7th Lesson.

Hmm. So this lesson sorta wraps up everything of Storytelling. In a story, we should be showing the actions rather than saying. For example through actions, we introduce our characters. Although you can make up a story out of anything, it doesn’t mean it will be a good story. So I think the 72 questions are helpful, as they act like a reader and asks you questions you never thought of while writing. Agree that everyone has a sadist in them. So like what Leslie say, let’s torture the character! Till now, I’m still trying to widen my vocab. It’ll be cool if one day someone tells me “Eh! write more leh.”

6th Lesson.

damn it. i miss the shuttle bus just by that few seconds again. what an unlucky day. but, thanks Leslie (for giving me the chance! )

allow others to read my first draft. still waiting for 2 other copies to come back. ummm. if i don’t remember wrongly, the lesson was about not only writing once but many times. it’s not just editing; it’s re-writing. i personally feel that editted stuffs are often not as “original” as the first. I mean, the kind of feeling isn’t as good as the first. but then again, if we’re able to receive comments, we can twist another story out to make a better story. so maybe re-writing might do much much much much better. ahhh!!! now my butt seems to stuck on the fence!

watched a short animation. lol! wth! 3 Feets Apart- I kinda like it. At first I found it rather irritating. why the hell would someone be unable to stand near a person?! umm.. so the characters are stupid. like why the hell would the children have electronic gadgets on them sia… lol. ok, ok.. i know we should think out of the box. but the parents don’t have it mah!  still, sweet ending. i empathize with the couples…

alright. so let’s hope my final draft works out. tata!

5th Lesson.

The tool of memory is an inevitable process of change.

In dramatic writing, the very essence is character changes.

hmm. Through one’s experience, one is able to make the characters come alive. But somehow, not everyone’s life is as exciting as the others. A boring life makes a boring story. Therefore, at times, we should edit a little here and there. Change our story a little bitsy..

Ah. watched another short film. ha! the Eurasian girl is my primary schoolmate.  Autograph book… reminds me of how lame we were. & it’s always the same people on the HATE-FRIEND. lol. but it’s quite a nice film. reminds me of the the old days too.

Um. For now, I totally can’t write a goddamnfking story out. ZERK (people misspelled it as tsk).

4th Lesson

GEEEz! 4th lesson already! another 4 more weeks and we’ve to say bye to Leslie. =\

Anyhow!!!!!!!!! In class, we were taught about the purpose of 50 words stories. It helps to break down the myth and handles an idea at a time. Encourages precise& concise writing. The basic script editing skills to focus an reveal the essential element.

Film is behaviour, dynamic action & story is action ::: Action is more powerful than words!
Things that we write, people MUST understand. you got to be able to allow others understand wtf you are talking. UMM.

Many newbies do not know how to convey visually any sense of inner conflict of emotion.

TIPPPPP: WRITE what you DO NOT KNOW cos’ you’ll find some part of you that DOES KNOW!

UM. So with all these being taught, I should come out with a damn story quick.

3rd Lesson.

Damn. I can’t really remember what happened and what the class was about. =.=”

Anyhow, the activity was to combine the two people-watch candidates’ character & appearances into a story- how A provoked B to the max. [O.O] In order for us to have a better view of our victims, we were made to search for names & addresses from the yellow pages! manage to find my old address. hahaha.. the books ranged from 2-12 over years.

Basically, in order for a story to happen, we need characters to make it even start moving. & in order for the characters to start moving, we’ve to set their goal. So the flow will be:
i. a character has goal(s) and
ii. he has to do certain things to achieve his goal(s) and
iii. of course, while doing certain things, he will meet with some obstacles.

We’ll have to create a character, allowing it/him/her to have a past, a status and an aim.

I know what people-watch is about now. ha. A life is a story which has many chapters because of the many obstacles in it.

In conclusion, we’ve got to remember that a story must have conflict & make things hard for the character so that the story would be more exciting.

Hopefully I can write the short stories well. -.-

2nd Lesson.

I was the first to be in class!! weeeee!

Ok… So what we did in class was look thru’ some openers and then continue it. Here’s mine:

Sweat drips down as he pieces the map back together. The time left is another half an hour. Marcel just can’t figure out how the map fits. “I must not give up. I’ve come this far and I must not give up!” he thoughts as his hands move hastily. The place, which to Marcel, is a maze is installed with bombs. He can clearly hear them ticking away. All he remembers was being knocked out while walking. And woke up to find himself tied up in an unknown place. He found the torn map at the corner of the room, and knew he had to fix it before thinking about anything else.

I was thinking about the movie Saw II. I know it is different from my story but I sort of got my idea there.

Then, we worked on dialogue. And Leslie told us the elements of dialogue as well as the common mistakes….

* Able to show the character’s character and relationships with others.

* A good dialogue is an illusion of reality.

* Dialogue should not be use generously.

* Never tell the audience what they can see for themselves.. um. Let what Leslie said in class- if somebody jumps off the cliff, nobody would say “Oh My God! He jumped off the cliff!” Um. So whatever we can hear or see, we don’t write them. Agree!!

* Also, we’ll have to know what people will say without losing the kind of attitude they have.

We watched two short film. Ah Ma & Shh..

In Ah Ma, I can see that the relationship between the family members is not good. Their conversation never seems to exceed 5 sentences. The way they talk is very formal too.

Shh… – basically the animator just show us how the way life is thru’ words and action. It’s very creative! I like the idea of the change in every word. From one word, they change it to another thru’ actions.

HENCE! WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER:
> WHOM AM I WRITING ABOUT?
>> WHO IS MY CHARACTER?
>>> WHAT IS HE/SHE/IT LIKE?
>>>> WHAT DOES HE/SHE/IT DO?
>>>>> WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM/HER/IT IN THE STORY?

Ha. I always thought dialogue isn’t so complicating. Just write it with ” and ” can already. Maybe because of the passed 10 years, no English teacher encourages the usage of dialogue. Therefore I don’t really know how to write a good dialogue.

The end! I shall go people-watch!

First lesson.

The shuttle bus almost left without me again!!!

Storytelling… I thought it’s more of a verbal thingy at first. LOL! I just can’t understand the description about the modules lah. They just don’t seem to sound like it. I suck at writing la. When given “Leonard walks towards the box…”, I was a little blank. I didn’t know what to write. My verb is very weak and I just can’t think of any good strong verbs to use. Hopefully I will adopt the habit of going to the library more for books.. and also, get the words stored in my mind. I always can’t remember any big and good and strong words. GRRRRR. But still, I’ll try my best to do this module. Rather interesting cos’ finally it’s a class whereby the lecturer doesn’t freak out when his students use vulgarities. WEEE!

I hope I can really come out with 12 interesting openers.

& I really really really want to do well!!!!!!!!

*ADDED*

I think my reflection didn’t much reflect about the class. So, here to add more! I think storytelling will be interesting since we’ll be using present tense, visual voice and thru’ 3rd person. Indeed, adding an “-ing” weakens the action. It’s like causing it to not happen. Thru’ the active voice, we display the action right away. In a way, this allows reader to be following closely with the story.

I also agree that once you start to write, keep the flow. Back in secondary school, during English lessons, we were asked to write compos (duh). Whenever I manage to let out myself, the bell would ring. It really annoys me. The worst thing is, when I was back home, I wasn’t motivated at all. Hence, I leave it laying there till I’m nearer to the due date.

The idea of putting a word everyday into the shoe box sounds great (can use it for writcom also mah.. teeheeheee) But I guess I am too not discipline to come up with a word. I may even forget what word I’ve came up with. hahahhahaa. Therefore, I should just go to the net and randomly type a word and see what the first sentence contains.

& I’ll always end off with: I REALLY WANT TO DO WELL LEH.