Letter to the Past Review

Sparked off by:

• Event/person
• Reflect on emotions then/now
• Most important thing you wanted to know/say (fear of confrontation, self-denial, having to deal with the situation/consequences)
• Revisit the past, relive the past. Emotions. Painful memories.

The letter is a practical, personal example of how a character – YOU – undergo an inevitable process of change.

Process of change is an essential ingredient of any effective story.

In dramatic writing, the very essence is character change/development.

Observation –> Learn

Experience –> Learn (ex-convict release from prison)

Memory –>  Learn

How we learn depends on each individual’s mindset. Learn from mistake?

A storyteller should be concerned with the potential of every experience.

Everything about you – where you were born, what food you eat, the bump on your forehead – your experiences are unique and irreplaceable.

Many of your experiences are universal and translatable and can be used in any location. (Home, Run)

TIP:

• If you don’t know what to do with a character, make him yourself for a while. Be careful not to put your OWN personality onto the character.
• See how he/she relates to the world he has been thrown into.
• PLUNDER YOUR OWN PERSONAL BACKGROUND! The things that happen to you as you grow up and the things that are currently happening to you make terrific story sources.

Record your experiences: Diary, blog

Reflect your past (colourful past, good/bad)

Recall how you felt then/now.

All people have fragments of stories. Bits and pieces of our existence. Remember the emotion.

These potential ideas prompt your desire to know more.

Respond emotionally and intellectually to what you heard. Emotionally first, need some time to adapt.

Good stories are born in the heart, not the head.

Initial ideas sparked off by:

• Memories/emotions (heart)
• Development – research etc (head)

Remember the role of an audience, YOU ARE THE AUDIENCE! make the film worthwhile.

Take them on a ride of discovery. Feed them new info. Different angle, tell it from a diff POV. Most of the time, stereotypical view.

Your memory is a wonderful cabinet of past incidents which you have experienced or been told.

Her memory, and your memory is different, although the same incident.

These memories are points of reference to your own past existence.

Write something you do not know.

• Imagination
• Research
• Interviews

Always room for personal discovery!

Experience vs Memory

Experience – What you go through.

Memory – Manufactured, what you remember.

Sunat 2006, M. Raihan halim

True/False stories

Write one true, one false story.

By 3 Nov, Wed, 10 am