I just want to vent for a moment about group writing.
I'm working with a director on writing a short script. In the past, I've critiqued his writing, and I see this new project as a challenge -- an opportunity to collaborate. This director has great cinematic ideas, but they don't always come together logically in his writing. I'm hoping to be a filter to smooth out rough edges and bring ideas together into a coherent story.
What I'm finding is that I can't really sit in a room and write with another person. We can brainstorm together (we've had sessions with a couple other participants) but in a group situation nothing really gets locked down. Instead, we come up with various opening and closing ideas. The meat of the thing is up in the air until I write something.
To hammer out something logical on a keyboard, I have to be alone. I have to have the freedom to stare into space and find the right word. I have to ignore all the "what if's" of a brainstorm session and decide on a through line for the plot.
I've already written two drafts. My third will be drastically different -- I'll have to start almost from scratch to accomodate a new twist. It's frustrating to try to pull together hundreds of little ideas and moments, and I almost feel like I'm the only one who takes the script problems seriously. In a group situation, everyone just comes up with "cool" shots, where I actually want the finished piece to be about something.
Anyway, not looking for advice here. Just wanted to voice my frustrations to the ether.
I'm working with a director on writing a short script. In the past, I've critiqued his writing, and I see this new project as a challenge -- an opportunity to collaborate. This director has great cinematic ideas, but they don't always come together logically in his writing. I'm hoping to be a filter to smooth out rough edges and bring ideas together into a coherent story.
What I'm finding is that I can't really sit in a room and write with another person. We can brainstorm together (we've had sessions with a couple other participants) but in a group situation nothing really gets locked down. Instead, we come up with various opening and closing ideas. The meat of the thing is up in the air until I write something.
To hammer out something logical on a keyboard, I have to be alone. I have to have the freedom to stare into space and find the right word. I have to ignore all the "what if's" of a brainstorm session and decide on a through line for the plot.
I've already written two drafts. My third will be drastically different -- I'll have to start almost from scratch to accomodate a new twist. It's frustrating to try to pull together hundreds of little ideas and moments, and I almost feel like I'm the only one who takes the script problems seriously. In a group situation, everyone just comes up with "cool" shots, where I actually want the finished piece to be about something.
Anyway, not looking for advice here. Just wanted to voice my frustrations to the ether.