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Home: Video University Forums: Filmmakers & Screenwriters:
Seeking Advice from you smart people :P

Eden
New User

Mar 9, 2005, 12:07 AM

Post #1 of 6 (2567 views)
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Seeking Advice from you smart people :P	Can't Post

Hi people! This is my first ever post on this website, so I'll make it good. Tongue

I have been wanting to make a short film to enter into a competition for about a year now. But I have writers block. Also, it doesn't help that I don't know of any competitions that would support the sort of film I want to make. I wish to create a short animated film, be it stop-motion or Flash. But I can't think of a storyline that would be cheap to create (I'm on a tight budget) and not even sure where I could enter it. Obviously I need to select a competition before entering, because usually they have special requirements and whatnot.
So here I've come to seek the advice of the much more fortunate. Tongue

Does anyone know how I can get out of this darned writers block (if there are any tips to help get me started), or even any competitions in Australia that actually support short animated films??

hlanden
The Dean / Moderator

Mar 9, 2005, 8:43 AM

Post #2 of 6 (2546 views)
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Re: [Eden] Seeking Advice from you smart people :P [In reply to]	Can't Post

Set a time every day that you will sit down and write letters to your friends and colleages for one hour. Do it every day at the same time. On the tenth day start to write letters about a screenplay you'd like to write.
Produce Profitable Special Interest Videos

Renny
User

Mar 9, 2005, 9:24 AM

Post #3 of 6 (2541 views)
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Re: [Eden] Seeking Advice from you smart people :P [In reply to]	Can't Post

I like Hal's advice. Writing takes work. If you say "I want to write a great script, therefore I will," then you're doomed. Good writing is about reaching the unconscious part of your brain and Hal's method is a good one.

I wouldn't typically endorse books on writing, but this is a good one:
http://www.amazon.com/...v=glance&s=books
Anne Lamott
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

I stay away from the Robert Mckee insert-plot-point-here style books. The Bird by Bird book is very non-instructional. Just some methods that get some writer's to write and if you try them, you might find a few that work.

And if all else fails, just ask somebody to write a script for you. There are plenty of people that would jump at the opportunity.

Renny
Butylphenyl Methylpropional

videobear
Veteran

Mar 9, 2005, 11:09 AM

Post #4 of 6 (2537 views)
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Re: [Eden] Seeking Advice from you smart people :P [In reply to]	Can't Post

How about a short about a guy with a boomerang? Lots of potential for slapstick humor. What the heck, throw in an annoyed kangaroo.

What about an enterprising idiot who decides to start a crocodile ranch?

Then there's the classic science fiction geek romance story: Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy builds new girl. Think "Wallace and Gromit".

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

mjeppsen
Veteran

Mar 9, 2005, 11:09 AM

Post #5 of 6 (2537 views)
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Re: [Eden] Seeking Advice from you smart people :P [In reply to]	Can't Post

For more info than you ever imagined on competitions and film festivals, sign up for the http://withoutabox.com weekly mailing list. You will be amazed at the overwhelming amount of events that are held. It's an excellent resource.

Matt Jeppsen
www.FreshDV.com

vidguyz
User

May 19, 2005, 9:00 PM

Post #6 of 6 (1370 views)
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Re: [hlanden] Seeking Advice from you smart people :P [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ahhh - brilliant idea, young man ... brilliant !

I'm also in the writers block mode ... and have never thought of applying what I do with video ideas to the writing block !!