How To Conquer Planet Earth (In Five Easy Steps)

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 878

I was going to suggest we all as a forum work on Russell Bolding's script

"How To Conquer Planet Earth (In Five Easy Steps)"

That way we can help Russell, like Blake would have done, to achieve his goal of finishing this script using Blake's BS2 Save The Cat method..

We all chip away at it making suggestions for the 15 sequences and then take it over to the corkboard and similarly make suggestions to those remaining 25 index cards until we have 40 master scenes on index cards.

We elect a single writer to write the first draft and then post it somewheres so everybody can read it and we can have a thread for notes..

Then another writer or the same one can write a second draft and so on until we end up with a solid screenplay...

I was going to offer to write Russel's script but I think this is a gret idea.

Russell has got a great title and logline but his concept needs reimagining to give it better structure and where better to do that than on here with all the cats making a contribution, I think Blake would love that.

This can be Russell's beat sheet workshop as if he had taken it with Blake himself..

I've always considered Russell's idea to be the most original one on the Save the Cat forum and I reckon we should all help him re-imagin his story and start by producing a new BS2 beatsheet and then take it over to the corkboard.. Once we have a semblence of a decent story with decent protagonist and antagonist characters with an A Story and B Story and so his story hits all the beats properly, is in keeping with theme, tone and plot and characters, I reckon this would be a great tribute to Blake by helping Russell achieve his dream..

Once we've got to that BS2, the 40 index cards on the corkboard and then a first draft, Russell will have not only assimilated Blake's Save the Cat method, but he will be able to employ it in either his rewrites or when he develops a new script project...

This is not about credit it is about helping a fellow cat. I don't expect any money or any payment or credit for this but in the spirit of Blake who helped so many in his life and work, let this idea for a project be our tribute to Blake and if it ends up on the screen it can be something we can all be proud of because we helped a fellow cat because we channeled our creative energies through Blake and his memory...

My thinking behind this is Russell needs help on his project and where better to get that help than here from all the cats and Russell's project can be both his and our tribute to Blake..

I don't know why, but me thinks Blake would love this and in the spirit of storytelling, comedy, fun and Blake's memory I can think of no better tribute than whipping "How To Conquer Planet Earth (In Five Easy Steps)" into shape for Russell..

As I mentioned I was about to contact Russell and offer him I do this myself with him but after reading this thread I reckon working on Russell's script as a team of cats to get it to a first draft would be a real knock out idea...

I'm not against any other ideas but my thinking behind my suggestion is we will be helping a fellow cat just like Blake would have done and in doing so we can dedicate Russell's script to Blake as our tribute to him so we not only end up with a well-crafted and structured screenplay but a fellow cat is helped, guided and learns in the great Blake Snyder tradition...

Anyways, love to hear your thoughts on this..

Kevan

Hollywood crAZRick · Snarky Cat Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 1645

it's a great idea, in theory...

but when reality and ego step in, theory often takes back seat, on the high-road for a long walk off a short pier ending up on a slow boat to China...

but, then what the heck!

sounds like we've already beat this thing from at least 4 different angles in private, so, if it's OK with Russ, I got no ego attached to my mess of suggestions, we could probably hammer something out as a litter of kitties in the cat box...

as long as it's agreed by all that, should things get entirely out of hand-- as things are wont to do in a public forum when those big egos and ids and everything else get in the way of 'constructive process'-- this thread goes away and we all go back to our respective holes in the ether, and leave Russ to make whatever he wishes from whatever remains of his interstellar idea...

let's do it, for Blake!

write on!
Cool

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Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 878

Cazrick, I agree with you..

No room for egos and anything like that.

Russ is the man and it's his original idea..

The idea is to help him fashion his concept into a rock solid stucture to help producing a fine screenplay..

Even if our help only extends to the beat sheet and 40 master scene index card, that should be enough to help Russ put a first draft together..

Or we can elect somebody who wishes to, if this is okay with Russ, to write that first draft for him..

Obviously, this is dependant on Russ, if he is olkay with all this.. My thinking behind this is we as Blake's students and users of his method help Russ and in the process he also learns and gains something from the process.. He will not only end up with a sound, solid structured first draft but he'll be able to assimilate Blake's STC knowledge along the way..

I'm all for whoever makes the best suggestions for each of the 15 sequences and for scene ideas go into the script.. I'm not one for arguing for the sake of it but if as a team, a community of people, we can put aside egos and do this thing, it will be a great tribute to Blake and will live on through Russell's script..

So whoever want's to get involved we do it all on the forum and leave suggestions and such.. We can have a moderator who can organize and keep everything on track..

You are equally familiar as me on Russell's script and story, Cazrick and I nominate you.. You'd be good for this.. You can still throw in your ideas and contribute like everybody else but you can document and organize everything and sort it out as we all progress.. Obviously Russ is at the center of all this because he has to be in agreement with how we chop up and reassemble his script to create an improved script with proper structure which pushes the plot forward, conforms to theme and includes the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist characters so it needs to reflect all those apsects from the concept within the script..

I'd do this myself but I'm currently working in the back yard putting up some fencing which covers the length of the property and I'm doing a polish on a script at night and this needs to be finished in the next day or so, so it can be sent to a manager who wants to send it out to market.. So if you can do the moderating and organizing of information, Cazrick that'd be great.. I can come in and make contributions and such and a little later once I've completed this manual work and polish on this screenplay I can step up to the plate and increase my help on this...

Looking forward to it and for Russell's blessing on this..

Keep us posted, Cazrick, man, and if you can get this started we can all visit the forum and chime in with our suggestions, ideas and whatnot and you can kind of see what works and what does't and organize them all into a BS2 beatsheet.. Start with the title and logline and work from there until we complete a solid BS2 beatsheet then it's onto the corkboard..

Those of us who have Blake's STC software can exchange files between each other which may be a big help on this.. If you have the STC software, Cazrick this also may be a good place to consoladate these ideas and document them into that..

Good man..

Kevan

Russell Bolding · Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:36 am Post subject:

Oh man... I read this at work in the parking lot before I went in and was incredibly moved by what I read. Kevan, you ol' rascal, you. You ol' scallywag! You made me cry, man. Thanks. ;p

Seroiously, as I'm still at work, I can't write much here. But, I do think if I pass up the opp to receive help from you all, I'd dishonor Blake and the spirit of why we're all on this crazy ride. I'll do it! I'll more in a few hours. Work's a-callin'. More to come. Thank you all so much!!

J Rinaldo · Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:35 am Post subject:

Kev,

Great idea.
As Kramer said: I'm in!

JR

_________________
"I hate it when villains quote Shakespeare"
- J. Crichton

Hollywood crAZRick · Snarky Cat Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 1645

thanks for the nomination in regards to Moderation, Kevain

it's an honor just to be nominated, I suppose... Embarassed

wait to see what Russ has to say, and who all steps up to help

I do have the STC software so can consolidate suggestions posted here into the software, take screen-caps and post results as things develop

write on!
Cool

_________________
Snarky is the new Black... with a VAMPIRE! ;-)

www.jeffkitchen.com for all your outlining Q&A... it's tight! and tighter is righter! right?... with a VAMPIRE!

Cam_O · Tiger Joined: 05 Jun 2009 Posts: 154 Location: Minnesota

Sounds like a great idea!
How far are you along?

I could try to help if I get a logline and theme.

_________________
I am full of ideas.
I just don't know what they are yet.

Russell Bolding · Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject: Hmmmmmm....

I'll try not to make this another novel (I've been writing all kinds of e-mails/messages/etc. today and they've all been novels) as my fingers are bleeding and turning all wrinkly and stuff... (not really, just being overly dramatic).

When I awoke to find this post, I was at first confused, seeing the title of my idea and not my name as the author. Then, as I read further and saw the outstretched hand of Kev's, offering to turn this into a Blake Snyder-less Beat Sheet Workshop, I totally lost it in my car. I cried and just got all blubbery thinking of him and all of the relatives I've lost along the way.

I responded (see above Razz

) and felt like this might be my salvation for learning this danged thing once and for all (the STC Method).

But, as I've had a few hours to think about this, I'm not totally sure how or if this'll work. I've wondered what would happen by taking this whole project public. The idea has, up until now, been "my" baby. I know, eventually, once I sell it (yep, as positive as Blake would have been), it'll be out of my grubby little fingers and it'll be someone else's problem. I think part of my "fear" comes from the worry that once it's fleshed out on the Board, it'll be hard for me to claim any part of whatever it becomes of my idea as mine any more.

I do appreciate your offers to help, really, I do. How can I lie to such an amazing bunch such as you all? Here's the thing. I, too, have the STC software and have made notes and worked on my outline away from the Mac, how, I can't say right now, but let's say it gives me a much deeper understanding of STC and its usage. Sure, I'm stumbling with my story. Sure, gags and set pieces abound. I've already had to whittle away two big pieces and am about to whack off a third as they don't truly serve the story - it's just fluff and silliness.

The primal story is still there about family and a young girl's mission to save not only her best friend, a guy she's crazy about, but her sister and the whole world, thanks to the one silly thing she sees in her mind - a comic bo-- oh, sorry "graphic novel" dictating how to conquer our frail planet in a small number of steps.

No need for half animals, like the elephurky, the snarraffe or the hippopotoduck (I may use them in a whole 'nother plotline in a different project... anyone up to co-writing that one with me? No need for Men in Black wannabes (more like Men in Leisure Suits). And no need for filler.

Oh, and for anyone wondering that the logline is?

When aliens abduct her boyfriend, a misanthropic teen sci-fi geek must outwit extraterrestrials who use a reality show as cover to turn Earth into their personal smorgasbord.

I got rid of the word "employ" - it's just not a word I use on a daily basis and I'm not sure a lot of other people do either and used the word "use" instead. And I changed outsmart to outwit... just sounded better to me. But somehow, this logline seems like it's missing something. We get the Debate/Break Into two moment and the girl's mission... but it seems... off.

Okay, I need to wrap this up. I'd be delighted to get anyone's help with this. But, to be honest, and this is no slight on anyone else... and to borrow from Mr. Tyler Perry... "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" Smile

This isn't fear of losing creative control over the project and it isn't fear that this will turn into something that wasn't my intent, story or other-wise, originally. I just feel in my heart, as I get closer to where I feel I need to be, this really is coming around.

Kevan, you are my man, and I got your back. I just need to work on this a bit more on my own. When the day comes that I really feel I'm, to also borrow from the late great John Belushi, "up shit creek", you guys will be the first to see a post saying,"I'M SORRYYYY!!! HELLLLLLLP MEEEEEEEE!!" ;P Hopefully, you all will still be around to follow through and assist. I hope Blake understands. I hope you all understand. Give me some time on this. I'll make you all VERY proud grandparents. Smile

Wait, that didn't come out right. Thanks for the offer and help. Now, don't you all have scripts of your own to be writing?! ;P

Your biggest hero,
-- Russ

---- Dangit! Another dang novel! :/

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 878

Hey Russ

No problem, man, I understand completely...

It's your baby I understand that too..

I just hoped some fresh ideas and perspectives on your script may help to write a new draft which you could then work on from that.

But working in public is a problem and I didn't take that into account..

Maybe John, the administrator could have made a private thread with a password just for the contributors which would have kept it strictly private.

My idea was to beat the concept out and see what came out from other folks suggestions until eventually you arrived at something with a good spine which you could have confidence putting it in the script because you would have the forsight it would work before hand kind of thing...

Anyways, no biggy.. It's the idea which counts and we can always come back to it if you change your mind...

Thanks Cazric for your offer to help and all you other guys who came forward with offers of help on this..

Maybe Russ will change his mind some time in the future if he feels the need.. The offer is there if he wants it.

Thanks Russ and guys..

Hollywood crAZRick · Snarky Cat Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 1645

good luck with it Russ!

I'll be around (as I'm sure we all will) if you run into another brick wall going forward with future drafts.

write on!
Cool

oh and thanks again as always to Kevain for being so gracious and all-inclusive in Russell's time of need...

_________________
Snarky is the new Black... with a VAMPIRE! ;-)

www.jeffkitchen.com for all your outlining Q&A... it's tight! and tighter is righter! right?... with a VAMPIRE!

Mike Rinaldi · Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:06 pm Post subject:

Save the screenwriter, save the world.

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The Slusho's gone? Why is all the Slusho gone?

Russell Bolding · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 11:11 am Post subject:

Sooooooo, it's been, like, for-EVER since I've been around but with the release of "The Watch", I had to chime in and voice my displeasure at the similarities between it and my own baby, HTCPE (I5ES).

Now, I know it's an R-rated raunchfest and it has four guys is it and all that malarkey but it all takes place in a neighborhood and the aliens are incognito and hiding out in the 'hood as they get ready to invade. I have no plans to sue Still and co. for putting this thing out and though Rogan and that other writer (name escapes me but that doesn't matter) took a PG13 script and raunchified it, I just feel violated that this thing seems so much like mine. For those familiar with my story, what do you think about this? There are so many differences between the two but I wonder, if this thing can get written and sold, why shouldn't mine have as equally a chance to get out there... of course, I need to finish it first, right? Still not writing as I have 0% time any more. Long story. Hit me up for details. Smile

Russ out!

Hollywood crAZRick · Snarky Cat Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 1645

Goth emo comic book teen chick vs aliens in the hood is same but different enough from Neighborhood Watch teens vs aliens in the hood

Neighborhood Watch vs aliens just got written, sold, cast and produced first

that's all

and after 3 years of doing nothing with it, it's your own fault any part of your genius concept got 'stolen' and made it to market.

the good news: if it takes you 3 to 5 more years to get back to writing, then 3 to 5 more years after that to finish the rewrite, then aliens vs emo goth teen in the hood might be fresh and new and awesome again.

write on!
(eventually... or not...)
Cool

_________________
Snarky is the new Black... with a VAMPIRE! ;-)

www.jeffkitchen.com for all your outlining Q&A... it's tight! and tighter is righter! right?... with a VAMPIRE!

MyEvilTwin · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 12:38 pm Post subject:

There's also the British "Attack the Block" which is Juvenile Delinquents vs. Aliens. Those kids are teens too. But I'm sure Russell's idea is sufficiently different from that as well.

Mike Rinaldi · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 3:44 am Post subject:

Russ, the right thing to do would be up the ante and make it more like Kick Ass. Those are the people you want beating down aliens on your block.

_________________
The Slusho's gone? Why is all the Slusho gone?

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