THE OUTLINING PROCESS PART II: GO IN-DEPTH
In crafting a more
detailed outline, we delve into the specifics that bring the story to life:
Joe’s Workday: We open with Joe at his job.
What’s his profession? He’s in a luxurious office, indicating a high-ranking
position. He has a private secretary and is surrounded by colleagues he’s known
for years, including his friend Ron.
The Drive Home: Joe’s journey home in his upscale
car, listening to jazz, sets a relaxed tone. He arrives at his expansive house,
noting another car in the driveway—his wife’s.
Home Life: Inside, Joe’s actions are routine:
checking mail, loosening his tie, pouring a drink. He settles into work at his
home office desk.
A Troubling Discovery: Time passes, and Joe
notices his wife’s absence. He searches the house, leading to a grim discovery
in the bedroom—his wife, lifeless, a victim of strangulation.
Police Interrogation: A detective questions Joe,
probing into their marriage and fidelity. Joe’s responses paint a picture of a
troubled but loving relationship.
Return to Normalcy: Days later, Joe struggles to
focus at work. Ron offers support and invites him out, but Joe declines, still
enveloped in grief.
An Unexpected Encounter: At a local bar, Joe
meets Carla, sparking a connection. They bond over drinks and shared
experiences of heartache.
A Night with Carla: The scene shifts to Jill’s
modest home, where passion ignites between her and Joe, leading to an intimate
night.
Another Shock: The next morning, Joe awakens in Carla’s bed, alone. A voicemail hints at concern for Carla’s whereabouts. Joe’s search ends in horror as he finds Carla’s body in the bathtub, echoing his wife’s fate.
This expanded outline
provides a richer narrative, setting the stage for a complex tale of mystery
and emotion. It’s the intricate details that transform a simple plot into a
captivating screenplay.
Details are the essence
of storytelling. They enrich the narrative, bringing it closer to a vivid
reality. As you continue to refine your outline, adding dialogue and subtle
intricacies, you’ll gain an increasingly sharp vision of your screenplay. By
the time you’re ready to draft, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of
your characters and plot points, essential for weaving a compelling and
marketable story.
Outlining is often
misunderstood as a constraint on creativity, but it’s quite the opposite. It’s
a canvas for your imagination, allowing you to visualize your film in its
entirety before committing to the full script. It’s far more efficient to tweak
a 20 to 40-page outline than to overhaul a cumbersome screenplay.
Remember, an outline
isn’t a rigid contract. It’s a guide that you can diverge from as your
characters evolve and your story unfolds. Discovering new paths along the way
is part of the creative process. By ironing out the details early on, you
ensure that your narrative arc is solid from start to finish, smoothing out the
journey through those 110 pages.
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