How learning new things changes us
Week one on a screen writing course and I'm looking at entertainment in a new way
I started the screenwriting course this week. I came away buzzing. I’m fairly sure life is all topsy turvy - education is wasted on the youth, they don’t want to sit down and learn things, they want to be out in the world learning how to be a socially rumbustious human, but a fully grown adult who’s losing the life admin will to live? Put them in front of a teacher and a subject that peaks their interest and they can do all the sitting in a chair and listening you want them to (well actually, maye not past 9pm, because you know, sleep is precious and all that).
There’s no messing about people: I’ve got 10 pages of script to write for next week!
GAH!
And then we’ll all be looking at each other's work and critiquing it!
DOUBLE GAH!
This is apparently a big part of the process, getting your work looked at critiqued with lots of back and forth.
Can I handle that?
It’s vulnerable sharing your work with others. I feel ok about it because I am holding it very lightly; I’m not here because I want to land a film deal at the end of it, I’m just doing it to learn something new and creatively challenge myself. I’m actually quite looking forward to the critique part. Despite being quite a sensitive soul, when it comes to work, I really enjoy feedback and lap it up. I find it motivating (unless it’s crap nit picking feedback of course or someone just misses the point altogether!)
So what to write about?
I’ve enjoyed thinking about the opening scene. It’s a TV series so I’m at episode one, opening scene. I found it a bit tricky as I’m not sure of the whole story yet and where it will go, but I’m trying not to overthink it and just focus on this scene for now. I’m writing a coming of age comedy drama set in a leisure center the midlands about a group of teens growing up in the 90s (I mean, they do advise you to write what you know, right!?) so to get some inspiration, I’ve been watching and reading scripts from like minded shows. Last night I revisited the first episode of Sex Education and Stranger Things and in the context of what I’d been learning, I had a completely different viewing experience. I’m guessing full time experienced script writers possibly can’t watch anything like a normal audience member, but I’m not yet professional enough to be there, but am instead a tiny bit more clued in which has sharpened my focus on what I’m watching. I found myself noticing all sorts of intentional action and smart writing that helps tell the story, ground the audience and provide important information about what’s to come (foreshadowing if you want the technical term!).
My appreciation was heightened. And by the way, fully in support of the writers strikes, it is such a skilled craft and it’s disgusting to think how much money the end product can earn that doesn’t go back to the creators. Yuck.
This heightened experience reminded me of how powerful learning something new can be. It’s like getting a new pair of lenses to look at things through. Appreciation is a beautiful feeling. Perhaps one that’s under explored? I think appreciation is the ability to really look at something, to get curious about how it’s come together and see the artistry and work in it and…appreciate that. In a world of fast everything and instant this and that, I wonder if it is something that’s less prevalent? It takes time and consideration and above all, some attention and focus and we know how much that is drying up. Add to that rising expectations and a proliferation of choice, I wonder if we spend more time criticising and filtering out what we’re not interested in than we do taking time to appreciate those things we love?
Lifelong learning, I believe, is at the heart of living playfully. As adults we’re at high risk of reaching a point where we subconsciously feel like we have ample knowledge and experience. And it’s partly true. By 40 most adults will have a lot of life experience under their belt, perhaps carved out a career in a particular industry and have a lot of relationship experience. We don’t need to play to learn in the same way kids do, to work out things like gravity, or navigate risk, we (hopefully) know that kind of stuff from our previous play history. But I believe we do need learning to cope in a changing world. To keep us flexible. I’m not sure that in today’s contemporary culture it’s possible to thrive if we limit ourselves to the knowledge we have acquired through experience. Actively pursuing things that are important to us or we’re curious about usually only has positive consequences. The knock on effects can be transformative; we pull a thread in one place but it leads us to somewhere unexpected. Most people don’t end up with a life that aligns with their unique soul and the magic within and hey, life is messy and full of obstacles out of our control, it’s to be expected we can take squiggly paths to getting where we need to be. And learning, deep learning through play. I think that is always where we find our way getting there.
I really should go now and hop over to my screenwriting tab, it’s blinking at me.
New learning magic, uploading.
Reading this has just given me a life “lightbulb” moment! I’ve always undervalued myself that I haven’t got a degree or a formal qualification that quantifies or “validates” my career. I dropped out of uni twice and an adult learning college course back in the day, now I’m on the waiting list of doom for ADHD assessment I can appreciate why! But, back to my point, I don’t think the learning itch I need to scratch is academic. I don’t actually need a qualification to continue succeeding in my job. I need a playful learning experience! I’ve always wanted to learn flower arranging not to become a florist, just to do a heck of a better job of my own flowers into vase transition! I’d like to do a cake decorating course, not to be a baker or sell cakes, but to have fun with the icing nozzles and bash out amazing birthday cakes for my son! But how lovely that would be to spend an evening after work playing with flowers or buttercream icing - doing something creative, low pressure and enjoying learning……I’m EXCITED!!