Still more progress on "OLD SOLDIERS" - be still my beating heart!
Can't believe I'm writing this but still more progress today.
"So what's happening with "the" play, Eleanor?"
Well...I'm now up to scene 4 or as I number it, Scene IV and even sharing this reality is quite unnerving. I'm always afraid that my writing "roll" will come to an abrupt end.
"Did you amend the time line that concerned you the other day?"
Managed to make some necessary changes to dialogue that fixed this problem.
"So where are you now?"
I"m at the point where Joe is re-visiting the park before the ceremonies take place. Following close behind in the true sense of the word, are his pub pals who have decided to tag along.
"What is it about this play that has such a hold on you?"
The original short story was based on an interview I did with a veteran for a newspaper column. Thinking about his experiences as I wrote the article, the story formed in my mind. Joe McKenna could be any old soldier who has lived a long - maybe too long - life. He feels embittered by his current existence and wants to make a symbolic gesture of his feelings.
More updates to follow - hopefully she wrote.
Showing posts with label play re-write update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label play re-write update. Show all posts
Monday, June 25, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Still working on the "Old Soldiers" re-write. Today tweaked some more dialogue that didn't feel right or fit into the scenario. Getting stuck or hung up on the time line and trying to make the flow of action logical. Caught an error in that if the remembrance ceremony takes place in the afternoon, the opening in the bar where they're discussing life can't take place in the evening.
Working on a few possible scenarios:
- Joe goes to the park before ceremony to where he and Percy played checkers/chess
- Joe meets up with Percy's grandson and daughter at the park
- The strong bonds of friendship between Joe and his friends.
Thinking over the antagonist/protagonist angle and how or if it will work. Did someone say it was easy to write a radio play?
Will share more as the thoughts come together - hopefully.
Working on a few possible scenarios:
- Joe goes to the park before ceremony to where he and Percy played checkers/chess
- Joe meets up with Percy's grandson and daughter at the park
- The strong bonds of friendship between Joe and his friends.
Thinking over the antagonist/protagonist angle and how or if it will work. Did someone say it was easy to write a radio play?
Will share more as the thoughts come together - hopefully.
Monday, December 26, 2011
My old soldiers are waiting for direction. I know where they're coming from!
The end of the year is almost here and that means a mere four months to work on re-working my short story, "Old Soldiers" in the hope of converting it into a radio play to enter in the British Council International Radio Playwriting Competition . The characters need flushing out and some type of direction as to their purpose.
"That's all, Eleanor? Piece of cake!"
On were it that easy.
Having never attempted writing a radio play, I'm somewhat intimidated. I mean, to what degree will the correct writing form for radio count?
"Oh look. The sound effects are on the wrong side of the page," a BBC reader might comment to another reader, after which it might be tossed on the slush pile.
To my credit (pat-pat on the back) I've made some progress and added dialogue but the challenge is the necessity of providing those tricky sound effects. This means that there has to be action, which can be heard and that will propel the story along. You just can't have the characters hang around say...a pub and talk. They have to do something to catch the listeners ear.
A purpose and reason for being there is required. Therein lies (or lay...whatever) the challenge.
A character chart would help me define the varous characteristics of the personalities, but I've never used one in the past. Then again, I've never tried writing a radio play. The ending seems logical but the trip to get there has to be refined.
Joe McKenna would understand.
Here's a small snippet of dialogue taken from the re-write as the "old soldiers" prepare to leave for a fellow soldier's funeral
AL
So who’s going to Percy’s funeral?
JOE
I am…and so is Mac
MIKE
Me too
AL
I’d like to go. There are so few of us left. Look at me with a walker. We were his friends for umpteen years and I mean, the man deserves some type of recognition. It's the least we can do. Can anyone give me a lift? So damn hard to climb up the bus steps and the bus drivers get so impatient...
MIKE
I'll bring along our flag. It's getting so thin I can see through it
JOE
Just like us. Old and worn out
The end of the year is almost here and that means a mere four months to work on re-working my short story, "Old Soldiers" in the hope of converting it into a radio play to enter in the British Council International Radio Playwriting Competition . The characters need flushing out and some type of direction as to their purpose.
"That's all, Eleanor? Piece of cake!"
On were it that easy.
Having never attempted writing a radio play, I'm somewhat intimidated. I mean, to what degree will the correct writing form for radio count?
"Oh look. The sound effects are on the wrong side of the page," a BBC reader might comment to another reader, after which it might be tossed on the slush pile.
To my credit (pat-pat on the back) I've made some progress and added dialogue but the challenge is the necessity of providing those tricky sound effects. This means that there has to be action, which can be heard and that will propel the story along. You just can't have the characters hang around say...a pub and talk. They have to do something to catch the listeners ear.
A purpose and reason for being there is required. Therein lies (or lay...whatever) the challenge.
A character chart would help me define the varous characteristics of the personalities, but I've never used one in the past. Then again, I've never tried writing a radio play. The ending seems logical but the trip to get there has to be refined.
Joe McKenna would understand.
Here's a small snippet of dialogue taken from the re-write as the "old soldiers" prepare to leave for a fellow soldier's funeral
AL
So who’s going to Percy’s funeral?
JOE
I am…and so is Mac
MIKE
Me too
AL
I’d like to go. There are so few of us left. Look at me with a walker. We were his friends for umpteen years and I mean, the man deserves some type of recognition. It's the least we can do. Can anyone give me a lift? So damn hard to climb up the bus steps and the bus drivers get so impatient...
MIKE
I'll bring along our flag. It's getting so thin I can see through it
JOE
Just like us. Old and worn out
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