Posted by Emperor Clobbersaurus at acadf729.ipt.aol.com on November 17, 2001 at 01:04:24:
In Reply to: Questions for Kevin and other screenwriters... posted by Skippee on November 16, 2001 at 23:32:05:
: First off, when working on a script, do you make an outline of where it's going to go or do you just start writing and put it together later?
I personally don't create an outline. It puts itself together for me down the road. I know that sounds like something a screenwriter would say, but it's true. I can't make an outline because sometimes it's hard to put all of the characters you want in the same place at the same time, if you get what I mean.
: Do you write character sketches or let the characters evolve as the script is being written?
Honestly, for me, characters come to me in the most basic places. I could hear someone say something or could hear a line in a song and something will spark in me and a character will be born. I believe characters are an extension of yourself. Not that I'd want to be a 45 year-old waitress like a character in a script I have, but there's something inside of me that gave birth to her. It's different for some. Some characters tell me where the'll be in an hour and a half of screen time, some just tell me their struggle on the way and that I have to give them the ending.
: Do you write front to back or do you just write scenes as they come to you?
I write as soon as something comes to me. I could be in a park feeding ducks or sitting at my desk playing FreeCell. Sometimes scenes come to me that have nothing to do with what I'm working on. So I'll write them down so I won't forget them. Nothing comes to me in order. Never has, and I don't think ever will. I think you'll give yourself a headache trying to write it front to back.
Hope this helps.
-Jesse