Making an MD Film For Personal Project?

[Desiree Winns]

It's me again. I've decided to scrap my previous idea because it didn't seem to be going anywhere. So, plagued by self doubt and a seemingly permanent case of writers block, I decided to summon a new idea from my last resources of hope.

So:

New storyline: a psychologist and a patient. The patient, a normally quiet and socially awkward type seems to have fallen into a pit of depression, and is sent to a psychologist. Once he gets there he begins to explain his rather embarrassing situation: he's created a marvelous fantasy world in his head, a world and a people of which he created, named, and ruled over. He's handcrafted his kingdom and people with careful detail for over twelve years, carefully picked names from baby name websites to fit their personalities and characteristics. He's spent long, quiet hours making up a culture for them to follow, a flag for them to live under. He ruled over his kingdom happily for those 12 years. But recently he's found that he can't return to his fantasy world as easily as he used to. It feels like he's exiled himself from his world without really meaning to. He becomes depressed without his dream world, and turns to the psychologist seeking help to reclaim his throne.

I thought of it on the four hour drive to and from Nuremberg. Was denkt ihr?

What do you think?

[Roel]

What is the psychologist going to do about it?

[Kia Hood]

Sounds interesting as overall plot! Will the psychologist play a key role in getting the patient back into his fantasy world or how exactly is the story going to be after the patient turns to a psychologist for help?

[Desiree Winns]

I honestly don't know. I think that's what I need the most help with. When I'm writing I don't even know the ending myself until I get there. And then I get stuck. And then I have writers block. And then I cry about how worthless I am as a writer. And then I daydream to make myself feel better. And then I get inspired by my daydreams to write again. It's a cycle.

[Roel]

hmm... I write myself, (I'm an amateur though) but I always know the ending. It is where I want to go to, for me the ending is why the story starts in the first place.

But sometimes I don't know how I actually get to that ending. That would mean the story isn't ready yet to be written down. I just have to wait, and plan more. I have to put more time into designing the story, and that is a very slow progress.

I recommend to take your time to write down a simple plan. A bit in the same way you explained to us how it works, but mention the different scenes and stuff. Make some sort of list of events. It's no problem if you suddenly wander of to another story while you haven't finished this one yet. Just keep the plan/shedule of this story, and you can come back to it whene the inspiration is back to finish/continue it.

Writing takes a lot of time. Some idees come realy fast and seem amazing, but the inspiration to do something with them goes away just as fast as it came. I very mutch doubt you are a bad writer; you take ideas from your dreams and I like that.(I do it as well) (beside, in art there is no good or bad anyways)

My thoughts: you have a great idea! (This can get especially good since the subject is so close to you) but to turn that great idea into a great story, you will need a great amount of time.

I wish you luck with your work :D !

[Desiree Winns]

Thanks, Roel! Really helpful advice, I'll definitely follow it. The only thing is, I'm on a deadline since this is my personal project, and I guess the added stress and tight working time are making the burden heavier than it really is.

[Roel]

Desiree Winns said:

Thanks, Roel! Really helpful advice, I'll definitely follow it. The only thing is, I'm on a deadline since this is my personal project, and I guess the added stress and tight working time are making the burden heavier than it really is.

Yeah deadlines, we all hate them, they interupt the creative progress :/ I have trouble with that too. I haven't found any solutions yet :/ For me to make good stories and keep enjoying making them, I need time to dream about them... idk a solution.

But you can do it ;) gotta believe in yourself

[Tila]

It's a unique plot for a movie. I just can't feel much sympathy for this character because he sounds like a covert narcissist. I don't really tend to have fantasies about dominating large groups of people. Unless you made that part of the plot, to expose his darkness and turn him into a conflicted character who is not really the hero after all. 

[Desiree Winns]

Idk Tila- interesting plot point you raised there. I'm only beginning the outline of my final product for personal project, and the ending film shouldn't be longer than fifteen minutes. Il definitely be adding more to the story as I go along