What is a story?
•    An interpretation of an aspect of world
•    Culturally grounded and shaped by human experience

Difference between cinema & literature
•    Literature
o    Text, words, long explanation
•    Cinema
o    Visual medium, image, immediate reaction, mostly accessible

Logline
•    The logline is a one sentence summary of your script
•    It’s the blurb that describes what your script is about

Guess what?

It is about a guy who discovered that he has his own superpowers where he thought that he’s a special one because he could go anywhere that he likes. But he’s wrong because there’s already a group of people who have sworn to kill all this people who have this particular power since eons ago.

ans: Jumper.

Importance of logline
•    Helps writers to determine/identify core of story
•    Allows listeners/readers to relate to story
•    Sales tool to entice studio executives/buyers

Dos and Don’ts of loglines
•    Keep it simple yet memorable
•    Present it in present tense
•    Think in terms of ‘Who’, ‘What’ and ‘Why’
•    OR ‘set up’, ‘conflict’, ‘resolution’
•    NEVER reveal ending

Theme/premise
Situations, events
Characters (not necessary human)
Setting: place, time
Dialogue
Action
•    The ‘moral’ of the story
•    A view of life, how people behave
•    Writer’s perspective bout the world and the people who exist in it
•    Reveals itself gradually as story unfolds

WRITE STORY → FIND THEME

Importance of theme
•    helps writer to make choices in various elements
•    helps determine other creative decisions eg. Final look and feel of the story on screen

LOGLINE VS. THEME
I’ll wait for the next one
•    Logline
o    A man who acts like he is searching for love but in the end, a lady is ‘cheated’ even before she is loved.
o    A single woman gets on a train and finds the man of her dreams. Or does she?
•    Theme
o    Don’t trust strangers
o    Never rush love

Inside out
•    Logline
o    A man who tries very hard in capturing the passerby’s heart where without him knowing, he already captures the girl’s heart with all his gimmicks. But in the end, they are at lose end since they don’t confess what’s in there.
•    Theme
o    Don’t wait too long if you know that’s right for you.
o    Opportunity comes once. Grab it while you can.

How they got there
•    Logline
o    A man randomly follows all the comical acts of a girl across the street where little does he know that he’s up to a great trouble.
o    A man and a woman flirts with each other across the street only for it to end in a mishap
•    Theme
o    Be yourself, be original, that’s where you know you are right.
o    Love is blind

the Singaporean voice
•    What is its unique, cultural voice?
•    List some of the characteristics, representation?
•    Does Singapore have one?

Anyway, I was already in holiday mood during the weekends. And I think, this is bad news. Simply because I will start to procrastinate when there’s loads of things to be done. Oh oh. I need to change my attitude.

Another reason why I said that I was already on holiday mood because I went for one during the weekends. It was actually unplanned and it was actually my sister’s company staff retreat where they are allowed to bring along their family members. For singles, they are allowed to bring a maximum of 2 people. So, my sister decided to bring her siblings (:

So we went during the weekends. Of course, I encountered mix emotions. When we were about to leave Singapore, I felt sad because we had to leave our parents behind. There, I felt worried too. How are we going to survive in Genting without our parents? What will happen if something happened to us? All these questions were playing in my head. Despite all the sadness and worries, I felt excited because this will be the very first time that the sisters will be going away for a vacation after so many years of not going for a holiday with the family and so, we are supposed to be independent.

Overall, it was a safe, enjoyable and fun trip. From experiencing a totally different temperature up there to mixing around with people of a different age group (my sister’s colleagues who are mostly in their late 20s, 30s or even in the 40s). Unfortunately, due to the heavy mists and rain, we didn’t get a chance to play at the outdoor theme park. Whatever it is, I wish there would be another trip with the same group of people again since I felt that 3 days is too short of a time for us to bond and mingle (:

the cute and adorable kids who brought live to the trip (:

the sisters outside the outdoor theme park

in the cable car

Well of course, this trip had thought me how to be an independent child and not only be dependent on my parents or my sisters. Furthermore, being the last child, it is important for me not to be pampered or showered with too much love. Not that I hate it, but sometimes I think that I should learn and be an independent kid.

***

As for now, I have to complete my assignments while others are having their common tests. My aim: to complete every assignment before the weekends and not procrastinate since I’m going off for another vacation! Yay! :) A family chalet, that is. Oh wow, I’m enjoying early holiday, aren’t I?

Till then. Another post next time? We’ll see.

ELEMENTS OF DIALOGUE (GOOD DIALOGUES)
•    Dialogues reveals character

• A character talks to himself or herself.
• Other people talk about the character.

•    Dialogues establishes relationships between characters

• Characters expresses attitudes and opinions that are in opposition to one another

•    Good effective dialogue will move the story forward

•    Dialogues communicates faces and information to the audience

• Conveys essential exposition

•    Exposition: key information about the movie that the character have to communicate to the audience

• Characters will talk about what happened, establishing the storyline
• Dialogues ties the script together

BAD DIALOGUES
•    Dialogues should be used sparingly, never telling the audience what they can see for itself

• No substitute for action
• Use too much of it

•    Dialogue should not match conventional spoken dialogue, “real talking”

• Because its boring

POINTS TO REMEMBER
•    Film is a visual medium

• Too much dialogue, it stagnates the film

•    A script is a story told in pictures

Anyway, yay! Simply because, Mr. Ryan is kind enough not to give us any written assignment for the next lesson. But boo…, because instead of that, we need to study for the upcoming test on Friday. So, overall, it ends up as a neutral feeling still. Haha! :P

So anyway, so far, the whole week had been alright. We learnt about character analysis in class. A character is made up of 3 dimensions and I seriously think that these 3 dimensions are important in order for the character to come to live. A character is also an important part of a story because without it, there will be no story (and this therefore go against the Aristotle’s rule. muahahaha! ;)).

Let’s reflect. (breathes in and out)

Since we have studied about character in class, I would like to tie it in with my reflection this time. Everyday of our life is like a stage play. We see different characters everywhere, even twins are different. Once, when I had got all the time in the world, I would sit at the MRT station platform and observe the people, at different timings of the day. Of course, I would go on a different day. It was very funny. From the young kids, to the elderly. In the morning, people would be rushing to work, to school. Some may even be taking a stroll when the rest of the people around them are rushing. This causes some people to be pissed off and then, may even spoil their day. That is very saddening. Then, in the afternoon, the situation in the MRT station would subside and thus, will not be that busy. This is the time when most students will be released from school. Different behaviours of these students can be seen just from their physical self. From the studious one, to the rebellious one and to the geeky ones. This may not be the best way to judge a person but, it does reflect how the person behave. Well, abit at least. From all these observations, I can ‘characterize’ these strangers. Well, I did actually. Since I observed these people for 3 days (back in my secondary school days), I was able to characterise them, through their physical especially. The way they walk, they way they dress, they way they communicate and etc. All these are, of course, a part of character analysis.

The above is like the people watch assignment. Haha.

Okay for now. I will need to go back to my studies..  :P

Experience – something that really happened
Memory – ‘changes’ over the years

WEEK SE7EN NOTES

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

CHARACTER
• A story starts with character
• The character is the heart, the soul and the nervous system of your story
• It is through your characters that the viewers experience emotions
• It is through your characters that they are touched
• Without character, you have no action → Without action, you have no conflict → Without conflict, you have no story →Without story, you have no screenplay

When developing a character…
• Who is my character?
• What does my character want?
• What is my character’s quest?
• What drives my character to the resolution of the story?

3 DIMENSIONAL CHARACTER – physiology, sociology and psychology.

exterior – what happens in the movie
interior – what happens before the movie

REVIEW (test):
• 3 storytelling tools

• observation
• memory
• experience

• aristotle’s storytelling theories

• definition of a tragedy? Sth bad happens to a character at the climax and learns from the tragedy

• 3 act structure
• developing 3 dimensional characters
• writing for an audience

School had been a-ok so far. With projects/assignments piling up, I guess that there shouldn’t be anymore procrastination in our work. But believe it or not, this week is already week 7, and we are just a few more weeks away from term break. Oh yeah. I really hope that this time around, term break is a fulfilling and memorable one. Ah, this brought me into our last week’s topic: Writing for an Audience: Memory.

It was an interesting class. The aura was just different maybe because we have all just read our own or our friend’s Letter to the Past. Then, Mr. Ryan started to talk about this new topic… So as he lectures, what caught my attention is this line “these memories are points of references to your own past experiences”.. Memories.. Experiences.. We may just think that both are the same thing but no, they are not the same. To what extent? I’m not so sure about that. But anyway, in a way or another, this line also ties in with our Letter to the Past, which I think overall is well done among the classmates. And which I think too, interestingly (I think), mine letter is the only one which has no anger or any emotional hint of sadness.. Oh well, that was already the past.

Ok, I think I should stop talking about class already. Let’s talk about the current issues. Oh wow, sounds so serious. :P

What really attracted me in the papers nowadays is the dragon boat accident that happened to the Singapore Dragon Boat Team over at Phnom Penh’s Tonle Sap River. Condolences to them. There were 5 who died in the boat capsize, of which were among the best of the rowers. Tragedy happens. And what tore the heart of the coach further is that he suffered two loss; one is when his 5 young rowers died, and the other is when his own father died, on the same day itself. Double tragedy. The truth and reality of life really do hurt, alot. Memories of the dead will definitely be remembered by their family members.

But there are some questions that are lingering in my head after I read about this incident.

1. Why aren’t the dragon boaters wearing any life jackets?
2. Why did the incident happened only to the Singapore Team when there are also other teams from other countries that bypass that accident line too?

I kept thinking about these questions. Never mind, we’ll see if my questions are answered during the investigation of tragedy by an independent panel of inquiry.

Whatever it is, we can’t go against what He has in store for us. We just have to follow with the follow, but we can still make the effort to avoid any unforeseen circumstances.

(:

storytelling tool 2: MEMORY
•    your memory is a wonderful cabinet of past incidents which you have experienced or been told
•    these memories are points of references to your own past experiences

CRITICIZING THE LETTER TO THE PAST
The technique of writing
Did the letter have an effect on the audience? If not, why?

Screenwriter = storyteller
•    The cinematic experience is not just made up of words you might put on paper, but the audiences’ emotional reaction to that information

IT’S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE TO PEOPLE = COMMUNICATING TO THE AUDIENCE

What is the writer’s purpose?
•    To connect:
o    Themselves
o    Their unique vision
o    The material – content
o    The drama – emotion
o    Others (whoever the audience may be)
•    Audiences want to be transported by a screenplay

Where do you look for a story?
•    Inside yourself.
•    Everything to learn about other people is already in you.
•    Now you need to figure out how to connect to it.
o    “you have to experience it to connect it”

Anyway, the movie is about this one high school teacher, Mr Jim McAllister who is doing well in school until a point of time where the election came, where there is this one rich brat girl, Tracy Flick, who wants everything ‘her way’. She wants to control everything in her high school; answer every question and conquering every activity that a student may take up. Other problems rise up too with a new character emerging. And one main thing that Flick wanted, is to be the President for the student councilor (i think), along with other candidates such as the siblings, Paul Metzler and Jessica. At last, Jim gives up in avoiding to let Flick wins the election, with various ways he had tried (for example, recommending new candidates and throwing away some of the winning votes) and in the end, Flick wins. That’s all.

And, surprisingly, this is a Greek tragedy. Given this movie as an example, I think that I have understood  more on what Greek tragedy is. Yay! (:

So I guess I have to be more careful when I’m writing another Greek tragedy. Otherwise, other tragedy would occur. (pun intended.)

Anyway,  we are given assignment to write a letter to someone, to the past. I think this is an interesting assignment. I have got someone in mind, and I shall not read it here. One question, do we have to read out the letter in class? Ooh, will be very embarrassing. :/ Anyway, this made me reflect something…

People come and go in and out of our lives. And we always hear, all good things come to an end. But why? I don’t know. This is one thing that leaves me or any other person questioning. (Well, I think) People come into our lives, they cheer us up, they make promises and they will just go. Promises they make, some are kept, some are broken. Different emotions evolved when that particular person leaves you. They left because either they have to, due to death or some other commitments or because they want to, as some divorce cases might be based on. Some may be just too sad because of love, and some may be just too happy because of hatred. Well, Greek tragedy does happen in a person’s life.. Hmm.. I’ll keep pondering about it. These kind of things sometimes, are not meant to be solved. Whatever it is, I am glad that I was gifted with the right group of people to live my life with (:

Ok, I guess that’s all for my reflection. Will zoom zoom and do my assignment now!

Stress. Yes, the most popular word in school. Everywhere I go in school, there must be at least a person who says that word. Why? Is it really true that most people are facing it or are they just blurting it out?? Hmm…

For a group of people, it is really true that they are stressing out. I confirm this through their physical appearance. The most common thing for a person who is really stressed out: white hairs and weight lost. Ok, maybe that is just some stereotype but it does make some sense, doesn’t it? Anyway, after looking at one’s physical appearance, we tend to infer what they might have been doing and what causes them to get so stressed out. Example of the causes such as, crammed schedules and may be also, relationship problems. Minor problems such as being indecisive of what to wear for the next day can lead to a certain kind of stress too.

No matter what, be it students or even non-students, we cannot run away from this essence of life. These problems that lead out to stress are just everywhere around us. Bottom line is, lastly, it is up to the individual to take these problems as a stress factor or not.

Whatever it is, I will try my very best not to allow any stress overtake me.

That’s all. My mind is jumbled up.

when and where did Aristotle live?
•    Stagirus
•    384BC
•    Mytilene
•    Athene
•    Dies in Chalcis (322BC)

what were aristotle’s poetics?
•    Explain poetry
o    Tragedy
o    Comedy
o    Epic verse
•    Why tragedy?
o    Some religion purpose
•    Remind man that he is not god.

Definition of Greek tragedy?
•    Tragedy, then, is a imitation of an action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions.

An example of movie
•    The Passion of Christ
o    Defines tragedy: as a great person who experiences a reversal of fortune”
•    The Fantastic Four: the rise of silver surfer
o    Defines tragedy: a change of fortune from bad to good

aristotle’s 6 part of tragedies:
•    plot – most important
•    character – aristotle’s example: someone that is rich and famous
•    thought – overall purpose in the play
•    diction – what the characters say
•    song or melody – brings the mood of the play
•    spectacle – the ‘visual effect’

cause-and-effect chain
•    makes up the plot
•    brings the incidents/tragedies

unity of action
•    events must be running smoothly
•    actions lead to each other must remain undisturbed

episodic plot
•    a portion of movie
•    no twist in the feelings

simple plot
•    basic storyline
•    followed by a change of fortune

complex plot
•    reversal of intention “peripeteia” and recognition “anagnorisis” connected with the catastrophe

definitions
•    Katharsis – a form of emotional cleansing (happens to audience)

•    Mimesis – imitation; recreating life in a fake form

•    Peripeteia – reversal circumstances; plot twist

•    Anagnorisis – discovery (act 3); when the character learns

•    Hamartia – tragic flaw; what causes the character to go through their downfall

characters’ responsibility
•    appropriate objects of moral praise and blame – not villain but not perfect
•    supposed to be voluntary and our characters are the products of our actions

3 act structure
•    beginning
o    dramatic situation
o    introduce main characters
•    middle
o    “Rising action”
o    climax
•    end
o    resolution of conflict
o    learns from what happen
o    subplot