The plot melts.

Tonight I begin my 17-week paper on film screenwriting. It is part of a larger film course I have been doing part time for the last year and half. In 17 weeks time I will need to have written an entire movie screenplay and I am slightly freaking out. 

This week I need to write a plot outline that shows my knowledge of three-act structure, along with plot points – the moments that push you on to the next act. This outline also needs to fit in to one type of genre.

But first I need an idea for a story, ah yes this is where it gets tricky. So far this evening I have sat with my notepad, staring at a spot on the opposite wall, listening to my potatoes boil. My page currently has about 10 lines of scribble on it. The most productive thing to come from ‘writing Thursday’ so far is to learn that potatoes boil for a long time.

Where to start, where to start, where to start.

So I think about movies I like and why I like them. Then for the first time I think how acts apply to them and have a guess. The key word being guess!

Romeo and Juliet

Act 1: Characters and families are introduced

Plot point 1: Romeo and Juliet meet

Act 2: The dramas of their relationship unfold

Plot point 2: Romeo decides to poison himself

Act 3: People die and everyone is miserable

Little Miss Sunshine

Act 1: Dysfunctional family introduced

Plot point 1: Olive gets the chance to compete in the beauty contest

Act 2: The dysfunctional family set out on the road trip

Plot point 2: Olive arrives at the contest

Act 3: Olive loses but in style and the family realise they like and need each other

For some movies, I struggle to think what plot point 2 would be. Is the pp2 in
The Notebook, when Allie decides to go to Noah’s house? And what is the pp2 in Garden State? When Andrew changes his mind at the airport? That seems too close to the end. Love Actually blows my mind; I can’t even begin to think of acts among all the characters. I realise this is getting too stressful. I walk over to the pot and look at my potatoes; I wish for a second that I could be a potato who doesn’t have to write. Later I thank god that not all wishes come true.

So then I turn to Google. I actually Google “how to come up with good film ideas.” I read things mostly not helpful and then I come across the Writers Guild's list of the 101 Greatest Screenplays. My eyes scroll down the list for inspiration.
This movie on the list jumps out at me.  I remember liking it at the time and as I watch the trailer, I see the key messages and they are good. I decide I want to write a movie like this. So then I read about the writer Cameron Crowe, he has had a cool life. I like the part in his bio about his mum and how people in Indio have tortoises. Coachella was held in Indio. I am procrastinating.

Characters, characters, characters I have to come up with some of those as well. Shit. Who are some good ones…the non talking Dwayne in Little Miss Sunshine, Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice, any character Hugh Grant plays, pretty much the whole cast of Empire Records and 10 Things I Hate About You.

I still need an idea, some of the notes I scribbled down include:

Fear and what it prevents people from doing

Quarter life crisis

Right and wrong

Heartbreak

Unemployment

Cheating

The Share Market

Travel

Creativity vs. wealth

Bikes

Then there are key scenes and one liners. The one liner ''spectacular mistake'' from Pirate Radio comes to mind as I think about my decision to do this paper.  

Right I’ve got to go, I’ve got to write a movie, or vomit, one or the other. Sleep might also be good. Deep breath!