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colinkorbelas · 1 year

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How to give every character their own voice . . .

Often writer’s will pour all their love into their main characters, leaving nothing but scraps for the rest. These smaller parts in their stories get robbed of having any wants, needs, flaws, or dialogue that makes them sound authentic.

Take a look at the opening scene of The Godfather, for example. You have a bit part character who speaks with an authentic voice; filled with pain, hatred, and regret. The scene is also a masterclass in writing conflict and resolve - which every scene should strive to have.

Let’s examine the opening scene further:

Bonasera tells a story about his daughter getting attacked and beaten to the brink of death. The people who did this got off easy. So now Bonasera comes to the Godfather asking for . . . JUSTICE. (Character Want)

The Godfather refuses him justice. (Conflict)

Bonasera doesn’t treat him like a true friend, and this upsets the Godfather. (Flaw)

Bonasera apologizes and kisses the Godfather’s ring. (A leap of faith gesture in hopes to resolve the conflict)

The Godfather agrees to bring justice for his daughter and family. (Resolve)

Bonasera gets what he wants, but not without first pledging his unwavering loyalty and friendship to the Godfather. He doesn’t hide what he wants either; he literally says: I want justice!

What’s brilliant about this piece of dialogue is it’s the theme that runs throughout the entire story. If you can’t rely on the system to serve justice, who can you rely on? The mob. The Godfather. Almost every scene has justice laced into it. Justice for shooting The Godfather, justice for Connie (who gets beat by man, much like Bonasera’s daughter), justice for killing Sonny, and so forth and so on.

Figure out what your movie is about, and then write every character with that in mind. Give every character, no matter the size of the role, their own wants, flaws, and problems. If you do this, you will force your characters to sound authentic on the page.

#scripttips #screenwriter #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #play #book #novel #hero #thegodfather #movie #hollywood

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colinkorbelas · 1 year

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What is your story really about?

When I ask what your story is about, I am not talking about the concept or premise. While it's vital to have a solid premise, it should only be regarded as toppings on a cake. What lies beneath the frosting of that cake are layers that give your story a deeper meaning.

These layers are your core themes, central conflicts, motifs, metaphors, and symbols. How well you bake these together will determine how good your story/premise will be.

Remember: Anyone can come up with a high concept and a great premise, but not everyone can execute it masterfully.

Let's examine Season 5 of the Crown (EP1 - Spoiler Alert), so we can get a better understanding of how to connect all the layers to your characters.

Season 5 of The Crown is about: Separation, regret, resentment and an out-of-touch Queen who’s aging past her prime.

These four layers of the story are shared by every main and supporting character in almost every scene. Even their surroundings reflect these elements.

Let’s start with Separation:

The Queen is separated from modern society.

Diana is separated from her husband/ royal fam.

Almost everyone is separated from their true loves.

Separation plays a powerful role in the character dynamics in every scene. It’s almost every topic starter in each scene.

Moving onto Regret & Resentment:

The characters regret listening to those around them, instead of making their own choices when it comes to love. Some of them were forced to listen which led to resentment.

The Aging Queen and her Empire:

The kingdom is crumbling at her feet. The dysfunctioning Royal Family are the cracks in the castle that are growing deeper ever so rapidly. It started with an old cruise ship falling apart. There’s some nice subtext in the scene between the Queen and her husband. The husband is talking about the ship but we know he’s also referring to the Queen growing long in the tooth.

The old horse carriage was another symbol of the crumbling monarchy. Fixing it up and adding a few new touches is what the kingdom needs.

The Windsor castle burns leaving over a 100 rooms in rubble. There’s a scene where the Queen and her husband are inside a burnt out room with high ceilings. All of it blackened with ash. They share a nice hug. It’s the end of a reign - or so it seems. . .

The people want a modern monarch. Diana was the bridge between the old guard and the new. But the Queen’s unwillingness to let Prince Charles let her go - and forcing her into isolation (separation) - led to the release of the tell all book. A chilling tale of abuse and isolation. Causing a media frenzy. This was Diana’s cry for help - much like a Princess trapped in a Castle Tower - yelling out the window for someone to save them.

The Crown does it so well it seems effortless. Every theme, conflict, motif, metaphor, and symbol is cohesively woven into each character and their storylines. Once you find out what your story is really about, then you can start to bake these same layers into your own masterpiece.

#screenplay #screenwriter #writer #author #writing #movies #films #tv #thecrown #crown #queen

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colinkorbelas · 1 year

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Why do you need to write this screenplay?

All stories should start with the why. As in, why are you writing this story in the first place? What about this story resonates with your heart and soul?

What is your entry point into the story?

A rough upbringing? Abusive father figure? No father figure at all? Bullied to the brink of suicide? Just fallen in love? Just got married? Been married and now on the brink of divorce? Want kids but can’t have them? Have kids but wish you didn’t because your social life is now up in flames? Wish you listened to your heart and chased your dreams? Chased your dreams and now you’ve written a screenplay but haven’t sold it? Rewriting the same script you’ve been working on for the past year, two years, three years? Finally sold your first script and thought it would win an Oscar? But when it didn’t win anything at all, you thought about throwing in the towel? You didn’t throw in the towel, but now you’re living in fear and doubt, wondering if your second script will be just as good as your first?

But enough about me. *ahem*

What about starting with the concept - the idea? Remember, “the idea is king,” wrote Jeffrey Katzenberg in his 1991 internal memo to his fellow Disney execs.

You can start with an idea. You can start with a concept like, What if Santa Claus was on death row? Let’s pretend like you actually believe this idea is good to begin with. The next question should naturally be . . . but why?

Do you hate Christmas or something?

Did Santa put you on his naughty list?

Or is it something deeper? An inner demon you have yet to conquer? Perhaps one Christmas your father dressed up as Santa and left to go get his own milk and cookies and never came back. Now you struggle with abandonment issues and harbor resentment.

Or Maybe you caught your mom cheating on your dad with some random dude around Christmas time?

Maybe you just hate the spirit of Christmas and would love to see Santa fry on an electric chair. Who knows why you want to write this story, but you better know why you do.

Without this entry point or some relatable and emotional event in your own life, this story, like many others, will feel empty. And the seats at the movie theater will reflect that same emptiness. If it even makes it that far.

You must write from a pure place. Forget about agents, managers, marketability, screenwriting contests, Twitter drama, or what your friend just sold to Paramount for a ridiculous sum of money. Forget about fame and glory. These are traps that twist the artist's soul, preventing them from ever writing a master work. Let me tell you, resistance is the death of an artist. Many of you love to fill your time with pointless resistance. I did too - and sometimes still catch myself doing it. It’s a war you must wage every single day. This is the life of an artist. So get off social media, connect with real people, and explore nature, not Runyon Canyon!

So . . . are you writing this movie about Santa Claus on death row because you think it might sell? You think it will land you that dream agent or manager? Or are you writing from a pure place? Is it pouring out of every part of you? It should be. Because this is where you will find your voice.

I ask again, why do you need to write this story? Tell me your deepest secrets in the comments.

#screenwriter #screenplay #movie #filmmaking #writing #hollywood

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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#poetryislife https://www.instagram.com/p/CgProePPa6RCUQrP6OuQxdqa7mgtgjD9lex4a80/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#poetryislife

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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#poetryprompts https://www.instagram.com/p/CgPrlOJPtz4pbpTjZ54phzUiy_ornsD1SLRuGg0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#poetryprompts

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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#poetry https://www.instagram.com/p/CgPrh3pvWYkZP9m7Nh_JhBeIPdsHPp8FOIVSH40/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#poetry

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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I've written a poem everyday for the past year. That's 365 poems! 😳 Never have I've been this consistent with any of my previous pursuits in life. Guilty of being more of a dreamer rather than a doer. But this year I drew my will power, and cast forth a mighty spell of dedication, to slay the antagonistic force known as, PROCRASTINATION! And now... I lay down my pen to rest. ...Until next year. -ck https://www.instagram.com/p/CXIUKf-rnbl/?utm_medium=tumblr

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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. . . #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetryisnotdead #instapoetry #poetryofinstagram #poetryporn #poetrylovers #bymepoetry #poetrygram #igpoetry #poetryofig #poetryinmotion #poetrysociety #poetryslam #micropoetry #poetryislife #lovepoetry #selfpoetry #omypoetry #sadpoetry #visualpoetry #poetrylove #poetrybook #poetryislove #randompoetry #inkedpoetry #poetstribe #writting #love https://www.instagram.com/p/CXFtUqALKdc/?utm_medium=tumblr

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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. . . #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetryisnotdead #instapoetry #poetryofinstagram #poetryporn #poetrylovers #bymepoetry #poetrygram #igpoetry #poetryofig #poetryinmotion #poetrysociety #poetryslam #micropoetry #poetryislife #lovepoetry #selfpoetry #omypoetry #sadpoetry #visualpoetry #poetrylove #poetrybook #poetryislove #randompoetry #inkedpoetry #poetstribe #writting #love https://www.instagram.com/p/CXDNZSVrk7q/?utm_medium=tumblr

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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. . . #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetryisnotdead #instapoetry #poetryofinstagram #poetryporn #poetrylovers #bymepoetry #poetrygram #igpoetry #poetryofig #poetryinmotion #poetrysociety #poetryslam #micropoetry #poetryislife #lovepoetry #selfpoetry #omypoetry #sadpoetry #visualpoetry #poetrylove #poetrybook #poetryislove #randompoetry #inkedpoetry #poetstribe #writting #love https://www.instagram.com/p/CXAry7WFvfn/?utm_medium=tumblr

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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. . . #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetryisnotdead #instapoetry #poetryofinstagram #poetryporn #poetrylovers #bymepoetry #poetrygram #igpoetry #poetryofig #poetryinmotion #poetrysociety #poetryslam #micropoetry #poetryislife #lovepoetry #selfpoetry #omypoetry #sadpoetry #visualpoetry #poetrylove #poetrybook #poetryislove #randompoetry #inkedpoetry #poetstribe #writting #love https://www.instagram.com/p/CW-LXJ3lbkY/?utm_medium=tumblr

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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. . . #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetryisnotdead #instapoetry #poetryofinstagram #poetryporn #poetrylovers #bymepoetry #poetrygram #igpoetry #poetryofig #poetryinmotion #poetrysociety #poetryslam #micropoetry #poetryislife #lovepoetry #selfpoetry #omypoetry #sadpoetry #visualpoetry #poetrylove #poetrybook #poetryislove #randompoetry #inkedpoetry #poetstribe #writting #love https://www.instagram.com/p/CW7dK2dL2t4/?utm_medium=tumblr

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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. . . #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetryisnotdead #instapoetry #poetryofinstagram #poetryporn #poetrylovers #bymepoetry #poetrygram #igpoetry #poetryofig #poetryinmotion #poetrysociety #poetryslam #micropoetry #poetryislife #lovepoetry #selfpoetry #omypoetry #sadpoetry #visualpoetry #poetrylove #poetrybook #poetryislove #randompoetry #inkedpoetry #poetstribe #writting #love (at Downtown Salem) https://www.instagram.com/p/CW4-g9blEnN/?utm_medium=tumblr

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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. . . #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetryisnotdead #instapoetry #poetryofinstagram #poetryporn #poetrylovers #bymepoetry #poetrygram #igpoetry #poetryofig #poetryinmotion #poetrysociety #poetryslam #micropoetry #poetryislife #lovepoetry #selfpoetry #omypoetry #sadpoetry #visualpoetry #poetrylove #poetrybook #poetryislove #randompoetry #inkedpoetry #poetstribe #writting #love https://www.instagram.com/p/CW2PCfqL1le/?utm_medium=tumblr

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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. . . #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetryisnotdead #instapoetry #poetryofinstagram #poetryporn #poetrylovers #bymepoetry #poetrygram #igpoetry #poetryofig #poetryinmotion #poetrysociety #poetryslam #micropoetry #poetryislife #lovepoetry #selfpoetry #omypoetry #sadpoetry #visualpoetry #poetrylove #poetrybook #poetryislove #randompoetry #inkedpoetry #poetstribe #writting #love https://www.instagram.com/p/CWz4OmzrLyB/?utm_medium=tumblr

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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. . . #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetryisnotdead #instapoetry #poetryofinstagram #poetryporn #poetrylovers #bymepoetry #poetrygram #igpoetry #poetryofig #poetryinmotion #poetrysociety #poetryslam #micropoetry #poetryislife #lovepoetry #selfpoetry #omypoetry #sadpoetry #visualpoetry #poetrylove #poetrybook #poetryislove #randompoetry #inkedpoetry #poetstribe #writting #love https://www.instagram.com/p/CWxTgJ2qEUM/?utm_medium=tumblr

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colinkorbelas · 2 years

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Happy Thanksgiving. 🦃 . . . #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetryisnotdead #instapoetry #poetryofinstagram #poetryporn #poetrylovers #bymepoetry #poetrygram #igpoetry #poetryofig #poetryinmotion #poetrysociety #poetryslam #micropoetry #poetryislife #lovepoetry #selfpoetry #omypoetry #sadpoetry #visualpoetry #poetrylove #poetrybook #poetryislove #randompoetry #inkedpoetry #poetstribe #writting #love https://www.instagram.com/p/CWup5udFFvp/?utm_medium=tumblr

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