Story & Structure – Page 43 – The Story Department

The Power of Next

December 7, 2020February 26, 2011 by Karel FG Segers

‘Being in the moment’ may be a way to keep your mental sanity; it is not where you want your audience to be during the film. If they start enjoying the music or image, fair chance they’re out of the story. In cinema there’s no place for zen. The Dept Revisited – A rerun of … Read more

Video: William Goldman

February 23, 2011 by Karel FG Segers

Last week Jack Brislee made reference to William Goldman breaking the rules.
Today we have the legend himself talking about the result of his rules smashing: $400,000, or a record fee for a single screenplay. That was forty-two years ago.

Goldman famously said “Nobody Knows Anything” and although there is some truth in this, it is not immediately the most helpful advice to any budding screenwriters. He succeeded in breaking the rules but every day a large proportion of failures can be explained because of exactly that.

Ultimately it is your call. See what you do with it.

With thanks to Louise Lee Mei and Adrian Kok.

Karel FG Segers

Karel Segers wrote his first produced screenplay at age 17. Today he is a story analyst with experience in acquisition, development and production. He has trained students worldwide, and worked with half a dozen Academy Award nominees. Karel speaks more European languages than he has fingers on his left hand, which he is still trying to find a use for in his hometown of Sydney, Australia. The languages, not the fingers.

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Making Our Stories More Original.

February 22, 2011 by Steven Fernandez

I have protested that Australian films are often atrocious from a story point of view. And have, at times, received venomous looks for breaking ranks with the local tribal myth that these films are artistically ‘special’, or have some ‘unique voice’. by Steven Fernandez It’s about time we admit that local screenwriters need to lift … Read more

Video: Richard Walter

February 16, 2011 by Karel FG Segers

During a recent talk on outlining I gave for the AWG, the first audience question was about selling .
When you teach screenwriting, some questions keep coming back.
Like the one on why movies need to make money.

Watch this excerpt from an excellent talk by Richard Walter and see how the lady in green takes her time asking a question. Walter’s patience runs out and he jumps in, then the lady shows her annoyance by throwing her hands in the air. Despite Walter’s slight attitude, I’m with him on this one.

Whose side are you on?

Do check out the full program on Fora.tv.

With thanks to Louise Lee Mei and Adrian Kok.

Karel FG Segers

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Structure: Up In The Air

February 14, 2011 by Adrian Kok

I have written before why in my view Up In The Air didn’t work for a mainstream audience despite the generous attention the film received around Oscar time last year. This time we look at the detailed structure in acts and sequences. Only now, at the time of publication, I realize this is an excellent … Read more

Last week Jack Brislee made reference to William Goldman breaking the rules. Today we have the legend himself talking about the result of his rules smashing: $400,000, or a record fee for a single screenplay. That was forty-two years ago.

During a recent talk on outlining I gave for the AWG, the first audience question was about selling . When you teach screenwriting, some questions keep coming back. Like the one on why movies need to make money.

Last week Jack Brislee made reference to William Goldman breaking the rules.
Today we have the legend himself talking about the result of his rules smashing: $400,000, or a record fee for a single screenplay. That was forty-two years ago.

During a recent talk on outlining I gave for the AWG, the first audience question was about selling .
When you teach screenwriting, some questions keep coming back.
Like the one on why movies need to make money.