Screenwriting : Question by Sille Larsen

Emergency - I eventually became a volunteer EMT for the county ambulance service. SQUAD 51!!

how amazing, I love that!! good luck with everything!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXtluVl97Yg

there you go!

Sorry to say “None”. It was a person. A man called Anthony Eade. I suffered a brain injury when I was young. I drifted through school relying on a very good memory as I could really read. I had a series of factory jobs, sales, did a bit of an apprenticeship.

Anthony said to me “Someone at some time has told you that you wouldn’t amount to much. I don’t why they did that. But they are wrong.” He said that with a tear in his eye. He was going broke during a massive downturn in the Aussie economy. He had no need to be kind. But that one moment changed my life. Upon reflection.

Wow I love this game! Shockingly, even to me, BREAKING BAD :)

Not dealing meth but after finishing the series it hit me like a ton of bricks - be your authentic self or you will be miserable for the rest of your days.

We all seem to hide a little bit or, often, a lot, right? So it was a good lesson.

The honest & short answer is none.

Line of Duty - the twists, suspense and writing is incredible. One of the best British dramas hands down

Putting this into the context of screenwriting, watching The Hateful Eight had a profound effect on me that changed the course of my writing and trajectory of my career significantly.

To see one of the most successful filmmakers of our time, a filmmaker who could do anything they want, chose to write a contained drama akin to a stage-play, helped me rediscover what actually matters to us as artists. Following that, I ended up writing probably my best screenplay ever and adopted a whole new attitude with a very clear voice. I completed that script in Feb 2017 and got my first feature option (for the same script) six months later.

Wow, im blown away of all your answers! I will try and give you all a comment in this

Kiril - So cool I will watch it now!!

Craig - So sad to hear about your brain injury, but im so happy to hear that a man changed you to do something else, and look how far you have come!! We all come with a package from our past, and that you didn't stop fighting is a symbol for me that everything is possible, I wish you all the best!!

Dale - Wauw that really touched me, it sounds like that scene will be in your heart for ever, im very thankful that you wanted to share that with me, I hope it have opened your eyes to follow your dreams! Much luck your way!!

Nick, I feel you. - I also changed a lot after watching this series (I will tell my story down below) Life is short, and many people take it for granted and we don't necessarily know what other people is going through, one word or comment can simply ruin the persons day, im still young, and I know the young people culture isn't what it used to be specially not in my country, people is selfless and arrogant these days, I learned to be thankful for what I have and to fight for what I want and don't let anything stop me. Kindness is the best way to treat people, I appreciate your comment!

Dan - I have no words, im speechless, you have definitely changed something in me with your comment or your parents! I'm in tears, you must be a very proud son, and im sure it wasn't "funny" for your parents back in the time, but they sure did the right thing! And no matter what you have experienced in this industry im sure much more will come your way, I wish you all the best, wauw, I have no words!

Mo - True, I haven't watched breaking bad, but I know what the series is about, and I agrees with you that we hide us from other people, and I think its because we are scared to be who we are, or what people will think, a few years ago I could sit for hours and think about what to post on social media, and I was so scared if the response was bad, so yeah, im still scared in some way, and I dont think we can change that ever its a part of us and the humans, so we just have to live with it as much as we can, and always take chances otherwise you will never know what could happen for you if you don't just jump into it - I applied for our movie school in Denmark as a screenwriter and I got rejected, but that didn't stop me writing or searching. It was just an eye opener that told me I dont have to take the easiest way, I have to find my own way in this, and now when I look back im actually happy that I got rejected because I would have been stuck to that school for 4 years, and I like to create my own path in life! Thank you for sharing.

Doug - We are all different, and I appreciate your honest answer! - Have a great week

Katie - I think I need to watch that if its possible in my country, I have heard the title before.

THANK YOU ALL for taking Time to tell your answer and im touched into my bones of all your comments, I was not sure if I should post this question, but you all just confirmed me that it was the right choice! I thank you all a lot, and I wish you all much love and happiness in your life, never stop believing and keep dreaming! - My choice is under here.

The series that have made me cry in every episode and changed something inside me is the British/Scottish series Outlander, im much more into nature, I love history and the love that the characters have is so deep and special, and what they are willing to do for each other is priceless. Personally I don't like to end a story and specially not this, so I haven't even finished the series because I dont what it to end, I know many season is coming or a few more, but I just can't think about it, it have changed me to not expect things and just be thankful and stop thinking about what other people think. it is just unbelievable how much the series lays up to the really history I love it.

Thank you all.

Sille Larsen , Every artist we like, in any field, has been rejected for years and years and years and years and yeeeeeeaaaarssss. The stories are legendary, but what's overlooked is the commitment. All writers have to do is practice writing on a daily basis until one day, they write an undeniable story. And then magically, you're an overnight success. LOL. All the best to you.

There have been a couple in my time that have made me see things differently, but most significant was when Shonda Rhimes came on the scene and told stories that resonated with wide varieties of audience, that I said "that. I want to do that". But my favorite movie still remains "Death Becomes Her"

The TV show "Blake's 7" introduced me to the concept of moral greyness and not-always-happy endings (although Spaghetti Westerns such as "The Great Silence" kind of lit the fuse on that one for me). The movie "Ghostbusters" (the original 1984 classic as well as its 1989 sequel) showed me that even civilians - in this case, scientists - can be heroes, as well as showing how people from different backgrounds and with contrasting personalities can work together.

I'd have to say The Muppet Show, and then subsequent Jim Henson Co. Products. If he didn't come into my life, I really doubt I'd have pursued film. Maybe I wouldn't even be a writer! Henson really created that drive in me because his work was so interesting and fun.

I can't answer all individual, but im reading all your comment, and I appreciate you all taking time to tell your story!! I wish you nothing else than luck and happiness, and I hope and wish the tv show, film or series that have changed you will make you grow! Thank you so much ☀️

Deadwood, Mad Men and Californication have all had a major influence on my screenwriting. I'm a big believer in Aaron Sorkin's statement "Good writers borrow from other writers. Great writers steal from them outright." And, I think Sorkin borrowed that quote from T.S. Elliot who is credited with saying "T. S. Eliot once said that “good writers borrow, great writers steal.”

There are many for me. Like most here, movies/tv ARE one of the primary places I meet the swirl of feelings and thoughts inside. I have two temple buildings--church and the movie theater.

One of these for me was Magnolia.

I was a senior in high school. A nice kid, really nice, but a conservative christian one. I didn't judge people outwardly, again I was not one of those kinds of pricks, but I still had pretty strong judgmental views about a lot of things.

Magnolia devastated my sense of certainty. All the characters' behaviors came from a deep well of longing for love, belonging, purpose. I broke down when the William H Macy character says "I really do have love to give, I just don't know where to put it." I started to see people in real life as walking around with that same complexity and desire.

Changed my life.

More than eleven years ago, my father, for some reason, showed me a clip from a long-running children's television anime series called "Doraemon," based on the manga of the same name about an earless robot cat from the future who time-travels to the present day to help a troubled schoolkid, Nobita, succeed in his life. Becoming fascinated with this Japanese franchise at the time caused me to gradually change the way I think about Japanese popular culture, thus resulting in me having a strong interest in one day visiting the country and experiencing what it has to offer me. "Doraemon" being my favorite series led me to become familiar with everything else Japan-related that came along with it (but maybe not literally). Best of all, witnessing the "Doraemon" manga first-hand in some way (as well as other works from late author Fujiko F. Fujio) triggered it to become one of the many inspirations for my own Japanese manga series.

If I had not come across "Doraemon" and/or not be interested it, I can guarantee that my life would have been a lot different. I owe this beloved franchise all of my debt.

Brigadoon.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Serling snapped it up for Twilight Zone.

Sille, watching "Blazing Saddles" got me to loving movie comedies...but it wasn't until I bought a paperback copy of the "American Graffiti" screenplay that I wanted to actually write scripts.

Glad that you're on Stage 32...all the VERY BEST to you!

Great question. Mine was the TV series "It's a Sin", which came out this year in the UK. Incredible show, very well written, and elicited deep emotional reactions that stayed with me for days. Emerging from that, I was inspired to actually try do something with my own writing, which until then was just a private enterprise. OK so I may not be at Russell T Davies' level, but everyone has to start somewhere, right?

Top Gun, had so many great quotes and scenes that helped me to become stronger in mind. This film rocked from start to finish.

I credit the series Firefly and its follow-up film Serenity with following my subconscious dream to go to film school. The characters remind me to follow my values (even if they look crazy to others - and trust me, going into the industry looked crazy to a lot of people). "We've done the impossible and that makes us mighty" - it also reminded me of the leadership skills I began in theatre and missed when I was no longer in a group dynamic. Full Confession: I'm currently watching Jane the Virgin and it's giving me more than a little insight into relationships (isn't that scary?! LOL). And I LIVE by the wisdom of Joe West from The Flash - I sincerely hope I am the kind of parent he is!

The Pagemaster inspired me as a child.

Dan - glad you figured out how easy it is to write a screenplay, I'm still having a hard time with it..

I Love Lucy. She taught me it is okay to be silly. I am.

All comedy inspires my everyday language/babble. If you drop your phone you say, "I threw it on the grouuund" from SNL. The sewer treatment plant is feeling frisky in the wind, we comment that we're "Dowisewtripla" from How I Met Your Mother. Etc etc etc. Good thing I married a saint or at least someone who is good at smiling and nodding. PS every ounce of dialogue from the movie Elf is used in everyday life in the Rosenau household.

At first, it was Silence of the Lambs when I was younger. Another dream of mine, aside from becoming a writer, was to become a forensic psychiatrist or psychologist but I ended up being a nurse instead. But after watching the Hannibal series, seeing Dr. Lecter (played by Mads Mikkelsen) in his elegant office setting, it reignited my passion so I enrolled in a Counselling Practitioner Certification program just to jumpstart my career in psychotherapy. Anyways, it's the closest I can get to becoming a psychiatrist like Dr. Lecter, minus the cannibalism. Hahahaha!

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have spent a month in the bitter Iowa cold knocking on doors if not for The West Wing...

Battlestar Galactica (the most recent TV series) inspired me to write my own sci/fi stories with strong female leads. I find I'm writing the women I want to see on screen. Some of my favourites are Starbuck, Sarah Connor, Seven of nine, and Ripley.

I second Breaking Bad cc/ @wally

Six Feet Under for television and The Hours for a feature. I found the writing in both to be absolutely brilliant.

Ted Lasso and Mare of Easttown ruined everything else I binged or read. And I binged and read a LOT. So original, well plotted and acted.

Regarding Henry - Try to live your life honest to yourself and compassionate to others, for in any instant, It can be taken all away. It made me think and look at how I interact with others.

Ted Lasso, BoJack Horseman, & the last three minutes of White Lotus (!!!!!!!) just TV-wise

Captain Fantastic

one particular chunk of the last scene in Our Town (and you can tell me all day that you think that that's cliche, but it gets me and floors me and then centers me every.time.)

and Olivia Colman's performance in The Favourite

Chaos Theory with Ryan Reynolds led me to ruining my relationship with my ex but ultimately I ended up moving to Taiwan, getting married, and getting hired to write a greenlit animated series so maybe it was for the best?

When I was 11 there was this strange new show about this mysterious traveler that started showing on Iowa Public Television. Nobody else in the world but me watched it but I fell in love with it. I'm 60 now and still watching Dr. Who. Last June I went to England and walked the grounds where one of those episodes, the Daemons, was filmed.

If you want to learn about writing cliffhangers watch Dr. Who.