Getting enthused

Last night I went out to a dinner party. It is the kind of thing respectable adults to as an excuse to drink a lot.

During the course of the evening, of course, talk turned to writing and film. I have learned that everybody loves film and would love to get involved in it in some way.

Whenever I talk about filmmaking, and especially writing, with people I find myself enthused and infused. Writing, telling stories, is the thing in my life that fills me with passion. And I love the process, the plotting out of a story, the hammering it into shape.

Certain writers, usually amateur ones, hate the idea that their story might change. Or be changed. They think that it falls from the sky, complete. That if one aspect is changed it will lose it's precious uniqueness.

First, no story is unique - and simultaneously ALL stories are unique. But they are not precious jewels. They have to be open for interpretation and manipulation to fit into the mould.

I want to produce commercial material. Forgive me, but I like films that people want to see. So to do this you have to understand structure and expectations. I have about 6 different structures that I will choose from. I find what one strikes me as resonating with the story and then I hammer the story into that structure. I find doing this liberating, not confining as some writers complain.

Perhaps it is my music background - music is all about structure. You learn early on the rules. Building upon those rules lets you create something unique (there's that word again) yet identifiable. I apply that to my writing as well.

As I get more feedback on my writing I am more and more convinced that my approach works, at least for me. Start with an idea, find the structure and let the two drive the development forward.

Anyway, its the morning after the night before and I am rambling.