Donald L. Vasicek

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  • Writing/Screenwriting Scenes

    by
    Donald L. Vasicek

    Award-Winning Writer Donald L. Vasicek – Jenny's Lake – Grand Teton Park

    When writing scripts, always think of movies and how
    they transition from scene-to-scene. This is imperative.
    This approach gives you more of a director’s
    “eye.” In turn, the visual dynamics of writing visually
    become more prominent the more you do it.
    This gives a rhythm and movement to the entire script
    that binds it more tightly together. It also helps you
    avoid writer’s block. “Stepping” back and
    looking at a scene that you’ve written with the idea of
    looking at it like it is already a movie, when your mind
    is blocking out, will improve your visual writing dynamics
    and the scene. Step into the scene and become your
    character.

    For example, you have a character coming into a room.
    How should you write that? Step back and look at it
    as though you’re watching a movie? Think of a movie,
    or movies that you have seen with this kind of action
    with respect to the genre and kind of character you’re
    writing. How is the character coming into the room done?

    You will find that most good movies always cut-to-the-chase
    with each scene. They do not mess around with details
    that hinder the movement of the movie. If a character has
    to be thrown into the room because she is a prisoner of
    terrorists, then, throw her into the room. If a character simply
    has to walk into the room, then, cut-to-the-chase. Get her
    into the room as quickly as possible. Just make sure that
    it is consistent with the rhythm and movement of the entire
    story/script/movie/character.

    For example, a character in your story is mild-mannered.
    She loves daisies and brandy. She reads James Joyce.
    She is a certified public accountant for a large accounting
    firm. Everything she does has a place. How would you write
    her entering a room? She would enter the room with
    grace. She would smoothly take in everything in the
    room. She would then proceed with the reason she is
    entering the room.

    Making scenes sparkle like this enhances the screenwriter’s
    ability to excel in their craft.

    Donald L. Vasicek
    The Zen of Writing
    http://michaelc.nextmp.net/wordpress
    dvasicek@earthlink.net
    303-903-2103

  • “On Ghostwriting”

    Donald L. Vasicek – Rabbit Ears Pass – Colorado

    I’ve been ghostwriting books for several years. See
    my portfolio. What I have experienced is that each
    book is unique. Each person who wants their book
    ghostwritten is unique. Each person has their own
    kinds of information for the book. The amount of
    information provided can cut down on research the
    ghostwriter might have to do. In turn, then, this
    decreases the amount of time the ghostwriter has
    to spend on writing the book.

    The subject matter of the book has to also be taken
    into consideration. Will there be illustrations, photos,
    etc.? Ghostwriting a book eliminates writing credit for
    the ghostwriter. Because of this, the charge has to be
    higher than if the ghostwriter was getting the credit for
    writing the book.

    There a host of things to consider before giving
    a quote on how much it will cost to ghostwrite a book.

  • “Writing Movies and Documentaries, 101”

    The Sand Creek Massacre Movie Poster

    Writing of any form requires
    study and research. The strength
    of any type of writing resides in
    the application of what one learns
    and research, and then, applies it
    by writing, writing, and more writing.
    Each time one writes something, they
    become a better writer.

    It is rare a writer is hired to write a
    documentary film. Many documentary films
    do not have a script. Those that do, are
    usually written by the director/producer
    of the film. If a documentary script is written,
    then you must write a double column script.

    In a double column script you write the
    visuals/images in the left column and the
    audio/sound in the right column. While
    the double-column script can help nail
    down the exact shots blended with the
    sound, the downside is that it places the
    filmmaker in a corner. This corner is
    a place that can limit the filmmaker’s
    creativity, and virtually eliminate a cinema
    verite approach to making documentaries.

    As for feature films, short films, etc., one
    can learn how to write screenplays through a
    variety of ways. No approach to learning how
    to write screenplays is inscribed in marble. It
    is dependent upon the individual writer. Some take
    screenwriting classes. Others study screenwriting
    books. Some work with a script consultant until
    they have their screenplay market ready. And others
    wing it. And still others, utilize a combination of all
    of the above.

    You can determine what works best for you by knowing
    who you are, how you best learn, why you want to write
    documentaries, features, etc., and what audience you
    want to attract with your work, and why. Answering
    these questions will give you insight into what to
    write and the approach to take in order how to learn
    to write. That is the Zen of Writing.

    The fine point of it is if you want to write movies
    and/or documentaries, be sure you utilize more
    than your passion for the subject matter unless
    you are writing, simply, for the joy of writing.
    Study and research Hollywood box hits. Study
    and research successful documentary films.
    Make certain you know, before you begin
    writing, what you need to do in order to
    write a successful script. Otherwise, you
    will enter the world of writer who jumps
    in with both feet without being aware of
    what the reality of the business. In turn, this
    can cause you to go on a journey into
    insanity.

    Donald L. Vasicek
    Writer/Filmmaker/Consultant
    Olympus Films+, LLC
    http://michaelc.nextmp.net/wordpress
    dvasicek@earthlink.net