Script Competition
A Moment In Time
Reflection
The Moment In Time project had a very simple premise. We take an important memory from our life time and write a one-page vignette on it. I then got peer critique from my fellow students. We were required to do a minimum of 3 peer critiques. I then was able to edit my own work. I made it the best piece I had ever written. I feel that this project was made to produce the best writing we have ever written.
I learned a lot of things through the project: three-act story structure, showing not telling, and being able to be concise. The three-act story structure is very simple. 1) Character is introduced. You have to make the readers to have an emotional connection to the main character. 2) The main’s different attempts or tries at the particular obstacle. 3) Resolution and how the character changes over the course of the story. Showing not telling, instead of saying, “she was sad” we would say “her eyes glisten with the tears of her failure.” We had to be able make our story concise enough to fit one page.
I really enjoyed the writing aspect. I feel that my overall strength was my dialogue. In the end, though, I told and didn’t show. I also had a very hard time editing my own work. I thought that what I had done was my best; that I couldn’t change it, that I shouldn’t change it. One thing that I would change would be talking about the setting more with my dialogue. I think that I could have added a whole lot more setting in the dialogue.
The biggest thing that I took away from this project is that I am not always right. I refused to edit my own work. I couldn’t on something that I already that was perfect. I think being able to realize that my first draft isn’t perfect will help me develop my writing. I also learned that nerves shouldn’t stop me from sharing it. If I create something, I should share it.
The Moment In Time project had a very simple premise. We take an important memory from our life time and write a one-page vignette on it. I then got peer critique from my fellow students. We were required to do a minimum of 3 peer critiques. I then was able to edit my own work. I made it the best piece I had ever written. I feel that this project was made to produce the best writing we have ever written.
I learned a lot of things through the project: three-act story structure, showing not telling, and being able to be concise. The three-act story structure is very simple. 1) Character is introduced. You have to make the readers to have an emotional connection to the main character. 2) The main’s different attempts or tries at the particular obstacle. 3) Resolution and how the character changes over the course of the story. Showing not telling, instead of saying, “she was sad” we would say “her eyes glisten with the tears of her failure.” We had to be able make our story concise enough to fit one page.
I really enjoyed the writing aspect. I feel that my overall strength was my dialogue. In the end, though, I told and didn’t show. I also had a very hard time editing my own work. I thought that what I had done was my best; that I couldn’t change it, that I shouldn’t change it. One thing that I would change would be talking about the setting more with my dialogue. I think that I could have added a whole lot more setting in the dialogue.
The biggest thing that I took away from this project is that I am not always right. I refused to edit my own work. I couldn’t on something that I already that was perfect. I think being able to realize that my first draft isn’t perfect will help me develop my writing. I also learned that nerves shouldn’t stop me from sharing it. If I create something, I should share it.
Story
Big Fish auditions are today. I am nervous out of my mind. Those nerves where you are just shaking and, even though you know you will do well, expect to fail. My little sister has been practicing for weeks and really wanted to do well. She went into her audition. Unlike previous auditions, they didn’t let others come in to watch a friends audition.
“Break a leg,” I said.
She just smiled, clenched her fists and walked in. I sat in the hallway, massaging my hands, hoping she does well. The five minutes seemed to last a year. I yearned for her to do her best. I couldn’t wait any longer. I walk around to the back door and crack it open. She is performing the song “Two Men In My Life” from Big Fish. Her voice cracks halfway through. She isn’t doing her best. The nerves of the audition have gotten to her. The song ends.
“Thank you,” she says to the three casting directors, rather monotonously
As she walks towards the exit, I run around to the front to meet her when she gets out.
“How’d you do?” I ask, “Were the Casting Directors rough?”
“I didn’t do so well,” through glistening eyes, “but there are always other auditions, right?” “I’m gonna go home, Gavin, I’m tired.”
“You sure you’re ok?”
“I’m fine, break a leg.”
“Gavin Syme?” I’m up. I walk to the middle of the studio and introduce myself. “Hello, my name is Gavin Syme and I will be performing ‘Fight the Dragons’ from the musical ‘Big Fish.’” Okay, piano intro is done, let’s go. It’s going pretty good. No mistakes yet. 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3 ,4, 1, 2, 3, 4. Done. I did it!
“Gavin,” says one of the directors, “would you mind coming back after all the other auditions? We would like you to do a couple of chemistry reads with the other actors.”
“Yeah, no problem.” I leave. All of my adrenaline is burnt up. I shouldn’t have a problem with the chem reads. All I have to do is wait two more hours.
5:00….5:30….6:00….6:15….6:20….6:25….6:26….6:27….6:28….6:29….6:30
“Ok, everyone here for the Chem Reads, come on,” called Dani, one of the CD’s.
“So here are the scripts,” says Dani, handing out the scripts, “Let's start Gavin and Curtis. We’ll do Scene 1 Act 1, Gavin read for Will, Curtis read for Edward.” Curtis and I both nod our heads. I look around. There are some familiar faces. Shane, Tilly, Alan, Ana, Jenna.
“Ok, 3...2...1… begin,” says Dani.
“Dad? Mom’s looking for you,” I call as I lumber over to Curtis.
“I don’t know why we need rehearsal dinners. These people have been eating dinner their whole lives. They don’t need practice.”
Smiling, “Is this where you taught me to fish?”
“Yep, you caught a fish this big,” says Curtis putting his hands far apart.
“It was about half that size, but thank you. And thank you for cleaning it…..Dad, about tomorrow…”
“You’re nervous.”
“I’m not”
“You are. You got that twitch. I recognize it.”
“Dad….” Dani, interrupting, “Okay, okay, thats enough. You are both free to go. Thanks for coming.” Curtis and I walk out of the room. As soon as we are out he explodes,
“That was awesome. We nailed it!”
“You’re right,” I reply, “I just hope they see that.”
Big Fish auditions are today. I am nervous out of my mind. Those nerves where you are just shaking and, even though you know you will do well, expect to fail. My little sister has been practicing for weeks and really wanted to do well. She went into her audition. Unlike previous auditions, they didn’t let others come in to watch a friends audition.
“Break a leg,” I said.
She just smiled, clenched her fists and walked in. I sat in the hallway, massaging my hands, hoping she does well. The five minutes seemed to last a year. I yearned for her to do her best. I couldn’t wait any longer. I walk around to the back door and crack it open. She is performing the song “Two Men In My Life” from Big Fish. Her voice cracks halfway through. She isn’t doing her best. The nerves of the audition have gotten to her. The song ends.
“Thank you,” she says to the three casting directors, rather monotonously
As she walks towards the exit, I run around to the front to meet her when she gets out.
“How’d you do?” I ask, “Were the Casting Directors rough?”
“I didn’t do so well,” through glistening eyes, “but there are always other auditions, right?” “I’m gonna go home, Gavin, I’m tired.”
“You sure you’re ok?”
“I’m fine, break a leg.”
“Gavin Syme?” I’m up. I walk to the middle of the studio and introduce myself. “Hello, my name is Gavin Syme and I will be performing ‘Fight the Dragons’ from the musical ‘Big Fish.’” Okay, piano intro is done, let’s go. It’s going pretty good. No mistakes yet. 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3 ,4, 1, 2, 3, 4. Done. I did it!
“Gavin,” says one of the directors, “would you mind coming back after all the other auditions? We would like you to do a couple of chemistry reads with the other actors.”
“Yeah, no problem.” I leave. All of my adrenaline is burnt up. I shouldn’t have a problem with the chem reads. All I have to do is wait two more hours.
5:00….5:30….6:00….6:15….6:20….6:25….6:26….6:27….6:28….6:29….6:30
“Ok, everyone here for the Chem Reads, come on,” called Dani, one of the CD’s.
“So here are the scripts,” says Dani, handing out the scripts, “Let's start Gavin and Curtis. We’ll do Scene 1 Act 1, Gavin read for Will, Curtis read for Edward.” Curtis and I both nod our heads. I look around. There are some familiar faces. Shane, Tilly, Alan, Ana, Jenna.
“Ok, 3...2...1… begin,” says Dani.
“Dad? Mom’s looking for you,” I call as I lumber over to Curtis.
“I don’t know why we need rehearsal dinners. These people have been eating dinner their whole lives. They don’t need practice.”
Smiling, “Is this where you taught me to fish?”
“Yep, you caught a fish this big,” says Curtis putting his hands far apart.
“It was about half that size, but thank you. And thank you for cleaning it…..Dad, about tomorrow…”
“You’re nervous.”
“I’m not”
“You are. You got that twitch. I recognize it.”
“Dad….” Dani, interrupting, “Okay, okay, thats enough. You are both free to go. Thanks for coming.” Curtis and I walk out of the room. As soon as we are out he explodes,
“That was awesome. We nailed it!”
“You’re right,” I reply, “I just hope they see that.”