Sunday Picture Post 26 / Tip: Deadline
photo credit: mattbellphoto
SCREENWRITING TIP OF THE DAY: DEADLINE
Deadline — sounds looming!
In the dictionary, it says that a deadline is the perimeter that when prisoners pass, they may be shot by the guards.
Creating boundaries for yourself is a good idea. Limits help to inform you of where you are and where you can go. As a writer, you might get fired by an employer for not submitting a project on time, otherwise, no one will shoot you if you pass your deadline.
Whether on a paid job or writing for your own personal gratification, if there is no one at your back to crack the whip, you should give yourself a specific date that you want to be finished with the project.
As exemplified in my Write a Screenplay in One Month exercise, only one person was actually able to finish a screenplay in one month, but the rest of us, by having a deadline, wrote much more than we would have without the deadline.
Give yourself writing deadlines, even if you never want to sell a screenplay and never intend to show it to anyone or don’t have a boss harassing you because deadlines help to motivate you and structure your time.
Achieving something is better than nothing.
The sooner you complete one project, the sooner you get can to the next project.
With the experience of each project, you improve.
Set a date with your destiny!
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HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUNDAY PICTURE POST
For The Sunday Picture Post, we flip upside-down the saying: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Thousands of words are great if you are writing a novel, but if you are writing a screenplay, you need to do the opposite and be as concise as possible.
Each Sunday, I post a picture. For your screenwriting practice in brevity, in the comments section, using the image above, please post one or all of the following:
- A title for this movie
- 1 word describing the theme, mood, or scene
- 1 sentence to describe the scene
- A pitch to sell the entire movie
The more colorful and creative you are, the better! Use any genre.
A good screenwriter is laconic, using a few words to say a lot.
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5 Responses to “Sunday Picture Post 26 / Tip: Deadline”
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“Dry Times”
semi-historical
Cops arrive on the scene of one of the first drunk driving accidents after the prohibition was lifted. “So…” the chief begins, “how about you need to be at least 18, or 21… and NOT driving after a drink? What say you?”
A semi-historical yet comical look at alcohol consumption over the ages, from ancient times to how people drink in the future.
Title: Bonnie and Clyde are Missing
Word: Amazed
Sentence: Hoover and the boys descend on the bullet riddled automobile to find raggedy Ann and Andy in the front seat.
Pitch: Notorious crime duo Bonnie and Clyde elude the law by melting into the mainstream. Blending into small town life the darker side creeps over their doings and they are undone by Billy the magician. A little boy with second site.
I think I did it right this time. I have trouble with the pitch part.
Oh yeah, for sure give yourself a deadline. I feel kind of silly, but I’ve never imposed deadlines on my creative projects before. Hail deadline!
t.sterling & Ellen Wilson — Booze and robbers… what’s on your minds? Hahaha.
Ellen Wilson — Yes, you did a great job with the pitch and did it right. I like your fiction version of the story (that Bonnie & Clyde escape and leave ragdolls in their place) much better than the true story (getting shot to death).
t.sterling — Sounds interesting. I would enjoy watching a History channel documentary about alcohol; would be so interesting.
Jaden– I do watch a lot of History Channel, and I have a couple shows in mind… this is a new one I’d add to the list. I was inspired by a doc about Illegal Drugs and How They Got That Way. Crime seems to be on my mind a lot, I don’t know about Ellen though. Some of my favorite movies involve someone breaking the law. Ocean’s 11 (and 13) being at the top.
Ellen– I sometimes get stumped with pitches too, but I try to remember what I learned in school, and my teacher told me to write a line (or two) that would make me want to buy into it. Doesn’t always work for me, but thats what practicing is for I guess.
t.sterling –
I like crime, detective stories and thrillers. Thillers if done well. Especially psychological thrillers. I like a good mystery.
I’ve never written a screenplay, but now you guys have me all hyped up on it so I’m sure I will when the novel is done.
Yes, the history of drugs is interesting (and how they got that way).