Whammies

avid-dreamer · Apr 7, 2008

Hi guys! Ok, how many pages do you guys allow to lapse by between your whammies? Especially action, adventure and comedy scripts. Thanks again!

kullervo · Apr 7, 2008

That's a little bit like asking Beethoven how he knew when to put in the fast parts. It varies from script to script and there is not a formula. Write what feels right.

icerose · Apr 7, 2008

I try to have something moving the story forward every five pages. It keeps the story and the characters moving forward at a regular pace.

kullervo · Apr 7, 2008

Every word should move the story forward.

Rainy Night · Apr 7, 2008

I try and put something memorable on each page.

icerose · Apr 7, 2008

kullervo said:
Every word should move the story forward.

What I mean are BIG events moving it forward. Hence the title of the thread "Whammies." I doubt you consider every single word a "whammie".

Kristy101081 · Apr 7, 2008

Joel Silver and Bill Martell are in agreement that a whammy should happen no later than every ten pages - provided, of course that this progresses the story in some way and you aren't sticking them in there just to stick them in there.

dpaterso · Apr 7, 2008

kullervo said:
Every word should move the story forward.

I've told you a million times, don't exaggerate.

Every scene I can understand, but every word stops me dead -- I'll sit for the next 3 days angsting over "The"

--Snap! Identical avatars! I claim rep points!

-Derek

kullervo · Apr 7, 2008

I will stare at individual words. If there is a way to say something in one line as opposed to two, I will find it. If there is a five-letter word that can take the place of an eight-letter word, I will use it.

NikeeGoddess · Apr 7, 2008

it's not about particular words, it's about moments. i call them "oh shits!" and "uh ohs!" and they effect the pacing.

Plot Device · Apr 7, 2008

Kristy101081 said:
Joel Silver and Bill Martell are in agreement that a whammy should happen no later than every ten pages - provided, of course that this progresses the story in some way and you aren't sticking them in there just to stick them in there.

Every 7-10 pages.

Smiling Ted · Apr 8, 2008

If you can make whammies out of conjunctions...
Then you've got a career.

Whammies

avid-dreamer

AW Addict

kullervo

minion

icerose

Lost in School Work

kullervo

minion

Rainy Night

INFJ

icerose

Lost in School Work

Kristy101081

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

kullervo

minion

NikeeGoddess

Plot Device

A woman said to write like a man.

Smiling Ted

Ah-HA!