Page 85 - Student: dazed And Confused

all the kinks out, then do my final write because I am bound to want to change things by
then. I found I couldn't get away with that on this. Even now, I can see where I would make
tiny changes. It's hard for me to be totally happy with any of my work, so I'm not allowing
myself to mess around with it any more because I could be tinkering until the cows go
home.

I don't think that this extract is the most cinematic idea I could have arrived at but I don't
think I have done too badly seeing as how I didn't know this stuff before the new year. It
was enjoyable writing the extract and I would probably write a script again if I had an idea
that called for it.

Having said that, I'm the first to admit that I am not cut out for this style of writing - at least,
not yet. I just don't know enough about to say that I'd like to take it up seriously. There are
so many tricks of the trade and industry rules that I just haven't had chance to learn yet.
Screenwriting interests me and I'd like to know more about it.

Part of the reason I enjoyed it so much was probably because it was new and exciting. Now,
it's written and I'm quite relieved. Mostly because I was worried how I would manage at
writing in a style I'd never studied before.

Looking back, it was a long, hard process, especially trying to get my mind out of novel mode
and into a script mindset. My piece of script isn't good enough to make but as a first
attempt, it's good enough. I even surprised myself. I didn't thin k I knew as much as I did.

TUTOR NOTES -

DEMONSTRATION OF WRITING AS PROCESS - Good self-assessment in terms of the creative
process, differences from prose and strengths + weaknesses of the piece. I'd have liked

analysis to be related to screenwriting theory, codes and conventions in more depth, to
check how the author adhered to them and what impact that made on the creative process.

MASTERY OF TECHNIQUES AND CONVENTIONS - generally good format of layout with only
minor errors. Description good in the main, but too much knowledge is assumed without
being shown on screen - see notes for details. Genre codes are evident, with sleight-of-
hand wrinkles working quite well, but a single genre should predominate.

ACHIEVEMENT OF A SHAPED AND CRAFTED PIECE OF WRITING - Good opening sequence

structure setting up an inciting incident that keeps the reader interested. Narratively the
piece seems to contain elements of The Sixth Sense, Groundhog Day & Final Destination,
but the pacing is too slow and the tone is uncertain, falling between genres.