Build a story
and roadmap
from your idea

Producers can't use formulaic screenplays, or weak, poor-quality writing. That's why in this extraordinary phase, you'll discover a whole new organic approach to story-building — a step by step process for turning any idea into an original, compelling, industry-ready screen story.

You'll expand your idea naturally through every aspect and element of screenwriting to find the structure that fits your project, the character that bring it to life, and the powerful audience experience it needs to be. You'll then turn that story into a roadmap that will guide you through the Apply Phase writing process, taking you way beyond the surface to create a truly industry-ready movie that really works.

The Focus Phase has
3 Movements:

1. Gather Your Ideas

   You'll start the writing process by gathering all your movie ideas and using them to uncover the perfect idea that's pre-aligned with both your passion and industry needs. You'll explore and maximize your idea and then nail down the exact creative choice that's right for you.

2. Shape Your Ideas (into a Story)

   With your idea in place, you'll build it organically into a powerful screen story. You'll discover a fluid, systematic approach that covers every element of screenwriting — from structure and characters to opposition and scene design and more — that virtually guarantees a compelling original story.

3. Map Your Ideas into a Plan

   Finally, you'll turn your compelling story into a dynamic audience experience, beautifully orchestrated out of your original idea. Lastly, you'll map that story into a clear plan for your writing. As you master this phase, you'll have a simple and profound approach for fixing any trouble spots in your story.

When you've completed the Focus Phase, you'll have a detailed roadmap to guide you through the Apply Phase.

Plus, you'll have a solid grasp of every aspect of storytelling, and a simple, natural process for turning new ideas into a compelling screen stories within minutes.

Here’s some of what you’ll learn, do, and master in the Focus Phase

It would be impossible to list everything included in this phase, but here's a small taste of what's in store:

• How to determine what really motivates you (when you get in sync with your creative source, you'll write stuff that can sell)
• How to pinpoint themes that stand out and get noticed (if you have something to say, you might as well be heard)
• How to generate unlimited original story ideas (in one sitting, you could create enough to last you an entire career)
• How to then choose from those unlimited ideas (with infinite choice comes indecision — unless you know how to decide)
• How to ensure the best expression of an idea (so you don't settle for the lame version of it)
• How to know with certainty which project to write (there's an objective way to identify your "perfect" project)
• The most powerful secret of story design (it's not the story you tell, it's how you tell it)
• How to find angles to an idea no one has ever explored before (new spins on old tales, whole new areas to explore, and ways to make yourself a creative powerhouse)
• How to build characters out of an idea organically (once you get the hang of it, creating extraordinary characters becomes almost effortless)
• How to create the ideal opposition (and how to go way beyond the predictable clichés everyone is tired of)
• How to design irresistible scenes (the kind that stick in the memory of the audience forever)
• Where to find exceptional subplots (and how to know which ones to use and which to keep for a future project)
• How to build a realistic story world (this is one of the most powerful ways to create a rich experience for your audience)
• Structure and theory the industry expects you to know (and how to use it without falling into the predictable formulas everyone else is using)
• How to know you've got a story (and what to do if you're not sure it's ready yet)
• Simple ways to make your story feel professional (let's face it, movies have a certain "feel" to them)
• How to find and build subtext that works (what you don't say is often more powerful than what you do say — something 99% of your "competition" doesn't understand at all)
• How to turn ideas into stories in minutes (you will dazzle producers and make it seem effortless)
• What your audience needs in your story (and how to make sure it's woven throughout)
• How to use marketing tools to help you design your story (most writers ignore a world of opportunity)
• How to determine if your pace is working (there's a relatively scientific approach you'll discover)
• How to spot the weak areas and fix them (hint: you need to know why you're writing this thing in the first place)
• An extraordinary new tool that's like an x-ray for your project (you'll even see what's missing)
• How to use Setup Phase skills to amplify your work (you'll be so glad you did that stuff)
• How to get your audience to tell you exactly what they want (they can't tell you until you give them something first)
• How to know if your idea is industry-friendly (or just a personal passion — which is often a better reason to write anyway)
• The most important pages of your screenplay (and how they inform the rest of the story)
• How to design a powerful emotional experience (from your unique idea and passion)
• How to create your own story structure — that works
• How to do research like a pro (and give your project undeniable authenticity that keeps your reader glued)
• How to hook your audience and never let go (and how to avoid the gimmicky "hooks" that turn the reader off)
• How to guarantee originality
• How to create consistency throughout your story (so everything feels inextricably connected)
• How to design scenes that have impact upon the reader (they can't help but be enthralled)
• How to give yourself a step by step roadmap that will keep you on target in the Apply Phase (so you're creatively free while still being laser focused)
• The sure-fire way to know you're ready to blast out that draft (and how to avoid spinning in circles second-guessing yourself)
• How to turn ideas into stories within minutes, and blast through the steps of the Focus Phase in days on every future project
  
  ...and we haven't even scratched the surface!
  
  
  

We turned all that
into this:

The only natural, organic approach to storybuilding.

Forget formulas. In the real world, producers can't use cookie-cutter screenplays (and sifting through the same old stuff is downright boring!). Producers need original stories — written in a way they can actually use.

By following a natural, organic path — from idea to story to characters to roadmap — the Focus Phase is a step by step "idea-to-story" system that works for any idea, by any writer, at any level, anywhere in the world. We don't tell you what to write — we lay out the steps through which you'll uncover your original story. Simply DO the steps, and you'll be ready to write.

 

The Focus Phase builds upon the knowledge, skills and insights established in the Setup Phase. For this reason, please complete the Setup Phase before beginning this part of the process. After learning this phase, you'll be capable of taking future ideas to a complete story plan within minutes or hours.

When you're done here, you're ready for: