Newsworthy?

Variety had an interesting article about screenplays that reflect the writer's life. It's always cool to read where stories come from, so it's a useful article to check out. But is it newsworthy? Who doesn't write something autobiographical when they write? I took a creative writing course in college called "The Autobiographical Imagination." I assumed we'd learn to write memoirs. But on the first day the professor announces that we could write whatever we wanted -- poems, fiction, essays -- anything. That whatever we wrote would be autobiographical because we'd be expressing ourselves.

'They" always say to write what you know. I don't believe it's possible to write anything else. I know you're thinking, "Well, I don't know about the Vietnam War and it's not autobiographical for me because I'm only 30!" You still will write a script about something you know. First off, you'll research the subject matter. But not too much. But you won't be writing a history special. Your script needs emotion and characters and specifics that take it from concept to story. And that stuff will be what you know. Even if you don't know the exact emotion of someone going to war, you know of a time when you've been frightened, and can transfer what you're feeling into the context of your story. The topic compels you for a reason, because you relate to something about it. Write about that. That's what you know.

I think it would be impossible to dedicate myself to several drafts of over 100 pages of screenplay without having an emotional connection to the material. Even a writing assignment needs that element of YOU. Every script is a reflection of its writer. So it's important to remember to tell your story, but kind of obvious at the same time. Why tell anything else?

The Black List

It's that time of year, when unproduced scripts get to shine. The full black list hasn't been released yet, to my knowledge (but I'll post when it does). But here's the top ten scripts on the list.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/the-black-list-to-be-posted-here-in-entirety/

I'm really excited for The Social Network -- though I was before it made the list. Cedar Rapids and Desperados will also be really cool, I think, if they do get released. Because really, who doesn't love something with the description "The Hangover meets the Sweetest Thing?" Two silly, amazingly fun movies come together? Gotta be good.

Anyway, congrats to the writers who made the list this year. As always, this list inspires me to work harder on my own projects so that someday, I can see my name on that list as well. Not that it's the be all and end all of everything, but it's good to have goals.

UPDATE: Nikki Finke has posted the complete roster of the black list. View it here.

Perfect Scene

*SPOILER ALERT*

I was blown away by the writing in a recent episode of Gossip Girl, "The Treasure of Serena Madre." It was the perfect example of creating tension in a scene, and it was beautiful to watch.

It was the Thanksgiving episode. The Humphreys and the van der Woodsens were celebrating their first Thanksgiving together - and boy did they have different opinions on the holiday! Rufus wanted something huge and holiday-like. Lily wanted small, maybe even just take out. She didn't even want to invite her mother. Meanwhile, Vanessa decided to crash at Dan's loft because her mother was driving her crazy. Except she didn't realize that ever since the threesome Dan's been madly in love with her. Blair's mother was hiding something, and Blair (who is obsessed with Thanksgiving) was determined to find out over the holiday -- and when she does, she thinks the big secret is that her mother's pregnant. Serena and Tripp were busy having a quasi-affair, which was driving Nate crazy because he's in love with Serena again. Oh, and you know, the whole political figure scandal. Jenny's discovered that Eric was secretly behind her sabotage at Cotillion.

After a turn of events, everyone winds up at the van der Woodsen/Humphrey Thanksgiving. EVERYONE. Including Lily's mother, Vanessa's mother, and Tripp and his wife. The table is buzzing with secrets and tension. Everyone has to be on their best behavior, because it is a holiday, and they don't want to embarrass themselves. So there are a lot of snide comments. A lot of subtext. And finally, a lot of storming off.

It's a great scene because the audience is aware of all the tension. The audience knows everyone's secrets, everyone's drama. So we're just waiting for the pot to boil over. Waiting. It comes slowly...what's going to happen...how will our characters react...and then it all erupts at once.

This is what they mean when they say you should make sure your scenes have tension. Make your characters uncomfortable. Surprise them. Take the day we're all supposed to be happy -- Thanksgiving -- and blow it up so that there's nothing to be thankful for.

Watch the scene here.