I'm making a trucking movie :-D

[XHarms]

Hello everyone.

I am a student studying film in Chicago and I am writing a script for a screenwriting class. You might be wondering what this all has to do with you, but I am writing a script about a truck driver.

Has anyone here in the Midwest ever heard of a magazine called '18 Wheel Singles'? Well, it's a magazine full of truck driver personals. Convict personals, too. Anyways, I was going to write a story about what would happen if a truck driver starting a relationship with one of these convicts and they go on a adventure filled, passion laden, quest across America full of destruction.

As such, I was wondering if I could get some ideas on what the life of an average truck driver it. For example, how do you get mail? Do you have to be at home everytime it comes? How are the sleeping arrangments? Are those little compartments above the driver station comfortable or do you usually try to find a hotel.

What's an average morning preparation routine like? How do you handle inventory of all the stuff that you're hauling? Have you ever run into a um...a driver whom you later found out had been dead for 10 years? Like it was a ghost. Like Large Marge for you PeeWee fans.

Are there any races between other truckers ever? Do many of you have pets on board? Do you name your trucks?

Feel free to give me any kind of feedback you want to. I want to know anything and everything you have to offer. Forgive my ignorance in some of these questions, but I really want to write a really fun movie that even truck drivers themselves can appreciate.

Also, please feel free to offer me any stories you can think of that involve strange relationships you have been in which have been made on the road. Or with convicts.

Thanks again for your help. I really appreaciate any help you can give.

[emerlin]

Has anyone here in the Midwest ever heard of a magazine called '18 Wheel Singles'? Well, it's a magazine full of truck driver personals. Convict personals, too. Anyways, I was going to write a story about what would happen if a truck driver starting a relationship with one of these convicts and they go on a adventure filled, passion laden, quest across America full of destruction.

Bwahahahahaha!

There's an old saying in the writing business. "Write what you know." That's where all the Hollywood types go wrong. Sounds like you are writing another "Snakes on a Plane" to me.

[XHarms]

Has anyone here in the Midwest ever heard of a magazine called '18 Wheel Singles'? Well, it's a magazine full of truck driver personals. Convict personals, too. Anyways, I was going to write a story about what would happen if a truck driver starting a relationship with one of these convicts and they go on a adventure filled, passion laden, quest across America full of destruction.

Bwahahahahaha!

There's an old saying in the writing business. "Write what you know." That's where all the Hollywood types go wrong. Sounds like you are writing another "Snakes on a Plane" to me.

I kind of like to think of screenwriting as something where I can go out and learn about whatever it is I'm writing about, that way, through screenwriting, I can gain a deeper appreciation and understanding for a whole bunch of aspects of life!

I mean, how else do people write period pieces? Or Jurassic Park? Or movies with both men and women in them?

However, though, I think 'Snakes on a Truck' does have a few possibilities...

[tom3130]

In my opinion there is only 2 good trucking movies and that is all there ever will be . 1) comedy smokey and the bandit 1 !!!! 2) drama and thats convoy . some people think they are truck driving training films.lol

[dpatt]

Hmmm...a truck driver with a million and one rules and regulations and a convict with none. On the road? Together?

Might be easier to write a 5-part Shockumentary for Discovery.

Read this guys post - throw in a convict and inject humor - you'll have a winner!
http://classadrivers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18642

Good luck with your project

[Sheepdancer]

[quote="emerlin"]

There's an old saying in the writing business. "Write what you know." That's where all the Hollywood types go wrong. Sounds like you are writing another "Snakes on a Plane" to me.

Hey....i liked "Snakes on a Plane"
Yes, I know it was silly, unbelievable, and had a stupid story. But it was hilarious. Sometmes the mindless movies are entertaining.

[yoopr]

I hate snakes and there's no way I'd watch that movie

[Windwalker]

Sorry, but we DO NOT NEED another source to sway public sentement against trucking. A "path of destruction", indeed. There is a small company that wanted to buy a piece of land for a terminal. Everybody in the area was dead set against it. "THE PLACE WILL BE FULL OF PROSTITUTES!!!" The general public already has a WARPPED PRECEPTION of the trucking industry. And, obviously, you are no exception.

Want BLOOD AND GUTS??? Show a few of the accidents caused by the 4-wheelers. Help pass on the information about what is and is not safe to do around trucks. Might even be able to save a few lives that way.

Oops. Forgot.... You're part of that general public that doesn't know anything about it, because DOT isn't telling you.

[dk132]

I hate snakes and there's no way I'd watch that movie

How about snakes on a truck bet you would watch that one :P

[dk132]

Has anyone here in the Midwest ever heard of a magazine called '18 Wheel Singles'? Well, it's a magazine full of truck driver personals. Convict personals, too. Anyways, I was going to write a story about what would happen if a truck driver starting a relationship with one of these convicts and they go on a adventure filled, passion laden, quest across America full of destruction.

Bwahahahahaha!

There's an old saying in the writing business. "Write what you know." That's where all the Hollywood types go wrong. Sounds like you are writing another "Snakes on a Plane" to me.

I kind of like to think of screenwriting as something where I can go out and learn about whatever it is I'm writing about, that way, through screenwriting, I can gain a deeper appreciation and understanding for a whole bunch of aspects of life!

I mean, how else do people write period pieces? Or Jurassic Park? Or movies with both men and women in them?

However, though, I think 'Snakes on a Truck' does have a few possibilities...

Your not going to get the experience from a message board. Get yor CDL drive a truck for a couple of years and then you might have a story.

[yoopr]

I hate snakes and there's no way I'd watch that movie

How about snakes on a truck bet you would watch that one :P

Bet I wouldn't
Had enough of them when I lived in NM for awhile-Bull snakes though were my Friends :P
Attacked and ate the Nasty Critters

[WildK9]

I hate snakes and there's no way I'd watch that movie

Sorry, but we DO NOT NEED another source to sway public sentement against trucking. A "path of destruction", indeed. There is a small company that wanted to buy a piece of land for a terminal. Everybody in the area was dead set against it. "THE PLACE WILL BE FULL OF PROSTITUTES!!!" The general public already has a WARPPED PRECEPTION of the trucking industry. And, obviously, you are no exception.

Nuff said! No more negatives needed for this industry!

[Big John]

XHARMS wrote:

Hello everyone.

I am a student studying film in Chicago and I am writing a script for a screenwriting class. You might be wondering what this all has to do with you, but I am writing a script about a truck driver.

Has anyone here in the Midwest ever heard of a magazine called '18 Wheel Singles'? Well, it's a magazine full of truck driver personals. Convict personals, too. Anyways, I was going to write a story about what would happen if a truck driver starting a relationship with one of these convicts and they go on a adventure filled, passion laden, quest across America full of destruction.

As such, I was wondering if I could get some ideas on what the life of an average truck driver it. For example, how do you get mail? Do you have to be at home everytime it comes? How are the sleeping arrangments? Are those little compartments above the driver station comfortable or do you usually try to find a hotel.

What's an average morning preparation routine like? How do you handle inventory of all the stuff that you're hauling? Have you ever run into a um...a driver whom you later found out had been dead for 10 years? Like it was a ghost. Like Large Marge for you PeeWee fans.

Are there any races between other truckers ever? Do many of you have pets on board? Do you name your trucks?

Feel free to give me any kind of feedback you want to. I want to know anything and everything you have to offer. Forgive my ignorance in some of these questions, but I really want to write a really fun movie that even truck drivers themselves can appreciate.

Also, please feel free to offer me any stories you can think of that involve strange relationships you have been in which have been made on the road. Or with convicts.

Thanks again for your help. I really appreaciate any help you can give.

Why don't you try directing Porn, you might just fit rite in with your story about convicts and singles, just leave the trucking out of it Gomer.

[XHarms]

Whoah, apparently I have given many of the people here a misconception of what I am trying to do here with my movie, and for that I sincerely apologize.

First of all, I am well aware of all of the stereotypes surrounding the trucking industries. I've watched movies and television. The reason I'm here posting on this forum is so I can get the some real advice and not simply go off making a movie based entirely off of my stereotypes. That would be bad.

As for the whole 'lonely' aspect, this really wasn't meant to be taken as a stereotype, though now I'm realizing that it may be taken that way. I'm basing my main character after a personals ad which I saw in a trucking magazine which really intrigued me.

Anyways, what I was trying to do was, as a whole, recreate the story of Harold and Maude, except instead of an 18 year old sad boy, we have a 38 year old truck driver. And instead of a 79 year old woman, we have a 40 year old ex-convict. Throughout the film, she will teach this lonely guy, who just happens to be a truck driver, to appreciate life.

The whole "adventure filled, passion laden, quest across America full of destruction" thing isn't the focus of the film. It just a 'pitch' or something I would tell marketing executives if I wanted them to pick up my movie to produce. Don't take it too seriously. Character is always #1.

I want to make something fun to read/watch, yet totally real and respectful to any and all groups of people. Again, I apologize if I have given a wrong impression on that.

[Jackrabbit379]

Maybe you can get in touch with Kris Kristofferson,and see if he can help ya make a trucking movie. "we gotta little convoy rockin through the night........" :P

[Windwalker]

Whoah, apparently I have given many of the people here a misconception of what I am trying to do here with my movie, and for that I sincerely apologize.

First of all, I am well aware of all of the stereotypes surrounding the trucking industries. I've watched movies and television. The reason I'm here posting on this forum is so I can get the some real advice and not simply go off making a movie based entirely off of my stereotypes. That would be bad.

As for the whole 'lonely' aspect, this really wasn't meant to be taken as a stereotype, though now I'm realizing that it may be taken that way. I'm basing my main character after a personals ad which I saw in a trucking magazine which really intrigued me.

Anyways, what I was trying to do was, as a whole, recreate the story of Harold and Maude, except instead of an 18 year old sad boy, we have a 38 year old truck driver. And instead of a 79 year old woman, we have a 40 year old ex-convict. Throughout the film, she will teach this lonely guy, who just happens to be a truck driver, to appreciate life.

The whole "adventure filled, passion laden, quest across America full of destruction" thing isn't the focus of the film. It just a 'pitch' or something I would tell marketing executives if I wanted them to pick up my movie to produce. Don't take it too seriously. Character is always #1.

I want to make something fun to read/watch, yet totally real and respectful to any and all groups of people. Again, I apologize if I have given a wrong impression on that.

Quit wasting your time making movies. Run for PRESIDENT of the USA. You're doing a better job of "changing your tune" than he does.

[emerlin]

Maybe you can get in touch with Kris Kristofferson,and see if he can help ya make a trucking movie. "we gotta little convoy rockin through the night........" :P

Uh, that was CW McCall, known in real life as Bill Fries. He is one of the great storytellers of our century, though under-appreciated, IMO. CW McCall and Chip Davis (AKA Manheim Steamroller) put together some fantastic albums back when albums were still vinyl...

XHarms, if you want an example of great storytelling, get ahold of one of CW McCalls greatest hits collections. Even with the "greatest hits" you will get a lesson in how much feeling and detail can be put into a sub-five minute story-song. It just may add to your writing technique.

[Jackrabbit379]

Yeah,he wrote it,but Kris Kristofferson played the leading man in the movie.

[emerlin]

Yeah,he wrote it,but Kris Kristofferson played the leading man in the movie.

10-4 good buddy! Can't believe I just said that.