| The principle for writing good screenplays begins | | | | ideal selves.e) Fantasy and escapism. Take the |
| with good idea generation and then the use of | | | | audience to a new place, we're tired of this world |
| structure to extrapolate that idea into a coherent | | | | today.f) Humour. What are the funniest, most |
| story. | | | | ridiculous, most hypocritical, incongruous, bizarre, |
| Structural Templates | | | | irrational moments of life.g) Education and morality. |
| All stories are simply alternative situations | | | | Teach them something or show them how we |
| superimposed over the same complex structure. | | | | should be.h) Special people. Take us into the world |
| You want to be looking at the 510+ stage Hero's | | | | of people we fear or admire. Show us the lives of |
| Journey for a complete understanding of this | | | | people who have travelled to places we dare not |
| structure. | | | | or cannot go.i) Romance and love. How sweet it is |
| Sources of Good Ideasa) Ideas that push cultural | | | | when we can get it.j) Different people. Show us |
| boundaries work well. Guess Who's Coming to | | | | how different people live. Compare and contrast.k) |
| Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, The Defiant | | | | The power of the group. Show us how we are |
| Ones, On the Watefront and so on were all | | | | more intelligent, able and greater together than |
| controversial in their time and still very watchable | | | | alone.l) Ambition. Is it pleasure or poison. Does it |
| movies.b) Ideas that tug at the emotions and | | | | fulfill or corrupt.m) Friendship. How real are our |
| arouse passions. Imagine the worst thing you | | | | friendships. Do we know who our real friends are. |
| would want to happen to you. What are you | | | | What happens when they betray us.n) Intellectual |
| most embarrassing moments? What causes the | | | | cross pollination - search the media, information |
| most pain?c) Cathartic events. Protagonists | | | | sources...o) Simply choose a story and write a |
| engage in conflict and challenge but the final act is | | | | screenplay. Good ideas will come to you during |
| always cathartic.d) Aspirational and self-actualising | | | | the project - make sure you capture them. |
| events. Make the audience move toward their | | | | |