10 More Movie Quotes That Are Applicable to Your Life as a Writer

We've talked about a great deal over the last 6 months. Plot Twists, Inspirational Quotes, Award Ceremonies, LSF, Writing Partner Assassination, Imaginary "Friends", Midichlorians... But, as a sneak peek behind the scenes of Anti-Scriptwriting, by far my most popular post is the "10 Movie Quotes That Are Strangely Applicable to Your Life as a Writer". And so, as all great writers do, I'm selling out and doing the sequel. My reasons are more leaning towards nostalgia than anything, but that's because I'm going on a hiatus for a while, due to numerous project deadlines and the ongoing hunt for paid employment, so I thought, "Why not go out with a BANG?"

1) Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

"Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1."
"Never tell me the odds."

It's important not to let your chances of success or failure overwhelm you as a writer. Getting a career off the ground is a roll of the dice, but the only way you're going to keep rolling is if you ignore the harsh realities of your chosen occupation and just enjoy the ride. In fact, C3PO's random statistic has been disproven anyway, meaning that the odds are really yours to control.

2) The Big Lebowski

"That rug really tied the room together."

It's quite easy to get hung up on one largely meaningless item in your script because of sentiment. Maybe a friend has told you to get rid of it because it just isn't working. Maybe a script editor red-penned that thing into oblivion. Maybe you're at your movie's premiere and you realise that the director has got rid of your protagonist. I'd mention THAT song from Frozen here, but that'd mean I'd be doing 11 Movie Quotes...

3) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

"What do you think you are, for Christ's sake, crazy or somethin'? Well, you're not! You're not! You're no crazier than the average asshole walkin' around on the streets and that's it."

People give writers a bad rep for being weird, reclusive introverts, which, for the most part, is untrue. The funny thing is, a lot of society's preconceptions are based on what they've seen in movies and on TV - something that the writer has created. Writers write about the weird and wonderful people in the world around them, because everyone is crazy.

4) Trainspotting

"Living like this is a full time business"

There's no off-switch for a writer. It's not a 9-5 stint and then chill in front of the telly for the rest of the night. Ideas don't care about working hours. If you're even a half decent writer, you'll know what I'm talking about. Walking to the shops, brushing your teeth, listening to the news - they're all really just excuses for your head to have the time to cook up your next big story. Also, don't do drugs.

5) The Incredibles

"No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for... ten minutes!"

Much like above, a writer's work never stops, even when you have only just finished a project. Chances are you're working on several things at once anyway. There's never much time for a holiday or even a cool down period in between stories. But I wouldn't know what to do if I just stopped one day, and I'm sure you probably wouldn't either.

6) There Will Be Blood

"I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed."

Perhaps we don't reach Daniel Plainview's level of contempt in our world of work, but, as I've spoken about before, being a competitive writer has its pros and cons. A competitive streak can be an excellent motivator, and, whatever your feelings are about the thousands of other writers out there, at some point, you've got to have the self belief to brush aside their needs for your own.

7) The Social Network

"You know, you really don't need a forensics team to get to the bottom of this. If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you'd have invented Facebook."

Intellectual property is always a touchy subject with writers. We all know that there are no truly original stories, and much of our job is to try and repurpose and reinvent the wheel, or at least the way that the wheel is executed. Bottom line is that if you've come up with something "new", don't let others take that away from you, even if someone does your thing before you slightly differently.

8) Birdman: or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

"Listen to me. I'm trying to do something important."
"This is not important."
"It's important to me!"

Knowing why you're doing something is crucial in writing. More often than not, though, writers can forget who they're writing for. Most of the time, it'll be for themselves, even if they don't realise it. I'm not saying that you should be considering the commercial value of everything you do, but, at the end of the day, what good is a film going to be if no one is going to see it?

9) Airplane!

"I just wanted to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."

Sometimes you just need to be repeatedly reminded that you have people who love and support what you're doing. Being a writer can be an isolated experience, and if your friends and family have the belief to get through your hard times, you owe it to them to do your absolute best. Also, I just wanted to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you.

10) Interstellar

"We've always defined ourselves by the ability to overcome the impossible. And we count these moments. These moments where we dare to aim higher, to break barriers, to reach for the stars, to make the unknown known. We count these moments as our proudest achievements. But we lost all that. Our perhaps we've just forgotten that we are still pioneers."

Kind of says it all really.

James Cottle, after studying Scriptwriting for 4 years, is now an embittered real life freelance writer, and seeks to unlearn everything he knows. But he needs your help... Follow him on Twitter @Jxmxsc and share this blog to help spread his anarchic plight for reform amongst the writing masses.

The Stupendous Automatic Movie Logline Generator!

Coming up with new ideas is like trying to push an elephant into a doctor's waiting room - it's not going to be as effective if you try and force it. You've got to let the elephant appear there when the situation demands it. And that terrible analogy is exactly the kind of brilliant result you can expect from this, my latest invention - the Stupendous Automatic Movie Logline Generator! Sometimes you've just got to throw the alphabet at the wall and see what sticks. So grab a pen and paper, or prepare to memorise if you're that badass, and marvel as a new film idea forms in front of your very eyes!

1) Choose the First Letter of Your Mother's Maiden Name

A = An Adventurous
B = A Boisterous                              
C = A Cantankerous
D = A Danger-Loving
E = An Eccentric                                               
F = A Foolhardy
G = A Grieving                                  
H = A Humungous                           
I = An Idiosyncratic
J = A Jealous                                      
K = A Killer                                          
L = A Lackadaisical
M = A Macho                                    
N = A Nervous                                  
O = An Obscene
P = A Pragmatic                                
Q = A Quirky                                      
R = A Religious
S = A Sadistic                                     
T = A Tenacious                                
U = An Unappeasable
V = A Voluptuous                            
W = A Watchful                                
X = A Xanthic
Y = A Young                                       
Z = A Zesty

2) Choose the Last Letter of Your Father's First Name

A = Anaesthetist                             
B = Billionaire                                    
C = Caveman
D = Dietician                                      
E = Economist                                   
F = Fighter
G = Gardener                                   
H = Hawk                                            
I = Inspector
J = Janitor                                           
K = Kleptomaniac                            
L = Lawyer
M = Mother                                      
N = Nurse                                           
O = Ostrich
P = Postal Worker                           
Q = Queen                                         
R = Radiologist
S = Swimmer                                     
T = Teacher                                        
U = Underling
V = Violinist                                       
W = Watch-Maker                          
X = X-Ray Inspector
Y = Yak                                                 
Z = Zookeeper

3) Choose the Third Letter of Your Own Name

A = Attacks                                        
B =  Buries                                          
C =  Chases
D = Discovers                                    
E = Eats                                                
F = Faces
G = Guards                                        
H = Hijacks                                         
I = Interrupts
J = Joins                                                               
K = Kills                                                
L = Launches
M = Marries                                      
N = Needs                                          
O = Offends
P = Punishes                                     
Q = Questions                                  
R = Rebuilds
S = Spoils                                            
T = Transports                                  
U = Underestimates
V = Violates                                       
W = Wrecks                                       
X = X-Rays
Y = Yearns For                                   
Z = Zigzags

4) Choose the First Letter of Your Hometown's Name

A = An Amulet                                  
B = A Boar                                          
C = A Coke Can
D = A Demon                                    
E = An Elephant                                               
F = A Family
G = A Goat                                         
H = A Housemate                            
I = An Iguana
J = A Jury                                            
K = A King                                           
L = A Lamborghini
M = A Martyr                                    
N = A Nightmare                             
O = An Optician
P = A Policewoman                        
Q = A Quizmaster                            
R = A Rhinoceros
S = A Sailboat                                    
T = A Tarantula                                 
U = An Untold Evil
V = A Valet Driver                           
W = A Wolf                                        
X = A Xerox Machine
Y = A Yogurt                                    
Z = A Zeppelin

5) Choose the Third Letter of Your Favourite Food

A = In An Ambulance                     
B = In A Beach Hut                          
C = In A Caravan
D = In A Dungeon                            
E = In Ecuador                                   
F = In A Funeral Parlour
G = In A Garage                                               
H = In A Hospital                              
I = In An Igloo
J = In Jamaica                                    
K = In A Kid's Play Area                 
L = In A Lion's Den
M = In A Museum                           
N = In A Nordic Castle                   
O = In Ohio
P = In Purgatory                                               
Q = In Quebec                                  
R = In A Rut
S = In Space                                       
T = In A Tent                                      
U = In An Underworld
V = In A Vending Machine           
W = In A Whale's Belly                  
X = In A Xylophone Factory
Y = In Yemen                                     
Z = In A Zoo

6) Choose the Last Letter of Your Favourite TV Show

A = But Angers                                 
B = But Becomes                             
C = But Creates
D = But Destroys                             
E = But Entices                                  
F = But Finds
G = But Galvanises                         
H = But Harnesses                          
I = But Inspires
J = But Jeopardises                         
K = But Knocks Out                         
L = But Loves
M = But Misses                                
N = But Neglects                             
O = But Offends
P = But Paralyses                             
Q = But Quarrels With                   
R = But Reanimates
S = But Scares                                   
T = But Tackles                                 
U = But Underestimates
V = But Victimises                           
W = But Worries                              
X = But X-Rays
Y = But Yearns For                           
Z = But Zeroes In On

7) Choose the First Letter of Your Favourite Place on Earth

A = An Aging                                     
B = A Big                                              
C = A Careless
D = A Devious                                   
E = An Ethereal                                
F = A Fearless
G = A Gentle                                     
H = A Hardworking                         
I = An Idiotic
J = A Judgmental                          
K = A Kindly                                       
L = A Lovable
M = A Majestic                                 
N = A Neurotic                                 
O = An Obnoxious
P = A Prissy                                        
Q = A Quirky                                      
R = A Raging
S = A Sentimental                           
T = A Tantalising                               
U = An Undeserving
V = A Violent                                     
W = A Well Known                          
X = A Xyloid
Y = A Yankee                                     
Z = A Zany

8) Choose the Last Letter of Your Favourite Musician / Band

A = Antelope                                    
B = Bouncer                                       
C = Cat
D = Dentist                                         
E = Egg Farmer                                 
F = Fashionista
G = Governor                                   
H = Helicopter Pilot                        
I = IT Guy
J = Jockey                                           
K = Kangaroo                                    
L = Lamb
M = Model                                         
N = Norse God                                 
O = Owl
P = Pet Detective                            
Q = Queen                                         
R = Referee
S = Scientist                                       
T = Taxidermist                                
U = Urchin
V = Vampire                                      
W = Watermelon                            
X = X Chromosome
Y = Yodeller                                       
Z = Zombie

You're welcome.

James Cottle, after studying Scriptwriting for 4 years, is now an embittered real life freelance writer, and seeks to unlearn everything he knows. But he needs your help... Follow him on Twitter @Jxmxsc and share this blog to help spread his anarchic plight for reform amongst the writing masses.

                                

10 Quick Tips on How to Make Your Antagonist Incredible

A story is only as good as what it's fighting against. With TV and modern cinema becoming increasingly versed in developing compelling protagonists that aren't the most boring of the lot, the stakes have never been higher for creating even better antagonists. As writers, our job is to drive through the toll-gate of typical villainy and reimburse the cashier of gripping drama, no matter what the story may be. Here's a couple of quick tips that I've used in the past that I believe can work wonders in adding that extra dimension to your Big Bad.

1) Nail Down Their "Believability"

Depending on your project, you're going to have to make some choices pretty early on as to how you're going to make your villain "real" in your story world. On one end of the scale, you have your typical comic book super-villains, with a little leeway to adapt their portrayal tonally - for example, Cesar Romero's Joker vs Heath Ledger's. On the other hand, your drama may call for a more complex, morally grey character, who is just as "real" as your protagonist, if not moreso. No matter how grounded or heightened they get, keep them believable in your narrative.

2) Write Their Story First

Many writers like to start off a new script or project with some sort of outline or plan as to what exactly is going to go down in their story. Most of the time, it's move protagonist from point A to B to C, charting their change along the way. Scrap that idea right away, and reverse your perspective of the story. People always say you have to know your story backwards, and mapping out the reasons, events and significant characters within the antagonist's story is only going to help make them more believable and identifiable.

3) Give Them More Empathy

Yeah, this one is kinda of a no-brainer, but it's often overlooked. I like to think of an old weighing scale that holds the antagonist on one side and the protagonist on the other. The secret to the best conflict is to keep them perfectly balanced, by making us side with the hero due to their positive actions, but still maintaining enough empathy for the villain that they seem equal. I should also note, there is a difference between empathy and pity. Make your villain tragic without venturing into melodrama, and audiences should be able to relate.

4) Add A Lesser Antagonist We're Allowed to Hate

There's nothing better to offset hatred than more hatred in stories. Say what you will about modern society, but the smug jerkass always has a place. Have the audience subconsciously pour all of their disliking onto a single, carefully placed target, and they'll be putty in your hands when the real villain swoops in. You could even go a step further and have the villain dispatch or get rid of the jerk themselves. By this point, you'll have your viewers fist pumping in the cinema and their sofas.

5) Twist Their Noble Goal

What does your villain's ultimate goal stem from? More heightened characters often use the old "trying to make the world a better place" shtick, which does have its merits. Maybe your character is simply all about doing right by their love ones. Give them a goal that is more noble than your protagonist's and suddenly there's conflict. The way that they become the apparent antagonist is in their execution of this noble goal, often being blind to the actual cost of their actions - it's your hero's job to make them see that before it's too late.

6) Find Their "Scene Stealing" Voice

The manner in which your villain expresses themselves is everything when it comes to how seriously we take them. It's a tough task to avoid the "James Bond" clichés and the needless pomposity when your antagonist is supposed to be superior on the surface, but it is possible. There's also a real temptation for lengthy monologues - DON'T. Your character is much more threatening when they say very little and let their actions speak for them. A distinctive verbal tick or a specific turn of phrase can help distinguish what little dialogue there needs to be.

7) Build Up Their Antagonism Slowly

There's nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a character we thought was good or at least virtuous turning out to be the villain. Small moments of conflict at the beginning of your tale can be an indicator of what's to come, without jumping straight into the big stuff you'll be saving for your story climax. Best of friends can become worst of enemies, but you don't have to go that route. In fact, knowing the villain from the start but not having the hero meet them until about half way though can also be very effective, creating anticipation for the big showdown (which your hero should lose by the way).

8) Give Them A Unique Scene With The Protagonist

Not every scene needs to have large scale conflict - the most memorable can be moments of calm between your two duelling leads. For example, arguable the best scene in Heat is when Al Pacino's Lieutenant Hanna meets Robert De Niro's bank robber Neil McCauley in a diner. They discuss everything that's come before, and everything that's going to come after, knowing the next time they meet, only one of them is going to make it out. It's powerful, distinctive and continues to fuel that all-important conflict in a more meaningful way.

9) Make Their Defeat As Tragic As Their Backstory

So your hero wins - that's a fairly expected outcome, though not set in stone. But you can't just have the villain knocked out by a single punch.  They've been defeated because they have not changed, and their singular focus on their goal has ultimately been their undoing. If the antagonist seeks ultimate power, have them not be worthy to control it. If they want justice, have them be on the receiving end. In some cases, you may even want the villain to see what they've done far too late, perhaps prompting some sort of sacrifice on their part. Make us sad that someone had to lose.

10) Have Them Change Every Other Character

For better or worse, all of your characters are going to respond to the central conflict in some way. The true colours of your supporting cast should be revealed as slowly as you build up the antagonist. Some may live, some may die. Some may gain everything, some may lose it all.  Your antagonist doesn't just have to be your protagonist's enemy. Ultimately, the villain sets the story in motion, making them arguably more important than your hero. Make a list of every character in your story, and, one by one, sort out how they'll be affected by your antagonist. Then, you're on to a classic.

James Cottle, after studying Scriptwriting for 4 years, is now an embittered real life freelance writer, and seeks to unlearn everything he knows. But he needs your help... Follow him on Twitter @Jxmxsc and share this blog to help spread his anarchic plight for reform amongst the writing masses.