The Dude vs. A.I. (Round 4!)

R2D2: Finding Inspiration in Unusual or Odd News Sources

Author: Too cool for school little blue robot in fur coat and Ray-Bans

In the pursuit of original ideas for screenplays, writers often overlook the rich potential found within unusual or odd news sources. These sources, which feature bizarre, humorous, or extraordinary events, provide a wealth of storytelling opportunities that deviate from conventional narratives. By exploring the world of odd news, writers can discover intricate character dynamics, compelling plots, and unique settings that are ripe for adaptation.

Platforms such as The Darien Times, Odd News, and even sections of traditional news outlets dedicated to quirky stories serve as excellent resources. These sites often report on the unconventional happenings around the world, from unusual animal behavior to eccentric human interest stories. By regularly checking such sources, writers can tap into fresh material that sparks originality in their screenwriting.

A practical approach to exploring these odd news avenues includes setting aside time each week for dedicated searches. Writers can create a routine where they delve into various platforms, jotting down headlines or snippets that catch their attention. This practice not only enhances creativity but also allows writers to observe the underlying themes and character archetypes that can be woven into screenplays.

Moreover, considering the emotional responses elicited by these odd stories is paramount. Writers should ask themselves what makes these events resonate with audiences—be it humor, shock, or inspiration. Such emotional connections can provide a solid foundation for developing captivating screenplays, as they draw viewers into a narrative that feels both engaging and relatable.

In conclusion, venturing into the realm of unusual or odd news sources can profoundly influence the creative process of screenplay writing. By embracing the quirky and peculiar elements of life, writers can generate original ideas that stand out, making their scripts not only memorable but also uniquely reflective of human experiences.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Hit the SNOOZE button. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz..

Somehow when reading this paint-by-numbers cyber rhetoric, I feel like I’m looking into a puddle. No reflection, only the pavement and a touch of mud is visible a few inches down. I mean, when I’m staring into a flippin' puddle, I am a muddled recipe of boredom, listlessness and zoning out, stage left. There is nothing there. Looking at the puddle is a metaphor for reading the paragraphs above. There is no take away, no lightbulb blinking on above my head, no ah-ha moment, but instead just the monotone drone of the train rolling along the tracks with the intermittent ka-dung ka-dung of the wheels hitting the joints in the rails, the fleeting souls sitting around me buried in their phones, not even a belligerent homeless guy around to shake things up. Just sitting there, waiting for the next station. No take away, just eating precious time.

Deviate, discover, developing, delve (again) and the Darien TImes. Excuse me, like in Conneticut? Wait, quick Google break! And I’m back, must have been a cyber glitch because the NYC suburb of Darien’s newspaper does not have an odd news section, so either this is a cyber-glitch, or some real-life humanoid Darien disliker wrote somewhere that is web-crawlable that Darien is weird, odd, or to be nice, “unusual.” The Darien Times???

And R2D2 even had the tin-can motherboard- brained audacity to use the word profound. About odd news. Hmmm.

Moi: We are indeed stranger than fiction.

Look no further than the multitude of strange but true news sites to guage what inventive creatures we are, and copy links to ones that really get you gobbling like a turkey, head going up and down. Those that stick out TO YOU are excellent menu items for your eventual trip skipping down the yellow brick road. You need material, and as odd, or unique as you may be, there is an entire world of folks competing with you out there, but only a few get their deeds put in print. You as a writer and creator would be well advised to hop on that train and stockpile the best stuff, because you can’t be everywhere at once.

Literally just punch in “Odd News” and you get the top ten most popular sites from established purveyors of the news: UPI, AP, NPR, SKY, YAHOO, even FOX has jumped on board. My goto of the top 10 gang is the INDEPENDENT because in my book, the Brits have the best sense of humor.

I would say pick a site that you like and set the old weekly reminder to spend a few minutes fishing and see if you get lucky. Often there’s a bunch of rhinestones, but the occasional diamond does pop up, so then just grab it and bank it.

And this does now mean you are going to write an entire feature film based on this story, but it might be a great subplot involving your hero’s neighbor or as a scene that helps separate your character from the rest. Odd is a variation of unique, and unique is good in this craft.

So yes, as noted earlier, ALWAYS jot down different and surprising moments from your own life, but also keep a look out for life being stranger than fiction by strangers out there on our relentlessly large planet.

A sampling of a few scenarios from today's odd news headlines:

Truck hauling load of curly fries catches fire on Maine highway

Japanese park covering just 2 1/2 square feet is officially world's smallest

Prosecutor says golden toilet was stolen from English palace in ‘audacious raid’

A Baltimore-area teacher is accused of using AI to make his boss appear racist

Couple 'forced' to sit next to dead body for hours on Qatar Airways flight

Oh man I'm locked in!': Man pleads for help on Twitter after falling asleep in shop massage chair

Frozen excrement' dropped from plane crashes through house roof

Sydney to Hobart race: Group of nudists rescues family stuck at sea.

Highly doubtful old R2 or his kin would find any of the above remotely humorous or ironic. Might get the wires in its neck sparking with the one about the teacher using A.I. to make his boss look racist, although what is racism to a robot, something to be calculated by verbage from 20 buck-an-hour human A.I. proof readers? And I guess that's my point. Don't get hoodwinked by a machine swaying your personal politics, your freedom of thought, or your creative journey. You're better than that.

So aside from being wayyyy tooo time consuming, that was interesting. Even kinda fun to stare down and stomp on that cyber-dull doughboy. In the immortal words of Timothy Treadwell, "I beat you! I beat you're f'ing ass!"

GRIZZLY MAN by Werner Herzog. Amay-zzzing documentary. If you have not seen it, do!

Hmmm, maybe I'll do this again sometime, preferably in a stadium setting, maybe at half time during one of those Counter-Strike egaming tournaments. Or not.