The Dude Versus A.I. (Round 1!)

First: The Truth. Ruth.

And you don't have to check the little "I'm not a robot" box because this about me, not you.

Ok, I'll be honest from the get go. I was sitting down to write this blog and a little button popped up enticingly, offering yee olde new buddy A.I. to WRITE IT FOR ME. In the old days this would be a lone shark thing where you know you'd end up with your legs broken if you didn't cough up some cash, but no, this is the 5G era, so lots of cyber stuff is fast and free. It cajoled me into giving a floral description of what I wished to offer the masses, so I popped in a few keywords about idea hunting and it responded with a stealth grade graph that went from red to green rating the information I gave it. Arrogant little bastard. And then In the time it took me to write this sentence, I got the following blog (the first segment below) tossed my way. Probably quicker.

What's super scary and annoying is that it's pretty good, but oddly mundane. This particular A.I. buddy may be different than other outliers, so its "casual" mode is still not laid back enough for me. It ain't the way I write, although probably some cyber web-crawling algorithm centipede is probably copying my style as we speak so soon I will be cloned in 36 languages, including Welsh, which is the weirdest friggin' language around, except for some of those deep-jungle clucking dialects. Have you ever heard Welsh, or even tried to read it? All you got to do is take 4 vowels out of the alphabet (keep "I") and throw letters together randomly and voila:

Yep, that is our tacky little welcome greeting next to our front door that we purchased on our sole visit to Snowdonia in Wales. More on that later, but I do still worry that this is not a greeting, but a warning. Something along the lines of: "If you want to live to see sunset run away screaming now, before the creature is unleashed.."

What follows below is written by the future that is going to kill us according to some experts. You can spot where I write and where R2D2 writes, no doubt, which is how I refer to A.I. because A.I. sounds deceptively non-creepy and BOR-ING while R2D2 is more droidien and easier to picture in a duel. I could definitely see C3PO leaning over and punching a few buttons on the little fella, ordering it to whip out an alternate version of the King James Bible crossed with War and Peace and the little blue munchkin would do a few squeaks and stutter step rolls, then spit it out in perfection.

So instead of doing what most "creative" cheaters do these days, and just tweaking it a bit to make it "their own," but not really, I instead will go to war. No, not physically, I don't need some droid dog soaring for my frontal lobe, but with the articulate world's oldest weapon, the pen. Well, the laptop which is a bit cybery, but my handwriting beyond sucks and you gotta love spell-check for us dyslexic types. And this is war, so poor spelling can not be a distraction.

The Rules of War

So the rules of war are simple. I leave everything below that R2D2 belched out, alone. I read each headline, and then I put on my fencing mask, give a thoughtful or SCREAMING review, and then I write my own boots on the ground version and my own TIP TITLE. Touche.

You be the judge. Who wins. Moi vs. A.I. (aka "R2D2")

And I already won round one by default because I asked the droid for 5 tips, and it only provided 4. Unless there's some lurking stiletto cyber motive behind that. Hmmm..

And away we go...

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present..

R2D2: Exploring Books for Story Inspiration

Author: Hollywood R2

Literature serves as a wellspring of inspiration for screenwriters, providing a vast array of themes, characters, and storytelling techniques. By diving into different genres, from fiction and nonfiction to poetry and plays, writers can discover unique narrative elements that resonate with their own creative processes. For example, classic novels may present timeless dilemmas that are relevant to contemporary audiences, while modern narratives may highlight current societal issues, allowing writers to engage with topical debates in their screenplays.

A key approach in exploring literature is to identify themes and character arcs that reflect personal experiences or societal critiques. Often, the struggles and triumphs found in novels can mirror the complex emotions and experiences of people in real life, providing fertile ground for screenwriting. Nonfiction books can also offer rich insights into real-world events or characters, thereby facilitating a deep exploration of truths that can enhance the authenticity of a screenplay.

To maximize literary inspiration, writers should consider creating a curated reading list that aligns with their creative goals. This list could include a mix of genres and styles, ensuring a diverse range of influences. While reading, it is beneficial to maintain a journal where intriguing concepts, character developments, or compelling plots can be recorded. This practice not only aids in the retention of ideas but also fosters a habit of reflection, allowing writers to ponder how these elements might translate into their own storytelling.

Incorporating lessons learned from literature into a screenplay can ultimately lead to more engaging and profound narratives. By drawing inspiration from books, screenwriters can enrich their scripts with depth and meaning, transforming inspiration into impactful storytelling.

Anger Management Response Team, aka ME:

WTF? That was the biggest load of cyber-excrement, robot-garble, puking like a fire hydrant I have ever read even though it was my first time reading A.I. 4 bor-rring paragraphs that offers nothing other than a simple 3 word sentence. Reading is good.

Well ok, if you want to be more proper, and wordy, how about: Reading fiction and non-fiction novels, will increase your your verbal skills and your knowledge of this big wide world which absolutely will be a great kick-in-the-ass when you finally sit down to write your screenplay.

And that is after spending 3 years and 2 months reading your R2D2 inspired list of curated books. Oh, and keep in mind, A.I. reads at cyber light speed, meaning it takes a quick beach-read holiday to sunny Mars and back in like 3 milli-seconds and in that time gorges on the entire New York Public Library, burps twice, then swallows the Library of Congress whole, burps again, and casually picks its creepy cyber teeth with a light-saber toothpick as it challenges us mere mortals to follow suit.

Moi: READ LIKE A MANIAC!

Just don't forget to WRITE!

Good old-fashioned hard copy on the paper reading a book(NOT ON YOUR PHONE) with your feet in the sand or up on the ottoman, is a no-brainer for us screenwriting wannabees. Your brain needs to eat, so feed it the thoughts and words of the best of the best brains out there. Not all. Don’t get carried away. But just giving yourself that simple but elusive gift, TIME, to just kick back and read for pleasure will increase your vocabulary and your ability to be critical of the craft. And that’s huge, because we all start off thinking we are part of an exclusive scribe-tribe of Albert Friggin' Einsteins until we actually start to type and then slowly drift off, gazing at the ceiling tiles and thinking about her or them or your annoying neighbors, any excuse our temporal lobes can conjure up to over power our more serious and goal-oriented frontal lobe.

So yes, read books for pleasure in moderation. And in conjunction with writing your screenplay. Just make sure to give your screenplay first dibs on the majority of your creative weekly allotment, aka TIME, and your forward perspiration will stay in balance.

Knock out? Hold your equines baby, not yet. Round 2 is just around the corner..