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January 13, 2008
Barely Awake on the Radio
I'm awake now.
Really, if you heard the radio show I was barely conscious. Here's what happened. Last night I said to Karen: “Set the alarm so I can be sure to be up by 6:15.”
But I'm so nervous I wake up at 3 am and just, y'know lay there and wait, and work through the various problems of my latest screenplay.
Screenwriting is all about structure.
And Act Two is always the killer.
Also, you should know that I'm the one idiot in Hollywood who shows up on time for a meeting. And when I arrive five minutes early, the Dolce Gabbana clad secretaries sniff at me like I'm the biggest moron in the industry.
I can't help it. I think it comes from being Orthodox. Y'know, get up, daven at a certain time. Make Shabbos at a precise moment. In addition, and this is no small thing, being on time for a meeting just seems common courtesy.
Anywhoo.
By the time the alarm goes off and Karen tells me to get moving I'm like totally comatose. I make a huge pot of coffee, pour it down my throat. And repeat. Then trek to my office, which is twenty-feet behind Casa Avrech. The phone rings and a stern voice orders me to keep my answers short.
“Okey-doke.”
I wonder, is that short enough? Maybe I should have just said: “Okay.”
Anxiety.
Anyway, Soccer Dad and I discuss blogging and Israel—Omri was, um, not available—and though I'm half-asleep, I'm having fun and confess to the host that most of my readers would rather I write about Hollywood than politics.
Thanks so much to Soccer Dad for inviting me to participate in the interview. Here's his take on our interview.
Oh yes, Haveil Havalim #149 is up. Hosted by Life in Israel. This is the The "Vengeance upon the Nations" Edition.
Soccer Dad founded Haveil Havalim and we should all thank him for his hard work. I have often called him our national treasure. Now Soccer Dad has an important announcement regarding the future of Haveil Havalim. Click here to read what he has to say.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at January 13, 2008 08:55 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
Could you explain what is meant by "Act I, II and III" in a movie. I read about it, but don't get it. When I watch a movie, it doesn't seem to divide itself into three parts. What am I missing?
Posted by: kishke at January 13, 2008 11:18 AM
Kishke:
Act breaks are invisible and fairly liquid in films. But classically they break down like this:
Act I: Beginning, The Set-up
Act II: Middle, Confrontation
Act III: End, Resolution
Act II is the killer because you have to have your main character encountering and overcoming his main obstacles to achieve his goal. Also: within this act, there are several other plots spinning at the same time that you have to keep juggling in the air, and it all has to balance just perfectly or the whole film will be out of kilter. It's extremely difficult to pull off. Ask any screenwriter and he'll tell you, Act II is usually Waterloo. Next time you watch a movie and you start getting bored you're somewhere in Act II.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 13, 2008 11:56 AM
So when you write the screenplay, do you actually break it up into acts, or is it just divided that way in your mind?
Posted by: kishke at January 13, 2008 11:59 AM
Kishke:
I write extremely detailed outlines and yes, they are broken into 3 acts. But once I'm writing the script, the act breaks formally disappear. But in my mind, I'm always aware of the act breaks. It all goes back to classical dramatic structure.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at January 13, 2008 12:05 PM
Interesting. I'll keep my eyes open when watching in future.
Posted by: kishke at January 13, 2008 12:23 PM
Does anyone ever write screenplays of more or less than three acts? Is there ever a reason to?
Posted by: kishke at January 13, 2008 12:24 PM
Robert,
I'm so bummed that I missed the show this morning! My little one pulled an all-nighter so I forgot to tune in. Do you know if they are going to archive it? I am sure it was fantastic!
Have a great day,
Rachel
Posted by: Rachel at January 13, 2008 01:24 PM
I tried getting it over the 'net but no joy. :-(
Posted by: DrCarol at January 13, 2008 03:00 PM
Kishke:
Long form TV movies are broken up into 7 acts for commercial breaks. But even then I first write three acts, then after that's done I break them down into the required 7 acts.
But for a regular Hollywood movie, I think pretty much everyone thinks in terms of traditional 3 acts.
Listen, that's how life is lived.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at January 13, 2008 05:37 PM
Rachel:
I've asked, but I don't think so. If I hear differently, I'll let you know.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at January 13, 2008 05:41 PM
I've always loved the second act the best. When they work they're just magic.
Posted by: Jim Rockford at January 13, 2008 10:49 PM
Jim:
Making the second act work is intensive labor and when it does work, well, the film will just hum along like clock work. Rarely happens. But when it does, Godfather, Chinatown, yup, magic.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at January 14, 2008 09:48 AM
You didn't tape it?
Posted by: mata hari at January 14, 2008 04:21 PM
Mata Hari:
No, I thought you were going to do that.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at January 14, 2008 04:31 PM