LESSON 2: Getting the “Winning Sketch” chapter under our skin

We’ll have more time to dig into these elements on Saturday, but for now, keep priming the pump. Take the work you’ve started working on tonight. Blog it, keep brainstorming and coming up with scene ideas from your list of influential experiences. The more you have in your notebook on Saturday, the more you'll be able to get to the work of writing some.

If you have a laptop, bring it on Saturday...as well as your swimsuit if you'd like to take a dip. Also, after 9 we'll have some video time, so feel free to find your favourite scenes on dvds you have. (yeah, right, like you have the time to do that?)

HERE'S A RECAP OF LAST NIGHT

• (7:30) Getting started: Get the room unlocked & set up. Continue to brainstorm and write a list of your most influential experiences. Money to Victor. Apologize for being late.

• (7:55) Game: 2 truths and a lie. Use 2 of your true influential experiences, make one up.

• (8:15) Discuss the conflict section of the chapter (Elsa)

• (8:20) Looking at your list of influential experiences, break in twos and find the conflict in a few of your items. External, Internal, subliminal conflict…name them. Keep priming the pump and brainstorming. Let what others remember help you surface other memories of your own.

• Watch a scene from LITTLE WOMEN (dvd). K!M proves she’s not suitable for the technical ministries. Professor Baer tells Jo: “Write from the depths of your soul. There’s so much more to you than this if you dare to write it.”

• Discuss the REAL aspect of great script writing (Vic)

• Discuss AUDIENCE IDENTIFICATION (Jeaniest)

• Discuss HUMOROUS or MOVING aspect of script writing (Billy)

• Read “MUSTARD SEED FAITH” example of a humorous sketch
From the sketch collection: He’s Got My Number, Stephen Hicks and Jerry Cohagan
All Rights Reserved by Lillenas Publishing Co. Order #DCMP-626 $16.99 US
P.O. Box 419527, Kansas City, MO 64141, Phone: 816-931-1900

• Read the sample script in the chapter “GREAT EXPECTATIONS” example of a moving sketch.

• BREAK

• Discuss the STRUCTURE of the sketch (Khimmy)

o Exposition
o Inciting Action
o Rising Action
o Climax
o Falling Off Action

• Work more on your list of influential experiences – find the conflict, think of ideas for a scene in the middle of that conflict, outline the structure of that scene. Name the theme, identify a structure. How will you script it?

• Share with your partner and get more ideas.

• Discuss the SHOW DON’T TELL (Ian) & ECONOMY OF WORDS (Lils) elements of a good script.

• Watch the opening scene of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, what do we learn about this movie in the first 3 minutes even without one sentence spoken?

• Close with a prayer. “Lord, Thank you for bringing us together tonight. We want to write better for your glory. Help us to recall those events of our lives which you have used to shape us into who you want us to be. Bring clarity to our hearts and minds about the values you are forging in us because of those influential experiences. We look forward to what you’re going to teach us in the next few days. Amen.”