I like to do short animations, and always have trouble coming up with stories. I've tried some "plot generators" with little or no luck, but this one is based on the Hollywood blockbusters, so how can you go wrong?

http://wronghands1.com/2016/02/05/movie-plot-generator/

Oh... I've been gunning for a visual novel otome game plot generator ha hahah !

Also check out http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage

The_Dim_Knight posted at 12:19PM Tue, 08 March 2016 - #4259805

Also check out http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage

Very good, thanks for the tip. I've been using the book below for years to get ideas for short animations. Example, "Fruit Cart!" (the audience yells it out during the chase scene just before ... well, you know):

http://www.amazon.com/Eberts-Bigger-Little-Movie-Glossary/dp/0836282892

Shouldn't this be in the Writers' forum? The community center is for topics relating to the site, 3D news, and the 3D community (on and off-site)

On topic: Yeah, you can find all sorts of useful generators. I once needed a name for a cloak-and-dagger type criminal syndicate for a fantasy fic, but couldn't think of one. So I looked for a name generator of such things. Found one, and managed to come up with a name :) Now I just need an insignia.

IceEmpress posted at 4:03PM Tue, 08 March 2016 - #4259927

Shouldn't this be in the Writers' forum?

OK with me, if somebody knows how to move it. I didn't realize there was such a thing, I only visit here and the Carrara forum.

I'm checking with a Mod now about moving it.

Moving to Writers Forum.

Steve, Take a look at Seventh Sanctum, they have been around for a very long time and are probably the best of all the generators, though nothing can ever match the human imagination, but perhaps the ideas you find there will spark some of your own.

http://www.seventhsanctum.com/

7th Sanctum looks interesting, thanks.

I have to tell a story about a great story teller, Rod Serling of "Twilight Zone" fame (going from memory here). A friend tells of a visit to Mr. Serling, when the mail arrived. Mr. Serling fanned through the big pile (he was already famous) and took one out to read carefully. It was an offer from a company that had an obsolete commercial jet flight training cockpit for sale or rent. The friend said Mr. Serling got quiet as he thought about it. He eventually asked some pilot buddies (including his brother?) 'What would happen if a trans-Atlantic jet accelerated to an extremely high velocity?" This all eventually led to a memorable Twilight Zone episode, "The Odyssey of Flight 33". The dialogue is reportedly convincing because the pilots wrote a lot of it, while drinking at Mr. Serling's place. Excerpt here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYIgEJnddAk

My point is that I find inspiration in scenes, props, and similar from the very talented vendors who make high quality products at affordable prices. For example, London224's "Da Vinci Glider" led me to this short animation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez3oyjgMk4I

Another thing, if you're a Twilight Zone fan, this is a great source book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1879505096?keywords=twilight%20zone%20companion&qid=1457486889&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=1-1

I grew up in NYC... The cheapest movie plot generator was a subway ride.

Ride a bus, visit an emergency room, take a walk in any big city... Take any opportunity to observe humans in their natural habitat. Most people, especially today with all our insulating technological distractions, tend to try their best to shut out the world around them... Yes, it's an annoying source of gassy, rude and loudly obnoxious people, but to truly gain insight into the convoluted and perplexing reasoning of humanity at large, one must be willing to let its sights, sounds and smells permeate their being like a pair of old sweat soaked underwear. With enough exposure, one can quickly self generate stories and plots just by wading into a crowded area. Even fantasy or science fiction. I wouldn't really ever bother with software to generate a plot... The world is full of crazy ideas for stories.

Steve K. posted at 6:46PM Tue, 08 March 2016 - #4259994

7th Sanctum looks interesting, thanks.

I have to tell a story about a great story teller, Rod Serling of "Twilight Zone" fame (going from memory here). A friend tells of a visit to Mr. Serling, when the mail arrived. Mr. Serling fanned through the big pile (he was already famous) and took one out to read carefully. It was an offer from a company that had an obsolete commercial jet flight training cockpit for sale or rent. The friend said Mr. Serling got quiet as he thought about it. He eventually asked some pilot buddies (including his brother?) 'What would happen if a trans-Atlantic jet accelerated to an extremely high velocity?" This all eventually led to a memorable Twilight Zone episode, "The Odyssey of Flight 33". The dialogue is reportedly convincing because the pilots wrote a lot of it, while drinking at Mr. Serling's place. Excerpt here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYIgEJnddAk

My point is that I find inspiration in scenes, props, and similar from the very talented vendors who make high quality products at affordable prices. For example, London224's "Da Vinci Glider" led me to this short animation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez3oyjgMk4I

That was good, I liked it. A bit of Tolkien spun in there with your own twist.

McGyver13 posted at 7:46PM Tue, 08 March 2016 - #4260003

I grew up in NYC... The cheapest movie plot generator was a subway ride.

I've never been to NYC, but I recently watched "After Hours", a movie directed by Martin Scorcese. The screenplay was by a graduate student who apparently took your advice. A very engrossing story (7.7 at IMDB), and just fun to watch.

I have been on the London subway (The Tube), and see how it led Neil Gaiman to some nice stories. From "Neverwhere", in London Below: Bad Guys: We'll get off at the British Museum Station. Good guy: There is no British Museum Station. Bad guys: Then We better get off carefully, eh? They get off at the British Museum Station.

I also think a related topic is to write what you know. I took a short story writing course, and tried to write an Artificial Intelligence story, which nobody, students or teacher, bought. Yeah, it sucked. Except for a short part about racing a small, high performance sailboat, something my wife & I did. A lot of stuff about "Where's the mark?!", "Now, go now!", "Ready about!", "Helms Alee!", "Skippers win races, crews lose them", loud wind and wave sound while tacking, etc. To me, it was pretty routine, but the others were sort of fascinated. "Who is the skipper? The guy on the tiller or the guy on the trapeze?" (Ambiguity!) The prof said, "Write more of that ..."

Ah yes, I've gotten off of subways between stations... Not a lot of fun. But then again you get to see and smell things that you normally would never see and smell otherwise... And then have reoccurring nightmares about them for years after.

Also, I recommend waiting for the train to stop before exiting.

That and apparently it is frowned upon to leave the train between stations... I suppose that's why there is that nonsense about not leaning on the doors.

Pfft... They also have a sign about not pulling the emergency brake and not feeding the giant mutant rats, but do you see me listening to that either?

Besides, if they really cared the sign would say "Please Do Not Lean Against Doors Or You'll Fall Out And Get Hurt.", instead of just leaving it at "Please Don't Lean Against Doors"... Or what? You have to tell people what... That's too open... What if it's "or some will hand you loads of cash, candy and bacon"... Then you are just getting in the way of my good times as far as I know, not trying to save my life.

But anyway, yes, I agree with what you said about writing about what one knows best... Which in my case is nonsense and rambling like a lunatic. Sadly, aside from political speechwriting, there is not much of a market for that.

McGyver13 posted at 4:17PM Wed, 09 March 2016 - #4260117

...

But anyway, yes, I agree with what you said about writing about what one knows best... Which in my case is nonsense and rambling like a lunatic. Sadly, aside from political speechwriting, there is not much of a market for that.

I dunno, Monte Python did pretty well in that genre. Some of my favorite bits ... like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnTmBjk-M0c

I beg to disagree...

That's not a link to a Monty Python video, it's merely a short clip of a group of Walruses complaining about lack of proper public transportation in the Antarctic...

But I suppose there is no point arguing that...

McGyver13 posted at 6:46PM Fri, 11 March 2016 - #4260426

... merely a short clip of a group of Walruses complaining about lack of proper public transportation in the Antarctic...

Well, yes, but its interesting because walruses don't live in the Antarctic. They just like to complain.

But they paid for an argument.