Overcoming Writer's Block Part II - The Dartboard Approach

 In our previous post, we went over 3 ways to overcome writer's block. Should any of those fail we have one last technique that always seems to work every time. We call it the Dartboard Approach. Some describe it as throwing ideas against a wall and seeing what sticks, but it is really much more than that. The nice thing about this technique is that it requires that you use both sides of your brain collectively; imagination/randomization and logic. 

It is very simple but quite effective. How does this work?  Here we go:

The Dartboard Approach requires 4 things. Occupation, situation, emotional state, and location.
Start like this. Randomly think of 4 occupations and write them down. Now randomly think of 4 situations. Do not try to lock them down to a location just yet. Randomly choose 4 emotional states and write these down. Now randomly choose 4 locations. You can be as specific or vague as you like with this one, but specific might be best. If it helps you can keep each list verticle. 


Now what you need to do is to match each of areas checking off the one's you have already used. Logic starts to come into play as you match these items. Once you have matched each of these areas,  more logic is involved to find your sequence of events to tell your story properly. See below.

As you can see, when properly done, you will come up with something extremely unique. There is a good chance that you may have not come up with something as fun and unique as this without this technique. 


I've never had a Dartboard Approach not work for me. Give it a shot!

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Check out these previous posts as well:

The Secrets to Overcoming Writer's Block
The Top Ten Tips When Writing for the Entertainment Medium
Types of Story and Why it Matters
Character Types Will Make Or Break Your Story
The Importance of Plot and Subplot

Must See Animation - Wish Dragon

Netflix has a cool animated film that is a must-see called "Wish Dragon".

WISH DRAGON

Animation is top-notch, the story is great and the characters will pull you right in. The trailer may not do this movie justice. I dare you to go for it and watch the movie. You'll see what I mean and thank me afterwards.

Enjoy and don't say I didn't tell you so. Do you have a must-see animation movie? Shoot me a message at jon@tripleadude.com. If it is a good choice, I will include you in the write-up.

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Into storytelling, comics, and animation?
Then get a copy of these must-read guides.

Click on the links below     
       

 

Idea Genesis
Generate solid story ideas at lightning speed.


                                              

Cartoon Production Resource Guide      
200 + top resources for artists, comic creators & animators.

Audio Production Resource Guide
400 + top resources for musicians, producers and filmmakers.

 

Triple A Dude Content Survey

We at Triple A Dude want to know your interests. We want your help in creating content that is exciting and more relevant to you as creators. Below is a survey link with five quick questions that should only take a few minutes to fill out.

We would love your help making this blog better.

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Thanks and best wishes!

David Bowie: Advice to Artists

Here is a clip where David Bowie gives his insight on artists. It seemed very appropriate for all the changes we have gone through this year. His advice still resonants with the truth that all artists should follow. 

Check it out here.

P.S. -What would you like to see more of?

Art & audio software tutorials?  More tips on creative writing? Industry news, and trends?

Don't be shy, please reply.  Shoot me an email at jon@tripleadude.com.


We love to see responses from you. Help make this blog better! 
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Free Stuff for the Holidays 2021

2021 IS HERE!
Thank goodness. Time for another free stuff round-up!

ART

Here is a cool video on Character Design tips: Good vs. Bad from the guys at BAM animation

Here is another link on the 10 principles of Character Design, with a bonus video at the top and a second video at the bottom with Adobe Illustrator Super Tips!

Want more art stuff like this?
Check out the Cartoon Production Resource Guide available on Amazon.



AUDIO

Here is a free Pro Tools ebook on "The A-Z of Pro Tools".

Berklee Online has 4 videos here: Scroll down to see them.
Music marketing, blues guitar, electronic music production & songwriting


   

The Producers Spot has freeVST's and sample collections here. Check them out.

Looking for a cool free audio or drum sampler? Check out this Bedroom Producer Blog post.

Want more audio stuff like this?
Check out the Audio Production Resource Guide available on Amazon


 3D MODELS

Sketchfab is a popular site for 3D models. Check out the free 3D section.



CODING

Here are the top 25 sites to learn to code for free. Check it out.

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Enjoy and have a Happy New Year.


Check out our previous: Free Stuff for the Holidays V


 

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Just in Time for the Holidays - New Book is Now Live!

 Here it is. The Cartoon Production Resource Guide is now live!

Do you or someone you know likes to draw? Would you like to create your own cartoon characters?

Have you thought about creating your own comic book? Need help with storytelling? Into animation? Want to know the shortcuts to get better quality and to work faster? What about pro drawing tips, background creation techniques, and pose reference?

Whether you are a beginner, semi-pro, or professional artist, this book is for you. 
200 + Top Resources for students, artists, animators, and comic creators. Get it here!

If you are a musician, producer, multimedia artist, or songwriter looking for resources to help with your creations or productivity, then check out the Audio Production Resource Guide.  400 + Top Resources! Get it here!

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Is Film School Really Necessary?

How Did top Tier Directors Do It + Free Resources






Is film school really necessary? Let me preface this question with a statement. It would depend on the kind of learner you are. If you prefer being mentored and like things laid out for you, the answer is yes. If you are a self-starter with some knowledge and are ready to jump in with both feet to get hands-on, you may decide another route.

To the following directors; Quentin Tarantino, Chris Nolan, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Akira Kurosawa, Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, Roberto Rodriguez, and the Wachowskis, the answer would be no. So how did these people mentioned do it? They got behind a camera and worked hard at it until they got better, learning from their mistakes along the way.  Also, being able to dissect and analyze an existing piece of work with a supercritical eye is another key to success.

“Trying to make a film yourself with no money is the best film school you can do.” Quentin Tarantino


"You’re never going to learn something as profoundly as when it’s purely out of curiosity" Chris Nolan


“The best thing that young filmmakers can do is to get a camera and make a movie of any kind” Stanley Kubrick


“All you have to do is pick up a camera and start shooting with the intention of making a film, and your a filmmaker"  James Cameron

Not to knock film school too harshly; there are some advantages. You get to work with good equipment and receive mentoring from experienced people. If your instructors have contacts/leads in the industry, that could be an industry entry point, if you prove yourself.  But hey, film school is not cheap. The cost you would spend could pay for your own sweet gear or would cover your budget for your first 2 low budget movies. 


So what are some options?  Masterclass, Udemy, Skillshare, Indie Film Hustle.com, Lynda.com / LinkedIn Learning and others are a much cheaper alternative to the traditional film school method,  but the better option may be to create your own custom learning program at no cost. How would you do this?


The best approach would be to get a listing of curriculum/content covered by accredited top tier schools such as USC, UCLA, NYU, or Cal Arts, and use that as your personal learning guide. With this list assembled, get your own resources from the internet. There are plenty of solid YouTube videos on techniques and equipment, as well as resources like videomaker.com, and creativecow.com.

Check out 7 more educational resources (see the free PDF below).

Vet your resources carefully and note in your search if the person has actual experience, for how long, what they have done, and if their work is pro quality. If using YouTube as a resource, also check the number of views, reviews, and the likes to dislike ratio too.


Another thing to try would be to research top directors, cinematographers, lighting, audio, and other technical film people in the industry, to see if they have any interviews, tips, tricks, or tutorials where they discuss their craft. You would be amazed at some of the stuff that is out there.

Equipment / Software

Obviously, if you can afford top of the line gear and software, then the sky is the limit. However, if you are on a shoestring, you will need to watch that budget. Most vendors usually carry new and used equipment. Compare prices to see who has the most bang for the buck and compare that with the prices for renting. Do you really need that big state-of-the-art camera or will a simple DSLR do the trick? Don’t forget eBay and Craigslist as well but make sure to vet these folks as well by checking ratings and positive/negative reviews. If possible, borrow from a good friend if they have suitable gear. Also, note that the video quality from cell phones are quite good these days too. 


If Avid, Adobe Premiere or Final Cut is cost-prohibitive check out the 4 of the free open source  editing programs (see the free PDF below).


All that is required is a decent PC or Mac and some well-composed cinematography.
For creative inspiration I highly recommend these 5 books as well (see the free PDF below).


Hopefully, with your newfound knowledge and gear, you can put your skills to the test and create something truly wonderful. The important thing is to keep filming, practicing learning as you go, and getting better. Soak in as many aspects as you can of the filmmaking process and don't forget to analyze really good films to see what makes them tick.



Click here for your free PDF on Film School Alternate Resources to get you up to speed.

Check out this article with even more resources:
So You're Thinking about Filmmaking?


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Enjoy!