Building blocks of a script?

[DDK]

I know how to format a script and I know what a lot of the terminology means and how to use it. The thing about script writing, however, is that (at least for me) it's not something you can just sit down and write. I'm the kind of person who needs to plan things in stages. I have the basic idea of how to do this in order to get to the script writing stage, but I'd really appreciate some input from others on how they break up (or break down) their script writing.

I personally would put research and note-taking, brainstorming, character development, etc. down first, but for me these things really aren't a problem. Where I start getting bogged down is in putting all this stuff down into a coherent format.

I was thinking along the lines of starting with a synopsis. Then breaking that synopsis down into it's component parts and putting them together like a jigsaw puzzle into a basic act structure. Then maybe finessing that into a written storyboard sort-of stage and again fitting all the pieces together, scene by scene. And then finally probably sitting down to write the actual script.

At least, that's the idea. I'm really hoping for some guidance on this process and how to break it all down into manageable chunks that I can mentally and physically (long story, basically I can't sit down for long periods of time without falling asleep) cope with.

 

[harmonica44]

I'm probably going to get crap for saying this but personally I wouldn't use the 3 act structure. Most good movies have more plot points then the structure actually tells you to use and the structure itself has become formulaic. But that's just my opinion. I'm going by movies that have used that I felt didn't have enough plot or were to simple and formulaic, that felt like they stuck to close to the structure, or didn't expand enough.


You said you feel you have to do everything in stages. Staging is good cause then you can create an outline, before you start writing.

 

[Cracker Funk]

nm

 

[kinglis]

CF, I realized, I don't even need a black board. Just putting some cards(scenes) on the floor and mixing them, works as good as sticking them on a blackboard or whatever..