My narrative: Broken Down and Explained

At this point in the process, I will start the task i am mostly familiar with, having completed a short script on the summer titled "A letter to my father". I will organize a new idea for the 2 minute time constrain, since my first project contains 21 pages and has been done at least 4 months ago. Thanks to my past experience with scriptwriting, i expect to be able to remember the formatting and the nuances that make scriptwriting different to other types of written storytelling. From what i can gather many of the industry parameters and terminology seem to originate, for example, the actions descriptions and how it is mostly done by dialogue, shaped by how plays are formatted. However, many more descriptions and actions are exclusive to dictating how a director should use the script and record it, such as some shot descriptions, audio choices and editing choices. 

The logline that i have for the short, though it is not necessary since the film will not be presented for a producer or film company to purchase and distribute, i still wanted to create one due to helping me break down the story to its basic essentials: What i am trying to say?, What i am trying to show? and what do the audience will see?. My two sentence description goes as follows: "A 20 year old women with ARFID decides to stop all medications and treatment to live a normal life. Her eating and behaviors become more erratic, alarming those around her, until she cannot hide it any more." While typing it, it feel like the story was flowing through my hands, i had some hesitations, but it is important to remember that adaptations are allowed, as long as they still contain the original message of the film. 

The story will follow the typical three-act structure: beginning (the setup), middle (climax and rising actions) and the end (failing action and resolution). I have chosen this type of narrative
since it is the more traditional and taught type of writing a story, having written stories like that before and therefore, being more comfortable with it. I had multiple other aspects in which it will be probable for me to feel uncomfortable and incapable at times, shooting, directing and editing to name a few, so not deviating farther than that seem reasonable. It has to be able to be understandable to an audience in 2 minutes, a more artistic take, using flashbacks and nonlinear following would require more time for the viewer to unpack what it has been seen in between scenes, leading to more time needed. 

 

In that way, my begging one sentence description is :Ana finds herself not wanting to live life dictated by her mental illness, decides to stop all treatment (therapy, medication, etc) altogether. The middle: While continuing with her work, starting strong, meal time gets ahead and triggers her back completely. At the end: Their family and friends start to notice, finalizing with an overload breakdown and asking for help. It may sound very basic from this short descriptors, but they are done to be so and be able to expand from. From each of them, i can break them down into smaller steps and beats to the story, developing its individual scenes. It is easier, for me at least, to have them done this way, since it is very likely to experience writer's block for not knowing how to continue the story.

The scriptwriting process is not easy to manage, knowing its formatting and how to create certain meaning with only dialogue and minimal action descriptions. But, at least one aspect of the writing is already done, completing the story progression and its three act structure.

Citations:

“The Three-Act Structure: 3 Steps to a Powerful Story Structure.” Reedsy, 15 June 2018, blog.reedsy.com/three-act-structure/.

Mejia. Alejandra. A letter to my Father, Final Draft, Script, 24 July 2020