ur class ended well. I learned about "the business" and what my next steps are. Namely, to formally pitch ACYW and to prepare to pitch other ideas. While I've learned about the all important log lines - the line or two used to describe one's film idea most succinctly - I still need to learn how to write a synopsis (a 2-3 page overview of the movie in case readers get passed the log line). Once I get a better feel for that, I can really start moving head. I also got a number of movies for Christmas which I look forward to watching to see how they told their stories. One is Paul Newman's Slap Shot. Within the first 5-8 minutes of the film we have a very good feel for who the main characters are. On the whole, a solid first act. The third act, too, presents a couple great twists. But in the second act the movie slows down.
Thanks to class, I watch movies differently now and have a better feel for what needs to be stronger to keep a viewer's attention. Hopefully I'll apply my new eyes to my own work as well.
ou want the good news or the bad news first? I typically go bad first. For the sake of drama, though, you get good news first.
onsider the second draft of the screenplay complete. I still await feedback from class, but I'm excited. I feel good about it probably because I brought it back to what I originally wanted it to be - a satire about two Africans starting the Peace Corps in the U.S. I even worked in a reverse "The Gods Must Be Crazy" scene, Coke bottle and all. 
while back I wrote about how there seemed to be a lack of poetry/soul/beauty in screenplays - dialogue aside. As I spend more time writing and editing my screenplay, though, I'm finding places for soul. 
t's certainly been a while since I posted an update. My apologies. In general, the screenwriting course has been fantastic. I'm making good progress and getting good, constructive feedback. I'm handing in my second portion of work - the first half of Act II - this coming week and am moving ahead with the rest of the screenplay for full submission the week after. Once that's all done I'll address all the feedback and work on another full draft before considering submitting to contests, agents et al. Needless to say, more work to go.
ell, what can I say? Rehab is exactly what I needed. My screenwriting course through the Gotham Writers' Workshop has been great. I have an excellent instructor and have already received positive and even more importantly, constructive criticism on my screenplay's first act from my classmates. They have helped me address a nagging problem: Giving Josaya and Gibson their own voices and building up their characters. Now I have a better view of the way forward. And on that note, it's time to hit the books.
ince my last post, I've registered for an introductory screenwriting course through the Gotham Writer's Workshop, started writing my second screenplay (The Beer Flower Limited) and begun reading the course's textbook which has already given me some good pointers on screenplay structure. I've also landed a new job which will allow me to attend the night course and, hopefully, free up more time to write. I hope to read the textbook once all the way through before starting the course so it's not all brand new and then again in class. I've also requested from the NYPL the movies the textbook refers to so I can get a better feel for them before we discuss them in class. 