Help! I need help on my screenplay! Can someone help me?

[romantico]

I'm writing a screenplay & I need a name for my town where the story takes place. So far I've taken names from streets & am not happy with what I got. Its a small rural town in Illinois. I don't want a real town though. So far, I've come up with "Northgate",Meadow Ridge","Wellington" & "Kasey" but am not happy with any of them. Anyone have an idias? Thanks in advance!

[wryter2000]

1. American Indian names

Don't disregard American Indian names. Many, many place names are American Indian, such as Chicago, Winebago, Onandaga, Patchogue. Only Chicago is Illinois, but you get my drift.

Also, try a proper name and add Falls or Glen or Mill or something like that. Hooper's Mill, Daniel's Glen. That's how Salem's Lot got named.

Can you tell I'm a writer?

Editted to remove my ignert misspelling.

[displacedtexan]

2. sugar grove

eom

[Itascapark]

3. St. Vanderlay

::shrug:

[Blue-Jay]

4. Just think of any name

and add "ville", "ton", "town" to it. You can also add a compass direction to the beginning of it. ei, "South Bumfuckvillington".

[Astarho]

5. What's the screenplay about?

I find if I know what the sotry is about it makes it easier to find names that fit.

[Paragon]

6. Pleasant Valley

And make sure it all happens on a Sunday.

[BigMcLargehuge]

The local rock group, down the street

is trying hard to learn that song.
They serenade the weekend squire,
just came out to mow his lawn...

I vote for Pleasant Valley!!!!

[Capn Sunshine]

7. Alcoholica

I always wanted to name a town that.

[undergroundrailroad]

8. You want names that will draw attention, yes? Well, of the top of my head

Mattcom, IL

Thankens IL

Littenpill, IL

UPTON, IL

Doubious, IL

Howard, IL

Esnopesr, IL

Attitude, IL

Eduittaton, IL

Breezygate, IL

and there's always : DUVILLE, IL !

[Dem2dend]

9. Destiny?

Buffalo springs
Haroway Heights
Meadow Springs

[Dagaz]

10. Yellow Alert

Has a ring to it.

[catpower2000]

11. What kind of town is it? What happens there?

I don't like the idea of naming it something arbitrary--I think the name should go with the atmosphere there and what happens in the story. Is it a thriller/horror/romantic comedy? Is the town sleepy/ominous/pretty as a picture?

need more info.

Cat

[romantico]

14. WOW! Thanks everyone!

The story is about a UFO sighting & how everyone in this rather conservative town who thinks God is the answer to everything begins to question their faith. Everything from the star in Bethleham (a UFO?) to the miracle of Fatima(a UFO?) comes into the minds of everyone there. Its not politcal, but Freepers are gonna be big in this story.

[catpower2000]

17. Wow, cool story!

Then I think the town should be named something very traditional. I'm thinking something that actually REFERS to strange phenomena/miracles. You know, something like Lourdes, but not as over-the-top or obvious as that.

Hmm, will think on that.

Cat

[SoCalDem]

18. Freedomville

if you want freeps to watch it:evilgrin:

religious names...Novena...Prayerful...St. "anything"
freep names......Rushton...Savage...Hannitown...Laura Falls....

Freepertown.. ..town song to the melody of Funkytown.. sorry.. I am being silly:silly:

[LunaSea]

23. check out sept issue of Atlantic monthly

for Paul Davies piece "E.T. and God"
"Could earthly religion survive the discovery of life elsewhere in the universe?"

[Astarho]

26. OK, then try something like New Hope

or Bethlehem, or Eden or New Eden or something biblical.

[SOteric]

12. Meadowdale

seems rural, or Meadowbury, or even Meadowlane.

If you're looking for something "uppercrust" in texture, maybe Parkhurst, or Woodland Hills, or Laurelwood.

What are you looking for, 'texture-wise?'

[brook]

13. Try using the...

topography, rivers, trees, isolation, name of the oldest family in town...play with things like: Far Hills; Granite; Miner's Ford; Oakville; McManus; Job's Hill; Petersfield; Brownsboro; Midplains; Oldstown. Any battlefields in the area? Extinct mines? Daydream...it'll come to you. When you can see it in your mind's eye and your characters are strolling down Main Street, you'll know you've got it. Good luck.

[Jonte_1979]

15. What kind of a story is it?

Drama, comedy, horror, sci-fi?

On Edit: I just read your reply to Catpower2000 so nevermind.

[Capn Sunshine]

16. Seriously though

pick some name from your past that you like and add "wood" or "ville" to it

ie my first crush Marsha.....Marshaville
my first dog "Star" .........Starwood

you get the idea

[romantico]

19. I LOVE David Lynch

I'm thinking something like Twin Peaks or Mulholand Drive without stealing from him. I still think the Straight stroy is one of his best.Thats the kind of people I envision living in this town.A suspenseful drama.I'm also stealing alot from Art Bell.I've based idias on actual stories callers have called in on.I use to tape every Art Bell show & I'm so glad I did.They are great for referance.

The hard thing is to keep it original & fresh,which is difficult.I have some interesting charachters though. Everyone has given me SO many great idias!Ishould have come here & asked this question months ago!

[Capn Sunshine]

24. I think you could write a screenplay based on the characters here

Truth always being stranger than fiction.
How many times I have looked up and thought " if this was a movie, no one would believe it"

[nuxvomica]

25. What about "Bush Falls"

For some subliminal political commentary.

edit: oops! I just noticed I did a "NewYawker99"

[Blue-Jay]

20. I got it!

Simple town, simple values, UFOs, etc needs a simple, memorable name.

How about Darby?

[Jonte_1979]

21. Dewey

Fogfield,, Thomaston, Wheatridge, Barnloft.

[AlienGirl]

22. Hayden Junction

I've used that name a few times in stories. Dunno if it's a real town or not. Ferris Hill is another one I've used. Feel free to use them!

Tucker

[mitchum]

27. Greenville...

It's the typical American city name (I think there are 42 of them in the US)

[Benevolent_Rabbit]

28. romanticoville

why not?

[DoctorBombay]

29. Give it a French name

Nice twist on a conservative, rural, midwestern town. Plus, the French would have explored that region probably.

Lafayette?
LeMordeaux? (I made that up)
Chandris? (made up, too)

Maybe look up some French words....

[soleft]

30. Use a President's Name

I once used Garfield

[BritishHuman]

31. Colitis, IL

Nelson, IL
Halewood, IL
Burnt Tree, IL

Or search for a real town using http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnis/web_query.gnis_web_query_form">The USGS search engine - also good for looking up rude words. :-)

[SOteric]

34. You have too much time on your hands.

:-)

[Terwilliger]

32. Maynard

[Boudicea]

33. Bucksnort

Is really a small town in TN.

[GOPisEvil]

35. Rifle Gap

It's a street I used to live on; plus it has that ghost town sound to it.

Good luck! :hi:

[Raster]

36. Stafford, Illinois