So I Am Writing My Black Historical Drama Pilot

[AlainLocke]

What Story Structure are you using ( 3 Act, 5 Act etc )?

I don't use a story structure...

What I do is create a character's strengths and weaknesses and then create themes and the setting...then I let the story write itself...

I always start with the ending...and determine how the story should end and how the ending fits the theme...everything else...it is up to the characters...


It depends on what genre you are creating...I create more literary/editorial type of fiction...

If you are trying to get as much viewers/readers as possible...and be in the mainstream...you should use a 3 act story structure...

 

[satireprod]

shyt is hard work...and the thing is...I am doing everything...

Writing...directing, marketing and composing the music...

And I might write and compose the music on this sci-fi anthology webseries...that might get pitched to a streaming service...

I mean...I have different goals...like I made an LLC..I wanna be a mid major...in the entertainment business...

I do a bunch of other stuff...not all my projects are narrative fiction...

I don't wanna sit in someone's writers room...and pray that the show doesn't flop so I won't be out of work..or having some egotistical fukkwad steal my scripts since he's the showrunner and everything must have his name on it...I would be perfectly fine with just having a hit webseries and some critically acclaimed indie films and never being put on TV.....

That last sentence was BEYOND real.
I relate to that last paragraph.

You got a lot of pots going, said you compose music, so would you ever music score for TV?

 

[Mr.Big Meat McGee]

I don't use a story structure...

What I do is create a character's strengths and weaknesses and then create themes and the setting...then I let the story write itself...

I always start with the ending...and determine how the story should end and how the ending fits the theme...everything else...it is up to the characters...


It depends on what genre you are creating...I create more literary/editorial type of fiction...

If you are trying to get as much viewers/readers as possible...and be in the mainstream...you should use a 3 act story structure...

Oh so you're a Gardener.

I kinda do the same.

Write ending, loose backgrounds for each characters, outline / divide the stories in subplots ( A, B, C, D etc )

Writing a Noir mixed with Dark Fantasy rn.

 

[AlainLocke]

Oh so you're a Gardener.

I kinda do the same.

Write ending, loose backgrounds for each characters, outline / divide the stories in subplots ( A, B, C, D etc )

Writing a Noir mixed with Dark Fantasy rn.

I assume you are referring to this...

There Are 2 Kinds of Writers: Architects and Gardeners
There are architects and gardeners. The architects do blueprints before they drive the first nail, they design the entire house, where the pipes are running, and how many rooms there are going to be, how high the roof will be. But the gardeners just dig a hole and plant the seed and see what comes up. I think all writers are partly architects and partly gardeners, but they tend to one side or another, and I am definitely more of a gardener. In my Hollywood years when everything does work on outlines, I had to put on my architect’s clothes and pretend to be an architect. But my natural inclinations, the way I work, is to give my characters the head and to follow them.
--------------------

For me it depends on the format. Right now I am focusing on screen...

You have a time limit and certain story beats and certain actions need to take place to move the story to the conclusion

1st Draft...I don't give a fukk and I am just writing to fill in the time...

I might have main characters, theme, premise, setting and logline written out...that's like 3 pages

Then I'll write my 1st draft...while writing my first draft...I am literally making up shyt as I go along...I'll make up minor characters that I think my main characters would wanna hang out with...then I'll make an occupation that my main characters might have....places they might wanna go...I do all this for an hour long drama...and any novel I am writing.

If the novel/tv piece is world driven...I will build everything out and actually create plotlines...that's like 20 pages...of stuff

For anything that is supposed to less than an hour...it's different...

I basically write a 3 act script...and since I am doing a webseries comedy...that is only gonna be 8 to 10 mins long...everything that the characters do and say have to mean something. Everything that happens enhances the character. I really don't care about the plot though...since I already know what needs to happen so I can end the season...I can basically write 100 episodes...on some anime type shyt and end the season or I can write 5 episodes on some BBC type shyt and end the season.

My main goal is to make the characters behave as naturally as possible and have the season finale feel organic...and deliver a coherent story in each episode in 8 to 10 mins.

I never heard it expressed as Gardner and Architect though...normally it is pantsers and outliners...

 

[HE_Pennypacker]

Chase your dreams, my dude