read the linked article, the 8 major plot points in the Lord of The Rings
After the two reading assignments above, find a short TV episode from either Spongebob, Phinneas & Ferb, or Adventure Time. Watch the episode with your scripting group. Identify with you group, using yellow stickies (Mrs. L will provide) placed on the whiteboard the 8 plot points in the episode. Once you all agree that you have the plot points check in with Mrs. L for participation sign off.
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In your scripting group, you will watch this episode of Firefly, a Josh Whedon television program, a little over 10 yrs old, known for its interesting plots, excellent writing, and well developed characters. Please analyze the episode using this attached plot outline template. When complete, upload your plot outline for your group to this google drive folder. Please make sure all names are in the title of your document, (e.g., lee_stark_ingle.pdf) and save as a pdf to upload.
I think that formula is a good thing, because most Hollywood movies have the same kind of plot, and that plot is always what consumers want. If you want to have a blockbuster, then writing using a formula is the way to go, because, essentially, hits have the same basic plot points.
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ReplyDeleteI think knowing the formula exists is what matters, but I feel like the main way to write a good script is to have good characters in a plot no one has really quite done before. It is good to know the right places to have the bad guy come in or a favorite character die, but it seems like it would be even better to make the audience think that's what is going to happen, but have the twist where that bad guy didn't come in because he's actually the main character or the favorite character didn't die because it turns out he has plans to kill everyone. If you follow a formula every time, it does not seem like you can have any really good plot twists.
Formula can be useful in some cases like when you cant think of how to structure your plot. but on the other hand formula has the potential to make blockbuster after blockbuster that don't have any variety in plot structure. Formula can be a good thing if used in moderation, its always a good idea to make up your own original idea and plot without the aid of any formula.
ReplyDeleteI think formula is a double edged sword. The more formula that is used in a product, the more you know it will be standard and good. However, when you use less formula, the more original your script becomes. The people who help design the current formula, were original scriptwriters of their day. If people want to make a revolutionary product, they need to make their own thoughtful formula.
ReplyDeleteFormula is a really useful tool because it gives the writer a successful tool or a template to follow. Then they can tweak it in certain ways and still be successful. I think that the two writers believe that formula is a good thing and that they use it often because it has helped them be very successful. I don't think that formula is necessarily good, however, because it can lead to repetitive stories that have the same plots and twists. Originality is shot down with formulas.
ReplyDeleteBy using formula, it is guaranteed that a movie will succeed to an extent and be enjoyed by consumers because it makes use of a useful template for the plot. On the other hand, there is less opportunity to make something amazing and out of the ordinary also because a template is followed. I believe especially for new scriptwriters, using any kind of formula would be beneficial to the learning process even if not used in a final product.
ReplyDeleteI think knowing the formula exists is what matters, but I feel like the main way to write a good script is to have good characters in a plot hardly anyone has done before.Knowing the right place where a major part of the movie is going to happen can be very key, but it seems like it would be even better to make the audience think that's what is going to happen, but make a major twist in the plot so that the audience never sees the twist coming. Sometimes the best movies are the ones where people never see the endings coming
ReplyDeleteI believe that formula is a great thing because it tells the scriptwriter what to do. So, then they can change it in different ways to make it unique and how they want it. The writers think that formula is good and that they use it a lot because it helps the writers be very accomplished. The only problem with formula is that it can lead to repetition of plots and stories.
ReplyDeleteFormula is a good method for scriptwriting because it can provide as a template for an episode or a movie. Because the audience generally likes and expects the same story basis every time it watches a movie or TV show, the formula can be a useful tool. Although it is a good idea to have an original plot, a formula can be used for the basic plot structure.
ReplyDeleteFormula is a good thing because it can really help you make sure your movie has a good plot at the least and that is what is really important when making a movie. Formula could also be a bad thing because it can subtract from your own personal style when it comes to making movies.
ReplyDeleteI think that formula is a good template and layout for what a screenwriter should base their plot off of, but it should not be followed exactly. Using more formula ensures a solid, standard plot structure, but it won't be anything original. The revolutionary movies are usually completely original ideas that have no relation to formula. Still, formula can be a helpful tool to give a basis for plot structure.
ReplyDeleteI think formula can be good or bad depending on how you use it. A formula is a template that you can use to base your movie around while still adding your own story line and twists. Even if a bunch of movies are based off of the same formula, they can still be unique and different from each other depending on how the writer uses the formula while still keeping originality. Garant and Lennon believe that formula isn't a bad thing and that some screenwriters fail because they are too scared to use it and believe they have to come up with something totally new to be successful, and most times they don't.
ReplyDeleteI think that formula is a thing that you can use to really have a great movie. Its creates a unique structure that is personally designed by a certain author. This will create a formula that will follow basic sets of rules that the writer can make suspense, drama, and excitement.Its when a writer has a basic formula, all the movies that this writer will make will follow the formula that he/she has. Just because all the movie formulas are the same, doesn't mean that the movies will be boring. THey may follow the same structure, but the story line will be completely different and exciting.
ReplyDeleteThis formula uses a flurry of fine ideas to dazzle the producers in a variety of hit grab and run tactics to always keep busy. This style of rapid fire ideas is a great way to break out a few mediocre movies and make a quick buck but no classics can come out of this, save for a complete stroke of luck. This style is, however, a great way to learn what works and what doesn't. Also it may help one find out what kind of writing they enjoy most and succeed at the fastest. Perhaps once that is done some of the writers better ideas can be realized.
ReplyDeleteI think that formula is what makes a movie great. it creates the same structure as all movies, which is what the audience really does love, it's just about the trial and tests it takes them to get there. It always follows the basic set of rules, but the details and events are different. Formula is a great thing.
ReplyDeleteFormula is good! The audience expect some sort of structure in the movie or episode. It directs the screenwriters in the right direction of the movie or episode, the formula gives the characters life and structure. It can also be a bad thing because it can start being the same thing every single time, which can be good in episodes but not in movies, In episodes there has to be structure because it is short and it can't be a dramatic change from episode to episode.
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ReplyDeleteFormula is very critical and necessary to achieve the kind of movie your audience wants; the foundation, drama, and the conclusion. For every movie, your viewers want a particular formula/structure and it is important that screenwriters stick with it.
ReplyDeleteGarant and Lennon emphasize that Formula is a good thing, I believe that a guideline for making a movie is important, but to make a good movie, it is how the director uses it.
ReplyDeleteI think that the formula is a good thing because scriptwriter can use it for many scripts. Also the scripts can still be creative.
ReplyDeleteFormula is an essential to accomplish an ideal movie. The script should be
ReplyDeletea guideline for the movie, but it is inevitable that the plot will be adjusted based on the crew's interests.
Formula is very important because its used as a guideline for making good movies. Formula's are important in order to appeal to the audiences interests.
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