Weird Writing Habits .

[EJT501]

I actually wrote an entire script because of one scene. I was inspiredby the song HURT by Johnny Cash. When I write I'm inspired by a single scene then I write around it to fit in.

[Westcroft]

I began writing a script because of one word, a response from the antagonist.

The script started with a rough-around-the-edges detective who's wife and daughter were kidnapped by this insane criminal, who's knack was taking pictures with his camera... this part was inspired by me walking around taking pictures with my Canon Rebel Xti, the cover of "The Killing Joke" TPB, and originally I crafted the killer after Jude Law's character from "The Road to Perdition".

I decided that the killer needed to be more "off the handle" and a bit of a smart-ass. I then decided to have those characteristics stand out, I should have the killer work with a 'side-kick, henchmen type guy' who was very opposite of the killer. I then went further and had the henchmen be a victim who pleaded and begged to have his life spared and to just work with the killer and after a while they sort of became more comfortable with each other (thank god for fiction), this allowed me to have the henchmen be able to berate the killer's methods and cold bloodedness, without having the killer get pissed and kill him.

This leads me to the line that made me want to make this script. (The killer = THE KILLER , henchmen = MURRAY)

INT. WAREHOUSE - DUSK

THE KILLER paces around the very filthy warehouse, circling UNKNOWN VICTIM, who has duct tape over his mouth, is tied up and hanging from an overhead pipe. THE KILLER takes a few pictures of the UNKNOWN VICTIM, who struggles and flinches after each flash of the camera, in doing so he begins to rotate around and around from the pipe. MURRAY enters from a side-room.

                         MURRAY
        What the hell are we going to do with
        Cop's family?

                         THE KILLER
        Give them a cookie... what the hell do
        you think we're going to do?

                         MURRAY
        It's a cop's family, we don't need any
        more heat after that last escapade

(NOTE: This scene takes place after one where the killer almost gets caught fleeing from the scene with UNKNOWN VICTIM)

       
                         THE KILLER
        Stop worrying and get my shit ready
        for our friend here.

THE KILLER motions to UNKNOWN VICTIM, hanging from his ceiling.

                          MURRAY
       Alright before you get your kicks from
       cutting the guy's skin off, or whatever
       floats your boat, can we please figure
       out how the hell we're going to get the
       hell out of here before the cops bust
       in here

As MURRAY says "cutting the guy's skin off" UNKNOWN VICTIM's eyes bulge in surprise and horror as he still slowly rotates.

(NOTE: this isn't the killer's place, this is just a temporary hide out due to the fact the Killer has almost been caught)

THE KILLER snaps a picture of UNKNOWN VICTIM.

                       THE KILLER
      We'll get out of here, as soon as I'm done
      with our friend here. I'm too hungry to think.

MURRAY's face bares disgust.

                       MURRAY
      That's just disgusting!

                      THE KILLER
       I'm joking you jack-ass, but I'd rather finish
       him now instead of having to carry three people.
       How about you?

                      MURRAY
       Well we'll just let the kid go earlier than usual.
 
                      THE KILLER
       Who said anything about letting her go?

                      MURRAY
        Jesus Christ, she's no older than 6.

THE KILLER snaps a shot of MURRAY, MURRAY puts his hand in front of his face to block the flash.

                      THE KILLER
        It's all meat to me.

                      MURRAY
        C'mon man, that's too far.

                      THE KILLER
        You know what the difference between
        you and me is?

                       MURRAY
         You're completely fucking insane?

                       THE KILLER
         Exactly.

THE KILLER takes one last picture of MURRAY, as the flash brightens the screen we CUT TO:

EXT. DETECTIVE GREGORY'S HOUSE - NIGHT

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Just that matter of fact response of "exactly". Murray tries to insult him, but the killer is on this different wave length... he doesn't even care about getting caught, he just wants to do what he thinks is fun (killing UNKNOWN VICTIM).

MURRAY is like his conscious... it's a rough draft so the descriptions and dialogue isn't refined, but that's it.

[Omni]

my habits have changed actually

not in order

-I listen to music that fits the scene I'm writing.

-I sit in a small room and come up with ideas.

-I stay up to ungodly hours writing

-I only leave for food and restroom

-I designate how many pages I'm going to write in one session

also

Method Writing is something I try to use

like if I'm writing a really tense scene I'll take a quick jog and start writing.

here is a true story.

I was writing a new Evil Dead fan film and one scene called for a man to be alone in the dark (don't worry this film wont be made) so to really get a feel of how this guy must feel I walked into some woods in the middle of night and I wandered out there for about an hour.

that was the only good part of the script