Well, in screenplay writing a "turning point" is where the character makes a decision or where the circumstances change. They're generally discussed within the context of story structure.
Beginning: Starts with the status quo. Turning Point One marks the catalyst. Turning Point Two marks the transition to the middle of the story. Sometimes Turning Points One and Two are the same.
Middle: Begins with Turning Point Two. Marked by Turning Point 3 at the midpoint of the story. Ended by Turning Point 4 which transitions to the end.
End: Begins with Turning Point 4. Marked by climax of story and resolution.
I'm not really crazy about the paint-by-numbers approach and it generally results in writers freaking out about following the formula, but if you like a more methodical approach then it at least gives you a starting point.
I don't even think about such things. Not for a second. I haven't had a screenplay produced yet, but I've had several optioned in the last few years, so there's hope. I write a screenplay the same way I write a short story or a novel. The format is different, I leave out most description, etc., but I still just drop what I hope is an interesting character into an interesting situation, and see what happens.
The one thing we never studied for a second in college was writing for the screen. I have read two books about screenwriting, but they dealt primarily with format.
I think it's difficult to write any other way when you don't have a
clue what they story is about, and don't even have the faintest idea what will happen on the next page until you get there and write it.
Whatever I'm writing, I just sit down and tell a story, and story structure is
instinctive. I've watched a lot of movies in my life, and I know how the ones I like best open. In truth, they tend to open the same way most of my favorite novels and short stories open, which is with a character who very quickly gets himself into trouble, be that trouble serious or humorous.
There's a problem to solve, a question to answer, or both, and there's a character who need to solve the problem, answer the question, or both. That's what story is, and I'm just a storyteller, not a
writer.
On a side note, I am completely, irrevocably convinced that Hollywood has more lunatics per square mile than any other place on earth. I've heard dozens of lunatic tale sin the screenwriting world, but I've experienced one firsthand.
To make it as short as possible, one small group has renewed the option on one of my screenplays several times, and they pay better than average, so I gladly let them. But when I pressed to see what the chances were of having it actually turned into a movie, the answer I got was bewildering.
The head honcho said, not really any chance at all. It was a lousy screenplay, and most certainly would not made a good movie.
So I naturally asked why they continued to renew the option.
"Because," he said, "if we lose control of it, someone else might grab it, turn it into a great movie, and make a ton of money."
"But. ..you said it was a lousy screenplay, and wouldn't make a good movie."
"That's true, but there are people out there who wouldn't know that, and because they don't know it, they could spend millions on a screenplay like yours, and even though the screenplay is lousy, the movie would be excellent because they don't understand how bad it is."
I went on tilt at that point.
People ask why I let them keep renewing the option, and I have two reasons, both, I think, good enough.
1. This is a well-known group, and they've been responsible for some very large movies.
2. Well, let me put it this way. A few years bad we had a new neighbor move it. They have a high fence around their backyard, but I could see down into it from my bedroom window, and I soon noticed that the wife spent almost all day, everyday in the backyard, scratching at the ground with her feet, and clucking like a chicken.
I finally had to ask the man about it, and he reluctantly admitted that his wife thought she was a chicken. I asked if he'd thought about finding a good psychiatrist.
"I have thought about it," he said, "but to be perfectly honest, I just don't have much money to spare, we have four kids to raise, and, well, we really need the eggs."
I have family, too, and I really need the eggs.
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