Ideas Tap is a charity that helps creative types (like you and me) learn more about the industry they're interested in, from film to music to - hey! - publishing and probably more. They've got classes, work experience, internships, funding applications... They've pretty much got it all. It's free to sign up, too, which is brilliant news for struggling students (and just generally people low on funds).
I signed up to one of their summer workshop classes, but only one because I knew I wasn't going to be around much what with my jet-setting and all. I also forced encouraged my buddy to sign up to one of their classes on writing a TV series since that's what he's working on at the moment and he seemed to really enjoy it. But what of my class?
Turns out the notes I made are indecipherable even to my own eyes. Oops. I know the class was useful though, since it taught me all the basic things about writing a screenplay that the internet just wasn't getting through. I'm not about to become the next Wes Anderson overnight, no matter how good I look in a scarf. However, when I do get around to scripting my one film idea that just won't die no matter how many times I stab it, I am now equipped with these nuggets of knowledge:
- Everything on the screen has to matter visually
- The story is the emotional journey of the main character
- Begin with the "promise" - this will tell you everything you need to know about the film
- Don't rush the planning
- A good drama has conflict in every scene
- No-one wants backstory: tell the story in the present
- EVERYBODY LIES
Now to satisfy my urge to watch the first episode of House MD for the first time...
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