Sixty Scenes Exercize #2
I'm going to present a premise and a few main characters here. Then you as readers will add the scene descriptions as replies.
THE RULES ()
1) Don't be boring. (Well, that is Rule #1 in Storytelling, isn't it? :) )
2) You are not limited to one sentence in describing your scene, but brevity and clarity are the main thrusts of this project. There is no need to get into specific dialogue or action direction as such.
3) My hope is to have the treatment process done in ONE THREAD, with the next scene description posted as a reply to the previous one. Now, I know from experience that some writers are faster on the draw than others. If a scene is followed by DUAL replies, then if the second one is roughly the same as the first one, it should be ignored and the continuity stay with the earlier entry...but if the second scene is completely different and takes the story in a new direction, then I see no problem with having an alternate continuity. In fact, there can be ways to exploit such things. Theoretical example: "Detective James learns from the DNA lab that the homeless man is in fact Van Smid, so he goes to the school to find Marigold and tell her the news. NOTE: Continuity from here returns to original scene #37." If an alternate continuity is started, all subsequent scenes must have an A after the scene number. If a third continuity is started, the scene number must be followed by B, and so on for additional alternate continuities. But I want to stress that it's preferable to try to keep to one continuity, or two if necessary.
4) You are not limited to contributing just one scene in this story treatment...but the same writer is not allowed to post two scenes in a row.
5) We want to keep traditional story pacing. Scene #15 or #16 should be the start of Act II and scene #45 or #46 should be the start of Act III. What happens in the Act II/Act III transition (scenes #45~#46) should reflect what happens at both the Act I/Act II transition (scenes #15~#16) and at the story midpoint (around scenes #29~#31). The story should end with scene #60.
6) An example of the format:
HEADER: Scene #0
BODY of the REPLY: The FBI and Interpol spell out the legal hazards and penalties that await those who break Copyright law through illegal sale or distribution of this movie.
7) Keep to the main concept of the premise. Subplots can be fun and add greatly to a movie, but they can also derail a good narrative sweep.
8) You are free (and it is going to be necessary) to add your own characters. But remember that the scope of the movie is going to concentrate on the main characters.
9) Have fun and play nice.
If it turns out I need to add more rules I will.
WORKING TITLE: "Blood Red Roses"
GENRE: Historical Adventure/Drama/Social Fiction
STORY PREMISE: In the years between the end of the American Revolution and the start of the French Revolution, a teenage Louisiana planter's daughter, her grandmother, and her slavegirl servant are to sail from New Orleans to France. Unaware to them, the slavegirl's elder brother--a freedman--is boarding the same ship. Does he mean to follow them to Europe or to escape with his sister...or do events en route change everything?
MAIN CHARACTERS: CLARISSE, the planter's daughter. BARBE, the grandmother. IRENE, the slavegirl. NICOLAS, the freedman brother of Irene.
(Comments: I was a little disappointed about how the first one went, but I'm not going to dwell on it. We all need to live and learn as we go.)
THE RULES ()
1) Don't be boring. (Well, that is Rule #1 in Storytelling, isn't it? :) )
2) You are not limited to one sentence in describing your scene, but brevity and clarity are the main thrusts of this project. There is no need to get into specific dialogue or action direction as such.
3) My hope is to have the treatment process done in ONE THREAD, with the next scene description posted as a reply to the previous one. Now, I know from experience that some writers are faster on the draw than others. If a scene is followed by DUAL replies, then if the second one is roughly the same as the first one, it should be ignored and the continuity stay with the earlier entry...but if the second scene is completely different and takes the story in a new direction, then I see no problem with having an alternate continuity. In fact, there can be ways to exploit such things. Theoretical example: "Detective James learns from the DNA lab that the homeless man is in fact Van Smid, so he goes to the school to find Marigold and tell her the news. NOTE: Continuity from here returns to original scene #37." If an alternate continuity is started, all subsequent scenes must have an A after the scene number. If a third continuity is started, the scene number must be followed by B, and so on for additional alternate continuities. But I want to stress that it's preferable to try to keep to one continuity, or two if necessary.
4) You are not limited to contributing just one scene in this story treatment...but the same writer is not allowed to post two scenes in a row.
5) We want to keep traditional story pacing. Scene #15 or #16 should be the start of Act II and scene #45 or #46 should be the start of Act III. What happens in the Act II/Act III transition (scenes #45~#46) should reflect what happens at both the Act I/Act II transition (scenes #15~#16) and at the story midpoint (around scenes #29~#31). The story should end with scene #60.
6) An example of the format:
HEADER: Scene #0
BODY of the REPLY: The FBI and Interpol spell out the legal hazards and penalties that await those who break Copyright law through illegal sale or distribution of this movie.
7) Keep to the main concept of the premise. Subplots can be fun and add greatly to a movie, but they can also derail a good narrative sweep.
8) You are free (and it is going to be necessary) to add your own characters. But remember that the scope of the movie is going to concentrate on the main characters.
9) Have fun and play nice.
If it turns out I need to add more rules I will.
WORKING TITLE: "Blood Red Roses"
GENRE: Historical Adventure/Drama/Social Fiction
STORY PREMISE: In the years between the end of the American Revolution and the start of the French Revolution, a teenage Louisiana planter's daughter, her grandmother, and her slavegirl servant are to sail from New Orleans to France. Unaware to them, the slavegirl's elder brother--a freedman--is boarding the same ship. Does he mean to follow them to Europe or to escape with his sister...or do events en route change everything?
MAIN CHARACTERS: CLARISSE, the planter's daughter. BARBE, the grandmother. IRENE, the slavegirl. NICOLAS, the freedman brother of Irene.
(Comments: I was a little disappointed about how the first one went, but I'm not going to dwell on it. We all need to live and learn as we go.)