Reading: 'Ideas' by Lew Hunter

The first reading for our scriptwriting class is a piece about gathering and executing ideas. Hunter talks about being a script writing teacher, and lessons he has learned from his teaching and practical work. He talks about getting inspiration from your own experience and everyday searching for things which might spark ideas in your head, like writers such as Goldman and Hemingway. He lists some major points which must be kept in mind when trying to develop a good idea.
Conflict is necessary for interesting drama. Never put two people in the same room who agree exactly with eachother.
Go the Distance - does your idea have a possible beginning, middle and end? Each good screenplay has three main 'acts,' one, two and three. A story or script can be changed, while an idea can.
External conflict is necessary, and Hunter says not to base stories on people who have a lot of inner conflict such as professions like artists and actors, because it doesn't translate well in visualization.
Sex and violence are present in nearly every good idea, or at least some form of them such as hatred or romance. If a story has neither, it won't have anything to drive it.

To get ideas, search through:

• libraries
• magazines
• newspapers
• biographies
• classics
• conversations you've had or heard
• experience
• arenas
• issues
• history
• fantasies
• fears
• what if...?
• love stories