Search Results

A step by step guide to writing a screenplay the Loving The Process way which includes 24 weekly exercises and bi-weekly coaching calls w/ coach Holly Payberg-Torroija.

***One very important disclaimer, as you head into choosing who your hero/heroine is going to be for your story. Your hero is not necessarily the bravest or most likeable character in your story. In fact, the word hero should imply nothing about their greatness as a person. Your hero is simply the character in your story that will grow the most, from start to finish. As an extreme example of what I mean, in the Mr. Rogers film, Mr. Rogers was not the hero. The deeply troubled and unhappy reporter who was assigned to do a story on him was. Mr. Rogers was great at the beginning and stayed that way all the way through (no change). But by his very nature he was the antagonist (or unlikely "villain") to the reporter character, who was pretty hellbent on remaining miserable and seeing life through a pessimistic lens. The reporter was forced to change for having known Mr. Rogers, and by the end, was truly not the same person. Okay now, carry on... For some bonus inspiration when it comes to villains, click HERE and enjoy some great examples of the most extreme of villains. It can help to get the ole creative juices flowing and encourage you to go bigger.

There are several books you will hear Holly mention a lot through out this program, that were invaluable tools for her in her journey to find a writing process she could rely on. In fact, she still uses them as resources to this very day. It is not mandatory that you buy them, but it is highly recommended. And if you do buy them, it is recommended that you buy the paperback (as opposed to kindle or audio) as they are books you'll want to be able to flip back and forth with at ease. If you're going to be writing a heroine's journey (which doesn't necessarily mean male or female, it simply means it will me more of an internal story of finding one's self, a personal awakening, and the courage to express it - for e.g. Billy Elliot was a heroine's journey) then we highly recommend The Virgin's Promise by Kim Hudson. She does a phenomenal job of breaking down the major beats of the heroine's journey and also shares loads of examples of well known stories that exemplified this universal journey. If you're writing more of a hero's journey (which tends to be more of an external story, going out into the world and facing fears, ready or not, and growing from the process) then we highly recommend buying Save The Cat by Blake Snyder. He too, does a phenomenal job, breaking down the beats of the hero's journey and beyond. His book has the added bonus of being brilliant at explaining the necessary structure and techniques all screenwriter's should keep in mind. For that reason, I recommend it no matter which type of story you're writing.