"The yellow guy got POOFED!" (Script Writing #1)

A while back I mentioned that in order to facilitate planning for this project Jake and I were using our shared calendar to schedule meetings and in-person work sessions. Tonight we started to write our script. Since we couldn’t be together to write it, we decided to utilize the technology and software available to us online to ensure the most efficient scriptwriting session possible. We hoped on a FaceTime call and opened celtx.com, a screenplay writing website that helps us format our text to read like a proper screenplay and helped us both work on it simultaneously. 

We have been building these characters and their personalities for a long time now, which made writing for them easier. Some characters we did fully individually (like Courtney and Z), others we did together (Like Miranda, because she’s based on us two). Since it's hard for both of us to work on the same part of the script at the same time (because we have to move fast), we would alternate depending on who was “in the zone”. Like yin and yang, we were in a sort of “mental synch” when writing, usually having one edit while the other one writes. 

The most crucial thing for us was to develop a different voice for each character. Even though some characters only have a few lines in the film, those lines have to inform the

audience of a lot. Thankfully, by writing separate characters, we prevented us from creating a similar tone for all of them; nonetheless, just to make sure I review the texts thinking of them critically as a transcript, not a script. You see, scripts are controlled conversations, meaning the conversations can be perfect; but in real life, we fault language rules and maxims all the time in casual conversation. So keeping some language theory on the back of my head I looked over the script to make sure the characters had idiosyncrasies and nuances that were unique to them. Surprisingly, Jake and I had done a great job of putting them in beforehand, meaning we did a great job writing for the character. 

For example, when Riley talks, she uses a lot of Textspeak like “Omg”. She is the only character that does this, which helps us set her apart from the rest of the other characters. To make sure that the lines and the stage directions were fluid, Jake and I read through them again and again. Since we had so many characters to read for, we decided that every time we read we would just alternate who played the male characters and the female character (for the purposes of reading, Charlie was read with the males). 

We decided to stop writing it for the day as we got to the scene 3; instead, we decided to work out our calendar. We opened our shared Google calendar, I pulled out the critical path, and we got to work. We cross-examined our personal calendar of events to find the best times to fully dedicate it to working on the production. We decided on filming days for this weekend, thus keeping in line with our plan. Jake is handling our casting so he took care of our scheduling as well. We determined the best times on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to film. As we did that Jake got a text from our female lead Natalie who was playing Miranda. She couldn't name it at all due to DECA states (state competition). This photo was our genuine reaction to hearing the news. Well, I guess we are back to square one for finding an actress or actor for that role. 

Overall, today was really good! We got a lot of the script done which is great! We are a little more than halfway to finishing the first draft, which means we’re right on time according to our critical path! As you can see in the picture, however, it was pretty late by the time we hung up and -needless to repeat- Jake is not a night owl. Tomorrow is the second day of writing, the goal is to finish tomorrow and then get it revised on Wednesday. Finger’s crossed and here’s to a good first day!