I need to film a short 5 min film for one of my classes, and I can't come up with anything. I'm trying to keep it simple but entertaining, but anything I come up with is either too long, or too boring. Theres no way I can tell a story in 5 mins....
Anyone have any good cures for writers block?
if you're having trouble figuring out how to tell a good story in five minutes, google "short stories". Look around and you will find millions of them ranging from classics to newly developed ones. This is a good way to study and learn how to tell a good story in a short amount of time. Just browse around for a while, and i'm sure you'll come up with something.
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Originally posted by darkwolf416
I need to film a short 5 min film for one of my classes, and I can't come up with anything. I'm trying to keep it simple but entertaining, but anything I come up with is either too long, or too boring. Theres no way I can tell a story in 5 mins....Anyone have any good cures for writers block?
I am no expert but just brainstorming-- write, anything, get the words flowing to get the brain flowing. Free associate. Think about what might upset the status quo of the main character, a bizarre event; maybe she gets in a taxi or bus to go somewhere and the driver flips out and stops in traffic, or drives the vehicle somewhere unexpected, or you get on the wrong bus and encounter some weird people on the bus or the neighborhood you end up in. Keep the location to one main location, one main char. COnsider internal conflict.
Make an ad for a fictional product:
Say a guy trying to sell a used James Bond car (yeah requires a decent looking car) and explaining the bullet holes (just nicks in the paint really, the metal was designed to stop bullets) and the ejector seat (nothing better when a date is going bad) and the oil that shoots out the back (tailgaters?). Then end the ad with the 5 miles per gallon gas mileage the thing gets. You practically need a bottomless government budget to keep it running but the chicks dig it.
Or a twist on a film:
Say Bruce Almighty. The guy wakes up with the power of God for the day. He tries to do good, first using his power to stop a car crash. Then while watching tv he sees the war and death and cures it. Then he flips channels past the PLayboy channel or something like that. Eyebrow goes up. Suddenly a red light appears in his bedroom and the voice of a woman (or more) calling him. He smiles and falls over himself getting into the bedroom. Then the tv channel changes back to the news and war and plagues and death are all back. God is sitting with the remote control. "Job always looks easy until you have the power."
Or how about a self-improvement bit:
Balding, dumpy, wimpy guy watches tv and sees ads for hairgrowth products. Viagra and penis enlargement products. Weightloss products. Home gym junk. He gets on the phone and dials like mad. Next scene a pile of boxes at the door. Finally when he's done he's a new man. Practically a new actor. Better looking, perfect. Yet he still watches tv rather than doing anything with his new perfection.
Or an informational thing:
Find someone into reenacting. Say a Civil War guy. Put him in a plain room and have him explain the gear piece by piece. These are the longjohns, poor bastard probably had one pair so it stinks a bit. Above that are his wool pants. Wool is hot and scratchy and miserable. Try to make it funny. Use cuts to have the gear appear on him so that we learn the stuff these guys wear. This could be done at a Ren Faire or WW2 reeanacting event, whatever you have connections to. This old stuff has a story, every trinket in their gear has a use and rational (hopefully 5 minutes worth).
That's all I got for now. Use one or more if you like them.
RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA
RJSchwarz
Redo a fairy tale.
Enough said.
Just throw your own twist on it and its instantly comic gold.
Or just not do your homework and bitch about how you can't put timelines on creativity therefore you should get an exstension.
This usually works if you sound intellectual enough while arguing it.
Its a good way to buy time.
That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough! I'm going to clown college!
That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough! I'm going to clown college!
drugs.
poof is right actually, drop some microdots and get a tape recorder and record what you rant about, then turn it into a movie.
You can come up with fun shit doing this.
That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough! I'm going to clown college!
That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough! I'm going to clown college!
