Each week, I’ll write up an exercise that you can take part in to help you write your story. For this first exercise, I thought we’d look at writing dialogue.
A friend of mine told me the other day that she has got this great idea for a short film, she’s got the characters, the setting and an idea of how to end it.
This is my film, called Mental Illness, found at, http://www.3112.co.uk/ under the film of the month heading.
This is one of the films that I made at university exploring self and self image as well as how others percieve you.
Please check it out and there will also be a new film from other graduates of the university of lancashire in Preston.
This is a great website that will showcase the best up and coming talent in the north of England.
Let me know what you think.
Luke Knowles.
What am I scared of?
Feelings.
Emotions.
Life… Is a series of feelings and thoughts one after the other, you think you understand who you are and what you want to be and then you see someone else doing something different, feeling something different and you want that.
…Or rather you think you want that…
I guess the big question is… Love…
My name is Luke Knowles and I am a
I study screenwriting at the university of Lancashire and am in my third year.
I am currently writing my first feature length film, which started of as a fantasy novel about six years ago. This is one of the longest hardest things I ever had to do but it’s an interesting experience and I have learnt a lot – hopefully the script comes out good on the other end.
I am a lover of television, my favourite tv series being,
I currently, as well as attending University work at the cinema in Preston. Of course it is not the dream job or anything like that but it does mean I get to see films for free! I have a passion for films and love watching dramas and science fiction – fantasy films , my favourite film is
Again amongst many others, my favourite directors and scriptwriters are Christopher Nolan and Quentin Tarantino as well as developing a love for Woody Allen films recently and Steve Mcqueen films like Hunger and Shame. Ask me what my favourite film is and I will tell you The Matrix, ask me again next week i’ll tell you the Matrix but I recently watched The Road and loved it, ask me again and I’ll say The Matrix but I loved The Pianist… you get the idea.
I love to write. I live for writing. The reason I want to be a writer is because I have all these thoughts and ideas in my head and I just need to get them out – writing prose just wasn’t enough I wanted to get it all out in open, I want it to be real, this is why I chose to write scripts. I also have experiences in my life that i want to share with the world and raise awareness, although what happened to me can be found through my writing it wasn’t as bad as what some people have to go through. I was more of an observer – carer – around the bad things that happened – but it affected me and that is why I want to share it with people.
I believe that,
Click here for the script - Mirror, Mirror
This is a script for a short film, it is called Mirror, Mirror and illustrates a young girls struggle with anorexia. I wanted to demonstrate just how hard it was stop yourself feeling and thinking a certain way. This story is very dear to me and although it is not a true story it is based on experiences and life events that I have been a part of. The story shows a girl getting ready to go out with her friends, until she is stopped from going by “herself” – she must confront her inner self if not to go out with her friends but also to make herself ‘better’ again. Any comments or opinions will be much appreciated. Thank you for reading.
A film about sex addiction. Or is it? This film presents itself a film about a man who trying to cope in a life were sexual release is an addiction to him. The opening scenes reveal that although on paper this sounds rather fun and exciting it is not. We are introduced to a broken man who relies on call girls, porn and masturbating at work – which shows a struggle to keep it private. 
So we see an isolated man, wanting to beat off every hour throughout the day. We also see a man who as hard as he might try is not isolated and has people that care about him, people that want to be in his life, or be it one person, his sister. And with the introduction of each character, we are introduced to there sexuality as well. From the get go we see Michael Fessbenders’ penis in all its glorious glory. (mine would look like that too on the big screen) And then an abrupt reveal of Carrie Mulligans’ breasts and muffigan. Nudity is a strong theme or rather sex is a strong theme in the film – without nudity sex just isn’t fun, right? For Fessbender’s character Brendon, sex is about pleasure sometimes, sometimes it is his need, it addiction, is life and his turmoil, a thing he doesn’t want but he craves it like a drug. For Mulligans’ Character, Sissy she uses sex to escape from her life that she feels is so shitty.
The relationship between brother and sister in this film is somewhat uncomfortable to watch at time, with Brendon’s addiction to sex and Sissy’s flirtatious ways it always seemed like there were going to commit incest, but then again I think this was the point. Brendon’s character is so isolated, having this “sex object” that he cannot fondle with is like showing him crack he cannot sniff. She is torturing him and she doesn’t even realise it.
Coping with all this and obviously life is bound to smack you in the face at some point, anger and tensions build, a most distressing scene in which he throws a shit load of porn away – brought a tear to my eye brings him back into the world – until thrill seeking and feeling trapped all come at one, the film dives into dark and seedy places and build up to a well deserved dramatic ending that left me sitting there feeling a queazy.
But I left the cinema feeling satisfied, unlike Brendon and for filled knowing that I had seen a beautiful and moving film about sex addiction. It wasn’t rammed down your throats that this is bad, that objectifying and using women is bad but you weren’t told the opposite either. A beautiful piece with a stunning cast and and brilliant script, which I will be seeking out shortly and hoping to read.
In 2011 Woody Allen released a film that he has written and directed but he is no where to be seen as Gil is played by Owen Wilson with his loveable and obscure facial feature of a nose takes his place as the handsome lead male in this fantastic and magical ally spell bounding romantic comedy.
Yes. That is exactly what this is a romantic comedy but not a Rom-Com, no sir. There are no cheap laughs and ridiculous gags to be seen here this is genius. As a writer myself It was very interesting to watch this film for one reason, the setting and time. Woody Allen transports our Owen Wilson from modern day paris where he is struggling to write and be successful and we go into the 1920′s, an era that he feels is the golden age. So at midnight Gil is picked up after wondering away from his wife who shares a different view on the perfect life to him, by an old taxi and taken to the most creative place on earth, the 1920′s in Paris. A time when a lot of famous writers, poets and artists lived in the capital.
His first encounter is with a certain Ernest Hemingway to a Pablo Picasso – the magic and theme of time travel, is very subtle and somewhat believable, almost to the point that I wish I could go there myself. The relationship with Gil and his wife Inez played by a beautiful Rachel Mcadams, shows that they are not right for each other. They both want different things and watching it you are willing Gil to just realise this for himself. I watched this film with my girlfriend and it just brought a smile to our faces.
Paris at midnight, in the rain is a magical thing and the film although not the best from Woody Allen it is one my new favourites and it tells a tale of a lesson – that we should accept where we are and be happy as each time you go back someone somewhere else will be thinking the golden age was another era. Present is always our golden era.
I recently posted a 5 minute monologue called Innocence In The Hands Of An Adult, this was met by readers with positivity but there was a sense of something missing. I have re drafted this piece, taking and adding bits and pieces. It is somewhat different to the original and I hope I have made it better – god help us if it worse. Ha. Please have a read through it is only short and easy to read.
It is about a man who is placed in prison for a crime that he believes he is innocent. The man has just killed another, from fear of being raped by him. These are his thoughts and tribulations. Hope that you enjoy Innocent In The Hands Of An Adult.
Click here for the script - Mirror, Mirror
This is a script for a short film, it is called Mirror, Mirror and illustrates a young girls struggle with anorexia. I wanted to demonstrate just how hard it was stop yourself feeling and thinking a certain way. This story is very dear to me and although it is not a true story it is based on experiences and life events that I have been a part of. The story shows a girl getting ready to go out with her friends, until she is stopped from going by “herself” – she must confront her inner self if not to go out with her friends but also to make herself ‘better’ again. Any comments or opinions will be much appreciated. Thank you for reading.
An excellent adapted screenplay with brisk, well-paced writing. A fantastic ensemble cast coupled with stellar performances by all, particularly its stars Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, and Evan Rachel Wood. The best part of this film is its subtlety; while Clooney the actor plays a cool but passionate politician hot on the campaign trail, Clooney the director masterfully turns the script into an incredibly realistic and intricate world in a way comparable to “The Wire”.
The age-old adage goes something like, “You have to know the rules before you can break them.” In filmmaking, this principle is more than relevant. Perhaps, an important first step in the learning process of screenwriting, cinematography, directing actors, or any other number of practices, is to accurately recreate existing material. If one can successfully mimic what the masters are already doing, then they are well on their way to developing new and interesting content of their own.
I know they’re not called video stores anymore. Or, dvd stores. They’re actually not called anything anymore because they no longer exist. You remember, the businesses that we once frequented to rent movies. The roll-upon-roll aisle-upon-aisle of comedies, dramas, thrillers, and new releases that we sifted through on Freaky Fridays or Mad Mondays. And how we would carry a stack of movies to the counter, wait for the clerk to judge our taste in movies, and then head home to enjoy a Stephen King or Sandra Bullock marathon.
Here is the concluding part to my Bill Nighy article, the first part can be found here.
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Of course being a great actor and working around these great performers doesn’t necessarily mean everything you do will be great, according to Nighy, one paper was quoted as saying; “I thought this was reserved for April 1st”, about a series he did (which he didn’t name).
The life of me has been dull & pretty mundane for the last couple of months, since Christmas came & went. Christmas was fun & happy and it’s taken me quite a while to get over it but hey there we are.
So yesterday I went with Dan from words form windows to see Bill Nighy in conversation – see here, “words form windows ” for a more detailed account of the event. I believe there is more coming tomorrow.
I left this even with inspiration in my heart & a dark revelation. As a writer I am not disciplined in any way shape or form. & although I left with the words, you can preform & be a adequate at what you do even when you think you are shit. I paraphrase.
Continue reading
Hey, this is my first draft for another monologue I have to write for uni, it is called, Innocence In The Hands Of An Adult and is a dramatic monologue that I will be submitting for preference at the Life festival in preston, http://www.prestonguild2012.com/?OBH=413&ID=404 which will be on from 15th to the 18th of March. Please have a read of the monologue it is only short and please let me know what you think of it. Please be warned it may be quite disturbing in some places and it is not based on anyone or anything that I know about. Hope you like it.
Also another thing that happened today was that I had a meeting in which I presented three ideas for short films and one was chosen. I will be posting the first draft of the script on this blog, sometime in the future, the title of this one will be called Mirror. Mirror.
You’ve been patient, you’ve behaved yourselves like the fine young boys and girls you are, and I’m just proud as can be. For those in the know, skip on down, but in case you missed it these past four days:
Day 1: #94 – #81 Day 2: #80 – #61 Day 3: #60 – #41 Day 4: #40 – 21…
Check out this video on YouTube:
Given the popularity of Picture it & Write, we’re introducing a spin off. If you guys enjoy it, we’ll turn it into a regular thing, and if you don’t, that’s fine too. We love interacting with you and we want you to enjoy ErmiliaBlog as much as we do.
Listen and Write is going to operate almost identically to Picture it and Write, but instead of a picture, you’re going to get a song and an accompanying paragraph. We then welcome everyone to either continue the paragraph or write their own. You might see your own interpretation of a music video or imagine someone listening to the song. Poetry is welcome, but please add a translation if it’s in another language. It is entirely open to your imagination and your interpretation. I hope this turns into another fun writing exercise, so without further ado, the first Listen and Write song is “Someone Like You” by Adele.
Here is my contribution below;
I watched through the window, confessed by my hot breath the wind chilled my soul and I feared crying for the cold would freeze my tears. A fight with heartache I was about to lose as I saw him walk into the room with a light unbearable, a man I recognise a lover I once had, I missed him and I hoped he missed me too. I look to the door and imagine myself knocking, reconciling with him, my body does not move, frozen to the spot I turn back to the window. A knock on the door would have a been an out of the blue act of suicide for a woman, beautiful and agnostic steps into the room, the wrenching feeling on my gut flares and the cold is gone, I wish I was drunk, I wish I had not come, she kisses him on the lips – the lips that were once mine.
The cold comes back and I wonder, will I ever find someone like you. I walk away tears freezing on my face all alone, left to the cold.
