Eternal Sunshine Response

As we have actively watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I'm sure you have lots of ideas and thoughts that you can integrate into your short screenplay. Capture these!

Describe any interesting, troublesome or thought provoking examples of characterization or plot from Eternal Sunshine.


Describe at least one technique you want to try in you screenplay.


Describe one aspect of Eternal Sunshine that won't work in the short format.

Movie Response

First - Read over your response to the "Dramatic Exercise" (Jan. 11 post). Remind yourself some ways that a short film are different from a feature.

Next - Write a full response to each of the following questions about "Eternal Sunshine"

1. What are some of the ways that the writer (Charlie Kaufman) created character in the movie? In other words how does the audience get to know who Joel and Clementine are? Give examples of direct characterization (things that are actually stated about the characters) and indirect characterization (clues given to the audience about what type of people they are.)

2. In your short screenplay (10 minutes max), which of these techniques can you use, and which won't work?

3. What are some of the ways that the writer (Charlie Kaufman) handled the plot? Especially focus on exposition. How does he let us know who the characters are and what is happening? How does he handle conflict? How does he handle climax?

4. What, in a short film, are the limitations that you have to deal with with plot? Consider what you read in the "Dramatic Exercise" assignment.


With any time you have left, start working on your screenplay.

screenplay practice

Go to the Screenplay writing / Formatting link, and read all of the rules (don't bother with the software tips etc.)


Start thinking in scenes.
A good short film is comprised of excellent tight scenes that revolve around a central concept, conflict, or question.

Brainstorm - Post a list of at least ten situations that might make a good short film.

Try scripting ONE scene of ONE of the situations using the proper formatting. Do this in a WORD document.

Dramatic Exercise

Open the Drafting the short screenplay (Because of Mama) link.
Copy and paste the following into a post on your blog, and answer the questions or follow the directions fully.


Writing the Short Film
What is the rule of thumb for the length of a movie/ number of pages of the script?
What are the major ways that short films differ from feature films.

Conceiving Our Story
What is the "Dramatic Moment" in the film?
What are the major conflicts/ questions in "Because of Mama?"

Determining the Structure
The writer claims that for a short screenplay "a good story needs to have an archetypal storyline and a big idea." Why does he state this, and do you agree?

Read the Step Outline.

Discovering/Crafting Images
What is exposition, and how did the writers decide to handle it in the example they give?

Writing Scenes. Beginnings, Middles, Ends / Tips for Writing Engaging Scenes
Read carefully - you will be writing scenes.
What are the three things you read in these sections that you found the most interesting/ helpful and that you will implement.

Exercises- Do exercise #1

Dramatic Writing

Screenplay writing / Formatting

Movie Scripts
Eternal Sunshine screenplay

Clerks Script
Clerks Video Clips

Drafting the short screenplay (Because of Mama)
Because of mama script

Share, Preferences, Read, Give Feedback

Step One- Five Minutes
Copy and paste the best piece(s) from your portfolio (They will be online this Friday) to your blog.

Type - Do Not Publish if you don't want us to consider publishing this piece in WORD. Otherwise, we will.



Step two - 15 minutes
Read one to three pieces from other people in the class.

Step three- Time remaining
Post comments to the people who wrote the pieces you read. Comment on the following:

1. What part/ aspect of the writing affected you the most as a reader and how did it affect you?
2. Were there any parts that lost you a little bit as a reader? What parts and how?
3. Would you rate this piece as ready or not ready for publication (AKA - perfect) and why