Blank Page:
Every artist and every writer know the fear and glory of creating out of the void. Staring at the blank page. The citizens always ask the same question were do you get your ideas? Ideas are a rare and magical thing to the person who has not trained themselves to think in ideas, concepts, storylines.
Who, What, When, Where, Why and How are the friends of every writer. Throw in the magical question What If and you are on the road to creativity.
I do a number of exercises with my pre-production students designed to put them in touch with the creative. One of my favorites is the newspaper technique.
On the way to class I stop at the newsstand and buy the paper. I open the paper in front of the class and start reading the headlines. Always trying to ask What If about each headline.
Sport`s gives storylines about genetically engineered athletes. The human interest stories may give up stories about suicide protests by environmentalist whales. The society papes yield intrigue, alien invasion, gangsters and the illuminati. And the National and International news never fails to stoke the ghost and fires of Ian Fleming.
My beloved teacher, Hy Eisman, use to tell the story of a gag writer friend of his who could turn anything into grist for the humor mill. I went to see him in the hospital and every horrible thing that could go wrong had happened to him. They even dumped a bedpan on him. And he was happy as could be. I`ve got 50 new hospital gags.
Where do you get your ideas? is a silly question. For years I would write down every new idea that popped in my head on little slips of paper. I have 3 giant boxes filled with slips of paper each with an idea written on it madly and in haste.
I stopped writing ideas on slips of paper over 30 years ago. But I keep the boxes in case I run out of ideas. I and happy to report that I have never had to look for an idea in those boxes or anywhere else. Once you turn on the tap, it is on for life. It is a way of life.
Who, What, When, Where, Why and How are the friends of every writer. Throw in the magical question What If and you are on the road to creativity.
I do a number of exercises with my pre-production students designed to put them in touch with the creative. One of my favorites is the newspaper technique.
On the way to class I stop at the newsstand and buy the paper. I open the paper in front of the class and start reading the headlines. Always trying to ask What If about each headline.
Sport`s gives storylines about genetically engineered athletes. The human interest stories may give up stories about suicide protests by environmentalist whales. The society papes yield intrigue, alien invasion, gangsters and the illuminati. And the National and International news never fails to stoke the ghost and fires of Ian Fleming.
My beloved teacher, Hy Eisman, use to tell the story of a gag writer friend of his who could turn anything into grist for the humor mill. I went to see him in the hospital and every horrible thing that could go wrong had happened to him. They even dumped a bedpan on him. And he was happy as could be. I`ve got 50 new hospital gags.
Where do you get your ideas? is a silly question. For years I would write down every new idea that popped in my head on little slips of paper. I have 3 giant boxes filled with slips of paper each with an idea written on it madly and in haste.
I stopped writing ideas on slips of paper over 30 years ago. But I keep the boxes in case I run out of ideas. I and happy to report that I have never had to look for an idea in those boxes or anywhere else. Once you turn on the tap, it is on for life. It is a way of life.
posted by Larry Loc @ 8:02 AM
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