[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: What is your approach to writing a great scene?
John Schimke, Filmmaker/Screenwriter: I don’t know. You never sit there and think like this scene’s going to be great. I mean sometimes you do actually. What usually happens is when you sit down to write a scene that’s going to be great, it’s not great. It’s the complete opposite of great. It’s something you kind of discover or you fall into.
Usually to me I think a scene is great if there’s a beginning, middle and end. It escalates. There’s clear stakes. You’re interested in what’s happening. Usually those types of things they’re happening in the rewriting processes. Sometimes you get it at the first go but not for me at least usually not.
A lot of times too when you reread a scene after you’ve rewritten it and it does inspire you where you’re like Oh, I love how this is like working out. That’s a good sign however that also can be dangerous because a lot of times you can think This is great, this is fantastic. I love this and it doesn’t make sense to anybody at all and it doesn’t even work.
I’ve had instances where I’m like This is not good. This is not great. This is the opposite.And then I’ve had people say These are the best pages you’ve ever written. It’s really hard to tell if you have something great.
I’m learning this as I’m going along is that you’re about the work and if you have the things you can check off in terms of it’s clear external, specific goals, things are escalating, there’s no parts in the where you feel like:
-In the script you’re lost
-There’s a lull where you’re bored or anything like that
-It keeps your attention.
These types of tools that you have in your tool box you can check those off. You stick to those and if people are…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
About:
An AFI Directing alum, John Schimke is an accomplished writer/director whose work spans the realms of both film and television. As the lead editor and producer of the Emmy Award-winning TV series Red Table Talk, Schimke has demonstrated a keen ability to shape impactful, emotionally resonant stories for a global audience.
In the world of independent film, Schimke gained critical acclaim with Don’t Tell Larry, which had its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival and went on to win Best Picture and Audience Choice at the Pasadena International Film Festival.
John’s inspiration to develop Where the Wind Blows into a feature film was deeply personal, sparked by a meaningful gift from his mother. She gave him the book and suggested it would make a great movie—a sentiment that continues to drive the project forward. Years later Ashley Elaine read the script and immediately green lit the film with her production company, AE Productions, INC.
WATCH ‘DON’T TELL LARRY’ TRAILER
MORE VIDEOS WITH JOHN SCHIMKE
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New book from Film Courage! – See it on Payhip here
