HEEEEEEEEEEEELP! Puhleeease!

[ellethebelle]

Okay I'm new to this whole thing, but I've been acting and semi-writing for a long time and I just realized that writing and different types of murders are the only things that I've been truly serious about for the past 19 years of my life (not saying that I'm a serial killer in the making or anything) so I'm dedicating my life to writing. Last summer my bestfriend and I decided that we should continue another story that we started together but this one sprung up and and is being copyrighted by me and my bestfriend, but we want to add more to it.

I have this idea about these girls (teenagers) who live this lavish life and on the outside they are so happy but on the inside with are dead, but everything spirals out of control once their very bestfriend is discovered murdered in a park. Each girl has their own problem and it develops throughout the entire story. The school asks the girls to write in journals in order to cope and with the feelings and mourn the loss of their friend. Basically the story is told through the journals.

I think that it's a good idea but I need help putting the other ideas that I have down on paper. If anyone has any ideas on how I can just get it out I'd highly appreciate it.

[Enigma]

If anyone has any ideas on how I can just get it out I'd highly appreciate it.

It's easy. All you have to do is sit down in front of your word processor and open a vein. http://absolutewrite.com/forums/images/icons/icon6.gif

[IWrite]

I have this idea about these girls (teenagers) who live this lavish life and on the outside they are so happy but on the inside with are dead, but everything spirals out of control once their very bestfriend is discovered murdered in a park. Each girl has their own problem and it develops throughout the entire story. The school asks the girls to write in journals in order to cope and with the feelings and mourn the loss of their friend. Basically the story is told through the journals. [/center]

I think that it's a good idea but I need help putting the other ideas that I have down on paper. If anyone has any ideas on how I can just get it out I'd highly appreciate it.

Elle - A story told through journals on its face sounds like it would work better as a novel - as opposed to a screenplay.

Screenplay and novel writing are very different crafts - both of which need to be learned.

Telling a story is not simply about getting ideas out of your head (though that is the first step). Crafting a story is about building a plot block by block and/or weaving the pieces together. A good piece of fiction is a symphony and you need to learn each instrument's pitch and sound so you can figure out how to orchestrate the music.

My suggestion is to take some sort of creative writing or fiction course - many community colleges offer them and their are some good ones available online as well. These courses teach the nuts and bolts and break down all the elements of character, plot, theme, etc. There are also screenwriting classes and workshops - but it really depends where you live - whether or not the colleges in your area will have courses. There are some good screenwriting classes on line.

[Joe Calabrese]

I agree with everyone else.

There have been a few movies in the past few decades (one with suicide and teenagers that comes to mind, although not the title) and how the people of the town and school dealt with it. Check them out and see how you can use what is familiar, but make it fresh. Add something new to the mix.

From the sounds of it, the journals (perhaps flashbacks) play an important part in your idea, which may not work in a script/film. Flashbacks are hard to pull off by newbies and Voice Overs of a journal is pretty boring visually.

In addition to learning the craft, I would download some screenplays of similar genre (thriller, drama, etc...) from drews scriptorama and other websites to get an idea of what a screenplay really looks like, get a few screenwriting formatting books like the Screenwriter's Bible by Dave Trottier (he should give me commisions for how many times I refer his book) to get the basics of formatting down and perhaps Syd Field's Book on screenwriting to get some theory down as well.

But, I also recommend you look at movies in a different light. Study them, see what is said, shown and why. I warn you... You may never enjoy a film again. My wife won't see movies with me anymore.

Finally, I would do what your movie suggests-- start a journal to keep ideas, visuals, character types, snippets of dialog, anything and everything. Perhaps, talk to a therapist and get insights on that subject. Talk to a school councilor and student of the same age too. Start a focus group.