Now I know what the ‘Glutton For Punishment’ club is all about.
I’m taking a class on movie-making. I don’t particularly want to make movies myself, but I do want to know what goes on behind-the-scenes. The more I know, the better my screenwriting will become.
Besides, it looks like a fun class.
We had the first class Saturday, and were told that during the next class we’ll vote on which script we’ll use.
Anyone in the class can write a script to put up for the vote. So, with my newfound entry into the GFP (glutton for punishment) club, I decided to give it a try.
The guidelines:
7-10 pages in length
Primarily interior scenes
Can be shot in very specific locations
Can be shot in a very restricted timeframe
Must include parts for 4 women and 5 men
Must be flexible enough that 1 more woman and 3 more men can be actors if they wish
All props and costumes must be easy to come by
Must be submitted to the instructor by Wednesday at midnight
Sunday we had a family get-together, so it was night before I could think through a few plot ideas. Monday morning I sat down to write. As soon as I had defined the personalities of my characters I felt much better about the whole thing.
I had no idea I’d spend the next seven hours writing. I don’t know what got into me.
I couldn’t stop!
I was driven to finish the script.
The only real break I took was to walk the dog. It seems that puppy-dog eyes trump writing mania.
I was so exhausted by the end of it that my body tingled all over and my brain shut down. If anyone would have asked me what 2 + 2 was, I wouldn’t have been able to give an answer.
But I had a script that met all the guidelines.
Being new to the GFP I pushed myself even harder.
Tuesday I did a rewrite, a polish, and submitted it.
I haven’t a clue what my classmates will think about it. We only met once. I don’t really know them at all well.
So I’m rather nervous about the vote.
But who knows, it might get chosen to be made.
If I’m very, very lucky.