Screenwriting Challenge Contest: Day 6
Screenwriter Eric Heisserer (A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Thing, Final Destination 5) and now writer-director (Hours) has been a longtime friend of the blog and fellow Twitter denizen (@HIGHzurrer). You may remember the interview I did with him earlier this year (Eric also made the 2012 Black List with his screenplay adaptation of the Ted Chiang short story “Story of Your Life”).
A couple of years ago, Eric ran a series of “screenwriting challenges” via Twitter and they proved to be quite popular. So much so that Eric has put them out as a book:
Seeing as we had so much fun with the Scene-Writing Series we ran in September, Eric kindly agreed to do a similar week-long contest here on the blog. Each day this week, I will post one of the challenges from Eric’s book. I encourage you to take up the challenge and post your scene to Comments. There will be one winner for each challenge, so 7 winners in all. Prizes:
Monday-Friday: A free copy of Eric’s ebook “150 Screenwriting Challenges”.
Saturday-Sunday: The Black List is offering your choice of either 2 free months of hosting your script on their site or a free script evaluation ($50 value).
How cool is that?
Here is today’s screenwriting challenge via Eric’s book:
Challenge
Without using dialogue, write a scene that reveals a man as a father who loves his son/daughter (not present in the scene). WITHOUT using a photograph. Let’s get more creative. No more photo-gazing, despite it being a quick and easy shortcut.
In terms of posting in Comments, don’t worry about script format, focus on the content of the exercise.
Who will determine the winner? Why, none other than Max Millimeter: Hollywood Movie Producer Extraordinaire, whose unique perspective on movies you can get a taste of here.
Take up the screenwriting challenge for a chance to win some prizes and enhance your writing chops.
Thanks, Eric, for your generosity and congratulations on your book.
“150 Screenwriting Challenges” is available for Kindle on Amazon here.
Tomorrow: Another screenwriting challenge!
For the Day 6 challenge, let’s set a deadline of Sunday, November 24 at Midnight Pacific Standard Time (U.S.). Max will need a day or two to catch up with each challenge, but generally you can expect an announcement of the winner with 48 hours of deadlines.
Finally here’s a Tweet from Eric aimed at everyone who has participated in the Screenwriting Challenge Contest so far:
UPDATE: We have a winner from the Day 4 challenge. Max called me up to his Laurel Canyon home to discuss this particular challenge. Here is a transcript of our conversation as we sat outside in his back yard:
Scott: So any particular reason why I had to drive up here?
Max: Yeah. That.
Scott: What? Your swimming pool?
Max: Bingo.
Scott: What does a swimming pool have to do —
Max: Zip your lips and I’ll tell you. [clears throat] Know why I have a swimming pool? It ain’t ‘coz I like to swim. Fact is, I never even been in this pool. Know why that is? ‘Coz I’m scared as shit of drowning. Know why I’m scared? That’s what you get when you got an older brother fifty pounds heavier than you, grabs you up, and shoves your head under water in the bath tub, and holds you there… just for kicks. Asshole.
Scott: Uh… wow. Sorry to hear that, Max —
Max: Ice guy.
Scott: Ice guy?
Max: C’mon, you remember. Scene with the dude with a bag over his head… that takes care of the blind part. Hands cuffed. Sitting on ice that’s thawing. ‘Bout to go into the drink… icy cold water… sinking down, down… struggling to breathe. Geezus, gives me the goddammed creeps.
Scott: But… why’d you buy a house with a swimming pool if you’re afraid of drowning?
Max: Don’t you know anything? It’s Hollywood, dummy. Ya’ gotta have a pool in Hollywood.
Scott: Even though you’ve never gone swimming in it.
Max: [mutters] My fucking brother…
Interesting. I’ve known Max for several years, but this is the first I’ve heard about him having a brother, let alone sharing the secret that he doesn’t like to swim. Chalk that up to an effective scene by today’s winner Adam Scott Thompson who evidently shook up Max enough to get past all his bluster.
Congratulations, Adam! Send me your email address and I’ll pass that along to Eric Heisserer so you can receive your free copy of “150 Screenwriting Challenges.”
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