Press Release June 2003 Rita entertains the club with her talk on script writing

For the June meeting of Surrey Border Film & Video Makers, the club secretary, Rita Wheeler, ran a talk/workshop on the writing of film scripts to help filmmaking members with their new movies. Rita is currently towards the end of a Masters Course at Bournmouth University on the writing of film scripts, which is probably one reason why she produced such a fascinating and enjoyable evening. Much of what she had to say was focused on ways of conjuring up ideas. She started by challenging members to think of a number between 8 and 15, then to take their minds back to when they were that age and then to recollect a special character from that time. Quickly the audience were back to their childhood days and coming up with vivid recollections. Right, she said, some of the best characters for your scripts will be ones based on people who you vividly remember from your own experience. Another brilliant resource which Rita told members that she uses to trigger ideas for scripts is her collection from newspapers, magazines and even adverts. When in need of a plot Rita said that she would browse through this collection trusting for inspiration to hit!

Rita laid great emphasis on film scripts being about a general plot and definitely not very much about the words actors say. She argued that great entertainment could be provided with bizarre twists to apparently simple activitiesTo illustrate that words were not needed, she showed two remarkable and thought provoking, funny video clips. The first was a black and white semi slapstick about a large packing case labelled ‘delicate, handle with care’ being delivered to the docks. Once safely onboard the ship and after a dozen or more mishaps and lucky escapes the camera pans down to reveal it’s safely onboard

The Titanic! The second was a silent movie of a rather strange person chasing round a room intent on swatting a bug. After much chasing the bug was eventually seen moving under a cloth. With shoe raised the actor cautiously lifts the cloth only to see a miniature version of himself! His miniature version turns to look up, whereupon the main character also turns round only to see a larger version of himself looking down also with shoe in hand! Splat, end of film!

Another point that Rita emphasised was that even when actors speak, it needn’t be to guide the audience through what is happening, more to add another dimension, such as humour. As an illustration we were treated to opening clips from Indiana Jones, the Temple of Doom. It well illustrated the bizarre contrast of the simple dialogue, such as worrying about a broken finger nail, in the middle of highly dynamic explosions, gun fire and jumping through windows! The hilarity came from the total incompatibility of the nature of the conversation and the action.

There were many titbits and very funny video clips throughout the evening and certainly everyone came away with a grand insight into the inner workings of creating film scripts for new movies.