Creating a Character & Story in 10 minutes.

Here's one great way to write a story: start with an interesting character. Watch me create a character and story in (almost) real-time.
I cut out the dead air but the original recording was 15 minutes. Not bad to get the bones of a character and story on paper from nothing! Hope this demystifies the writing process a bit. You could do this 5-10 times and probably have something you'd want to develop further into an actual film.
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I've been making short films for 20 years, starting at age 11. I directed my first feature film, Bad is Bad, in 2010. Made for only $6,000, the film went on to reach over 7 million views and garner critical acclaim. More recently, my short film, Will "The Machine", screened and won awards at film festivals around the world. Released online in 2019, it reached over 1 million views in just a month. I also work as a video editor, cutting ads for clients such as Apple, Netflix, and Beats by Dre.
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[@PhoenixFisherKane]

thank you for helping all us indie film makers

[@cinemalights2625]

I love how this starts with character first rather than concept first. A lot of people I know begin with the latter and struggle.

[@chriswest8389]

That's the debate isn't it? Pantzers vs outliners. More specifically , do U hang your characters on your plot , more passive, not good, or, the plot on your characters? More mainstream I'd say. I think genre decides the day. Chop Suey flicks, less character, romance , less action, generally speaking.

[@oliverford5367]

​@@chriswest8389If you're writing a marvel movie or a TV episode you have to outline, as you've got a lot of constraints. But pantser should be better if you can, because you want your characters to sound natural. Just as our lives aren't outlined, characters who talk and act by themselves should feel more real.

[@JohnHarrerHorses]

I’ve done this exercise a couple of times over the last few weeks. (I’m a Patreon sub and saw this a month ago. Kent’s Patreon is an exceptional value, btw. [not a paid endorsement]). This exercise is hard, but it gets the creative juices flowing. It forces you to picture your character and how he will respond in your story. It’s a great brainstorming session. I still suck at it, but it’s an exercise. I hope to improve.

[@rainmaker2338]

Good to hear, I'm gonna try this cuz i wanna make short films but have always had trouble getting ideas into something specific

[@TheCouriersGambit]

Love your content man. You break-down everything so casually in a way that many indie-film KZbinrs don't.

[@chriswest8389]

You didnt explicitly mention a character needs contradictions to be 3D plus. You nailed it on the examples 😂though.

[@edosrotogati]

Ivan Turgenev (a great Russian novelist) conceptualized a full list of characters in comprehensive detail before he wrote a story. Would suggest his book Fathers and Sons, the first instance in which a nihilist character appears in literature. Maybe a great way of exploring characters and how they evolve is just coming up with their traits as you describe in the video, and let them battle one another...

[@mystercraig]

this work-along format is my favorite. incredibly digestible and memorable way to absorb the info and process. props and thank you for this 🤙🏼

[@kamixplosion7134]

omg, what did i just watched?! Kent Lamm Just created a whole character and story in 15 minutes without being in a hyped mood. now that is crazy.

[@jbchannel88]

Your channel is always so informative and inspiring. Thanks!

[@vishalaher7800]

Just letting you know that you are doing great work and really helping us with your videos , I hope you get everything you want in life 🥂

[@danielronhovde8323]

I was just talking with some writing friends about making characters because of a new short story I’m working on. Impeccable timing

[@Joe_Edits]

so much value in this video! I might have to check out the patreon

[@BaxTechYT]

This is solid! Thank you for this one!

[@jakemcphee]

Love this!

[@kyshabazz]

thank you so much for this !

[@247lildan]

Love your videos + This is really helpful, thanks!

[@lucinematic]

Cool exercise! Need to try it

[@jakemcphee]

So helpful. Thanks Kent!!

[@itsjustmaria]

Very helpful!!! Thank you 😊

[@kwekueghana3683]

more like this please

[@arbabraiyan8200]

that was a good starting point alongside a much needed breakdown thank you for this. hey, can you make this kind of video with screenplay too? like you make a short script with us explaining like this?

[@StandardStoryCo]

It's on my list!

[@arbabraiyan8200]

​@@StandardStoryCoits nice to hear, looking forward for it

[@chriswest8389]

' Crazy Town' as your concept and perhaps title even. That inspires me.

[@danielnolanfilms]

I want to see that movie😃 I’m invested 😂

[@DJILLEE]

This is probably a normal process for you but incredibly helpful for me! Thanks!

[@StandardStoryCo]

Glad to hear that! Would love to do more writing exercise videos down the road

[@DJILLEE]

@@StandardStoryCo I’ll be here when you do lol. Insta-watch all of your videos.

[@cyntiaaurora8365]

Rhonda is giving Robert Pattinson and his lying shenanigans 🙌

[@dreamswizards1273]

How do i can send my. Story or script to film making company or film maker?got any website or got any apps or not got any an agent ? Past 10 years i friend with one wizard ( treatment for black magic and for who suffer buy evil or gost) I write a story or script base on what i see in real life story from that Wizard what happened when he treatment incident with his permission. If u got any idea about script buyer pls let me know..thanks

[@ryanhowell4492]

Cool Video

[@LisaOWhite]

Wow!😍

[@dididragon]

Your movies are inctedible! Wonder about the "strange youtube alogarithm" anyway. They boost nonsens vs. your great content AND SHORT films. Keep on. It's your live!

[@FAKKER_rap]

How you know how many characteristics is needed? Whats up with pets in this story?

[@wakkowarner8810]

Cats are cute. They make the movie.

[@dario-digiovanni]

It's called Mollie's game, but great video 😉

[@knurdyob]

I tried this exercise while watching the video and came up with George Jefferson, a kind hearted coward who likes oranges and plays the piano. That's as far as I got

[@Minute__Story]

Can short films like 11mins be monetised on youtube

[@mlxndr7]

Whenever i hear Rhonda i instantly think Rhonda from the Road Trip Movie.

[@julianbussells]

is Rhonda Peterson actually George Santos by chance?

[@thebikeracer]

Um....The Color of Money comes to mind....

[@RidingwithStymie]

Your best videos draw directly upon your own first hand experience making a film. You didn't do that here. I feel like this would be much more powerful if you either: a) Go all the way and make the film, or: b) Show how you used the process to develop a past film.

[@StandardStoryCo]

One day when I have the resources to, I'd love to take a writing exercise like this all the way through to making the film. Would make a really cool video series.

[@Spider-Nefilo]

Fun fact: i actually want to see this story play out lol

[@Knuckles2761]

What is the point of telling the story if you have nothing to say and need an algorithm for generating? I mean it is ok to use writers tools and techniques for polishing rusty work that already contain good idea but for creating new in such manner? No, that is evil. And you will lose to neural network in that competition.

[@bautibonzini2835]

Maybe you do have an idea and a message, but it will fit once you create random characters which will find their way to that idea. Or maybe you'll discover what message you want to tell during the making. I don't know, how would you start a story based on an idea?

[@TZ19999]

The "having something to say" is pretty overblown in the writing process. Anything you write will have something to say in it one way or another. Trying to that have that from jump to me is like working with an algorithm whereas this is classic brainstorming.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

Paul Thomas Anderson himself said that starting off with "something to say" will slow down the writing process heavily, because you're too busy trying to make everything fit that thing. But starting with characters and how they move through their situation, which creates the plot., your "something to say" will come naturally instead of you trying to force it.

[@debranelson202]

*The rich people stay wealthy by spending less and investing more without stopping then most poor people stay poor by spending like they are rich yet not investing but impressing.*

[@stephniejames]

I'm just shocked you mentioned expert Richard Willis, thought I'm the only one trading with him, he helped me recover what I lost🥺

[@CripplingDipStories]

Still struggling here 🥲