Inspiration Point (not the place from Happy days)

[Mr. Meat]

I was wondering from all of you current/future screenwriters out there, where do you get your inspiration from? Where do all of those ideas in your head that eventually turn out on papaer come from? Where do you go? Is there some place you people go to relax and are able to think freely? Do you read lots of books and novels and start a screenplay on them? Do you write short stories and see if they go anywhere?

What were some of the first films that gave you encouragment to start writing/directing? Has anybody started a script that has been borrowed heavily from a film you liked?

I think this will be interesting if everybody speaks clearly. We will defenately get some info from everybody, and maybe get some "inspiration" out of it.

[This message has been edited by Mr. Meat (edited 08-01-2000).]

[Mankato]

I get inspiration from single pictures. It's hard to explain but I see a picture in my head and i just make a movie about that picture. I dont get inspiration from just walking around my town, or reading a book.

I have to say the first film I saw that encouraged me to start screenwriting was probably 'Good Will Hunting'. Though I had been a movie geek for quite some time 'Good Will Hunting' just started my need to do some screenwriting.

I had an idea once about a movie where a guy can read women's thoughts. But apparently someone made it because there's a film coming out this year with Helen Hunt, and Mel Gibson that's just that plotline. Go figure.

/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Scarface]

For me the movie that gave me inspiration was Disturbing Behavior. As stupid as this sounds there is a story to it. I had been a movie geek for a while and rented this film just for a little fun. I spotted Katie Holmes in it right away and was like "wow". I watched it an additional 5 times that day. That night i was thinking, "i gotta meet her someday." So i thought, what other way than make it big in Hollywood? Then we'd be on the same level. The next morning, I got busy on my screenplay that kinda just popped in my head. Pipe dreams, some say. But hey it got me started. As corny as it sounds i'm still dreamin baby!

The best way for me to think of an idea is to listen to some of your favorite music while not doing anything that takes to much work. Like i listen to punk while mowing the lawn and that gives me some ideas. Other times its while watching any movie. Sometimes when i'm in the car. And sometimes right before i fall asleep as i lie in bed.
The first time i started writing my script i put in my Pink Floyd Greatest Hits CD and put Wish You Were Here on repeat and that gave inspiration. Its something that works for me but everyone has their own ways of doing it. Sometimes i get a cool idea or wonder about something and for that into a script or a synopsis. By the way I never wrote any ideas down. If an idea is worthy of being a screenplay then it would be so great you wouldn't need to write it down, it would stick in your head.

Thats my advice.

[Mankato]

Oh, also when i'm writing the screenplay I listen to music. Lately I've been listening to 'The Pixies - Where is My Mind' on the lastest screenplay i'm working on. So music is a great way for inspiration as well.

/ubb/smile.gif

[Tuukka]

For me the most effective way to get inspiration is to listen movie scores. They have no words to distract you, just different emotions and atmospheres. When I listen to movies scores I start automatically building pictures, scenes and characters in my head. You should definitely try it. I think it works a lot better than rock, pop, techno etc. Classical music in general is inspirational, but nothing beats film scores.

[Scarface]

For me, if i listen to a film score, i automatically think about that film. I can't clear my mind. I focus on that one film and the scenes i remember from it.

I think a great, neutral song is Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here. Its not very heavy and you don't have to listen to it too much. But for the love of god don't listen to it if you're trying to write a comedic movie or a comedic scene.

[Mr. Meat]

Thank you guys. What were some other films that gave you guys inspiration?

[ColonelColinCaine]

Definitely The Blair Witch Project! It helped me realize that if someone could make a movie on a zero budget, using only a home video camera ( yes, I realize there were two cameras, but I only have the one I mentioned.) and gross $140 million, then, by golly, so can I!

[This message has been edited by ColonelColinCaine (edited 08-01-2000).]

[Joe Bob Jim]

I read a book or watch a movie, I take on thing (important thing) from that movie/book and I build a story off of it. I made a phsyco drama off a name of a song and my drama teacher loved it (it is called King of Polyester. In my most recent script I took the idea of the earth blowing up (got that from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) and made into the world could be blowing up and so on. So the idea is somewhat original.

[Tuukka]

Scarface, have you tried to listen to film scores for films that you haven't seen? At least my city library has a huge archive of film scores and about 70%-80% of them are for films I haven't seen (And I have seen many, many films). But it's of course a question of taste if they inspire you or not.

[Scarface]

No i haven't tried listening to scores i haven't seen. Could you give me the names of some of your favorites?

Mankato told me to download The Pixies - Where Is My Mind. That is not only a great song to listen to while writing but its a spectacular song on its own. It makes you want a killer ending. Another good one is The Who - Baba O'Reilly. You've all heard it from the American Beauty trailer and that SUV commercial where they're all playing polo. That makes your write faster and write scenes that contain action. But the Pixies song is the best out of all for me.

[Silent Bob]

That song kicks ass! (That Pixies song.) I dowlnloaded it right after I saw Fight Club. Scarface-I remember that song by The Who that's in American Beauty. /ubb/tongue.gif

[Tuukka]

I have also found that many great pop/rock songs have given me horseloads of inspiration. Pixies rules. Scarface, I can't really tell you what to listen, since I don't know what kind of stuff you like. Do have any big library near you, which would have many film score in their shelves? Just go there and start going through them. I'm sure you'll find something interesting. That's how I have done, anyway.

[Silent Bob]

i mostly have really hard rock and metal, but some songs i donwloaded just to listen t while i was writing shit.

[DaN]

My two movies that inspired screenwriting were Halloween and Clerks. However, I never have any damn time to do any of it.

[Crynot]

Clerks and Good Will Hunting for me.

Crynot

[DarkLight]

Inspiration... the one thing that can make or break a script, depending on whether it's there or not (see the movie, 'The Muse').

I get my inspiration from all the good times in my life. Call me crazy, but I could be walking down the road on a busy Saturday afternoon and upon looking at all the other happy faces looking up at the clear blue sky I could be instantly inspired to write something. Sounds trippy, but the best ideas and pieces of writing come out of you when you're having a good time. And if you're out walking and you capture some inspiration and get an idea, write it down straight away (I always carry a small notepad and pen on me)!

Music plays a huge part in my life and going back to the previous thing I said, if the best stuff is going to come out at all, it'll be when you're listening to music you like. I listen to most types of music and am currently on stuff by Lit, Get Up Kids and other rock/punk bands. I also love 'Where Is My Mind' and 'Baba O'Reilly,' both amazing songs, but sometimes classical music helps a lot to relax. I usually put some on when I have all my ideas and want to get them transferred into my story. The music makes your mind flow and it has been scientifically proven to relax and improve your thinking.

Reading books and novels cannot hurt, although I have managed to get pretty far in my scripts without reading too many (I've probably only read around 5 full screenplays). I usually start off short and end up adding bits on and on till it becomes a full length feature. If you come up with lots of great ideas encompassing a common theme, don't bundle it all into one movie -- span it out in a sequel (I had to do this for one of my screenplays). But also, don't decide that you're going to make a sequel halfway through writing the first one and end up rushing the ending of the first -- see 'Blade' for an example of a rushed ending.

The first films that inspired me... I am not really sure. I made my first screenplay about some high school kids who break into their school on Halloween and come face to face with a murderer, when I was just discussing with my friends how we'd all react in said situation. The movies that have inspired me have been Scream, Clerks, Interview With The Vampire, Krull (don't laugh!) and the Indy trilogy.

I was partially saddened when I saw Clive Barker's Lord Of Illusions, starring Scott Bakula and Famke Janssen. The story was almost exactly the same except for the ending really. However, I did not get put down by this and came up with an even better story on the same theme. Recycling existing stuff is healthy for both the film-making industry and the environment.

DL

[This message has been edited by DarkLight (edited 08-06-2000).]