Neil Gaiman MasterClass Review: Is it Worth It?
Our review scores for the Neil Gaiman MasterClass: Lessons – 7/10 Workbook – 7/10 The Community – 8/10 Value – 7.5/10 Overall Verdict – Thumbs Up! What is MasterClass? MasterClass …
Craft
Craft-based articles.
The Monster Genre: How to Write an Original Movie Monster
The monster genre is one of cinema’s classic creations. And the monster itself is a creation that can haunt the imagination of audiences long after the credits. But what does …
How Do You Write Likeable Characters? ESSENTIAL Steps and Examples
Likeable Characters rule TV and Cinema screens. Follow these six essential steps to crafting likeable characters.
What is Dan Harmon’s Story Circle? And How to Use It (with Examples)
Stories can be split up into 8 different parts according to Dan Harmon’s Story Circle. The protagonist is taken on a journey of discovery.
How to Write a Convincing Murder Mystery Script
There is a timeless formula to writing a murder mystery that shows no sign of waning in popularity. This isn’t to say that writing a murder mystery script, let alone …
Kendall Roy – Truly ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Series: Part 12
Welcome to Original Characters, an ongoing series of Industrial Scripts’ articles examining the most original characters to appear in both TV and film. This article will focus on Kendall Roy from Succession. What is an Original Character? …
The 13 Key Elements of a Slasher Movie with 10 Slasher Movie Examples
The Slasher Movie sub-genre has seen Classic Slasher films brace the screen. Now its time for its comeback in Modern Slasher movies.
The 10 ESSENTIAL Steps to Writing a Police Procedural Script
What is a Police Procedural? A police procedural is a sub-genre of the police drama. It’s also often referred to as an inverted detective story or a ‘howcatchem‘. Police procedural …
How Do You Write a Cinematic Two Hander? The ESSENTIAL Steps
A movie that not only follows one protagonist but two always feels like one with an added layer of depth and substance. In the screenwriting world, this kind of movie, …
The Best Movie Twist Endings: How to Genuinely Surprise Your Audience
Why is a Twist Ending Effective? The best movie twist endings often completely change the dynamic of the film; from its characters, to its themes, to the narrative as a …
Daryl Dixon – Truly ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Series Part: 11
Welcome to Industrial Scripts’ Truly Original Characters series, an ongoing sequence of articles examining the most original characters to appear in both TV and film. This article focusses on Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead. …
10 ESSENTIAL Elements of Writing a Great Contemporary Spy Film
What is a Spy Movie? It should not surprise people to find Greek storytelling structures and character types in spy movies. The genre of spy and espionage has a long …
James Cameron MasterClass Review: Is It Worth It?
Our review scores out of 10 for the James Cameron MasterClass: Lessons – 9.5/10Workbook – 7/10Community – 7/10Value – 10/10 Overall Verdict – Two thumbs up! Who is James Cameron? …
What is a Soliloquy? And Is There Space for Soliloquies in Screenwriting?
Most will remember Hamlet’s famous speech, the one example of a soliloquy that has been painfully etched into many students’ memories – “to be or not to be”. And conveniently …
How To Write Dialogue Between Multiple Characters: The ESSENTIALS
Dialogue is difficult. And writing dialogue between multiple characters adds pressure as there is a lot to juggle. It can be a struggle for any writer whether you’re a novice …
Deus Ex Machina: How to USE and/or AVOID in Screenwriting
What is a Deus ex machina? It sounds like something technological and complex. But it’s actually quite simple. Well, have you ever just been watching a film totally invested, your …
How Do You Write A Character Bio? The Road to GREAT Characterisation
Character bios can be an essential part of writing your character. There is no story without a character, just as there is no character without a character bio. Every writer …
How to Create a Writing Schedule: The KEYS to Building a Writing Routine
Writing is hard, there’s no denying it. Sitting down staring at a computer, typewriter or piece of paper and putting words together to create a story is difficult. It can …
Beth Harmon – Truly ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Series Part: 10
Welcome to Industrial Scripts’ Truly Original Characters series, an ongoing sequence of articles examining the most original characters to appear in both TV and film. This article focusses on Beth Harmon from The Queen’s Gambit. …
What is a High Concept Comedy? Crafting a Unique Comedic Premise
The comedy genre has boundless opportunities. It has an evergreen appeal to audiences, especially in dark times. We all need the tonic of humor and a light-hearted premise at some …
What is a Bottle Episode? The KEY to Writing a Self-Contained Script
Most TV series, whether comedy or drama, have a bottle episode at some point. And they can often take pride of place in the series’ history. They can serve as …
What is Method Writing? Meaningless Buzzword or Useful Tool?
The market for stories has a wealth of new entrants every year. This is of little help to most writers who do not need any further reminders that they are …
Tyler Durden – ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Series Part: 9
Welcome to Original Characters, an ongoing series of Industrial Scripts’ articles examining the most original characters to appear in both TV and film. This article will focus on Tyler Durden from Fight Club. What is …
Forensic Scene Analysis: Breaking Bad’s ‘I Am the One Who Knocks’
In this series, we’ll take a look at great, well-known scenes from films and TV. We’ll analyse these scenes to figure out what makes them work so well, what they add …
How To Write Great Dramedy: The KEY Elements of a Dramedy Script
Genre mashups, also known as genre hybrids, are a tricky business to get right. The balance between the genres will need to be spot on for it to be successful. …
20 Aaron Sorkin Quotes for Screenwriting INSPIRATION
Where do you start with Aaron Sorkin? His screenplays are the best way to get to know why he is so revered as a screenwriter. However, we’ve compiled some Aaron …
Are these the 25 BEST Movie Titles? What Makes a Great Movie Title?
Coming up with a title for your screenplay is no picnic. You need a title that sums up your story, stands out and rolls off the tongue. Or at least …
How Do You Research a Screenplay? 10 Elements of Superb Screenplay Research
There is a lot of advice on the screenwriting process but screenplay research and the act of finding, gathering and implementing information into your writing is a little more shrouded in mystery. …
Writing Subtext: What are the Different Forms of Subtext?
Writing Subtext: What is Subtext? In its simplest terms, subtext is what lies beneath. Writing subtext in a screenplay is all about conveying the underlying opinions, meaning, themes and metaphors …
How to BEGIN Writing a Fantasy Script: 7 Great Ways into the Fantasy Genre
At some point, we have all delved into the fantasy genre, whether that is through books, TV shows or movies. It’s a genre with a wealth of scope, opportunities and …
The Best Time Loop Movies: How Do You Make Repetition Unique?
Writing Time Loops Time loop movies have been popular since their classic, most famous origin, Groundhog Day. This style has risen in popularity particularly within the last decade due to …
Eleven from STRANGER THINGS – Original Characters Series: Part 8
Welcome to Original Characters, an ongoing series of Industrial Scripts’ articles examining the most original characters to appear in both TV and film. This article will focus on Eleven from Stranger Things. What is an Original Character? …
Movie Memoirs: How Do You Adapt a Memoir for the Screen?
With true stories increasingly leant on in both movies and TV in recent years, movie memoirs have practically become a genre all on their own. These movies will typically be …
The 10 BEST AI Movies: Different Representations of AI in Movies
What Are AI Movies? Narratives focusing on artificial intelligence have been used repeatedly in books, films and TV throughout the 20th Century. Most conventionally, AI movies present artificial intelligence as …
Setting as a Character: Get the MOST Out of Your Screenplay’s Setting
Using ‘setting as a character’ is a phrase you’ll often hear in screenwriting circles. But what does it mean? An easy way into this concept is to think of how …
Writing Dystopia: The Keys to Crafting an ORIGINAL Dystopian Movie
Writing Dystopia Writing dystopia has become something screenwriters are increasingly drawn to in recent years. The dystopian movie is in itself a classic genre. However, this genre seems to have …
The 10 Best Final Battles: How to Write a GREAT Final Battle
What is a Final Battle? Final battles occur throughout many films and TV shows. They’re the moment in the story where your protagonist or antagonist can either win or lose …
Forensic Scene Analysis: ‘The Red Wedding’
Understanding what makes great scenes really great is very useful when writing a screenplay. It gives you the tools and knowledge to write your own. In this article we are …
10 ESSENTIAL Screenwriting Exercises to Move Your Script Forward
At some point in writing a script, a screenwriter will have trouble finding inspiration. If writer’s block gets you down, the trick is to keep on writing. But sometimes you …
The Cold Open: Starting Your Screenplay With a Bang
Whether you write for film or TV, a cold open can provide a vital and dynamic way into your screenplay. They say that in the business, nobody will read past …
10 Brilliant Symbolism Examples: Symbolism in Screenwriting
The Art of Symbolism Symbolism is a device used across literature, art and film. But arguably, film is one of the art forms where symbolism can have the most powerful …
What is Cinematic Language and How Do You Use It?
Cinematic Language: Understanding its Meaning Cinematic language. You will have most likely heard this phrase being used in film circles, about a screenplay or in reference to a film or …
The First Ten Pages of Your Screenplay: How to HOOK a Script Reader
The Importance of the First Ten Pages The first ten pages of any screenplay are always the most important. These pages make up the first ten minutes or so. That’s …
Travis Bickle – ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Series: Part 7
Welcome to Original Characters, an ongoing series of Industrial Scripts’ articles examining the most original characters to appear in both TV and film. This article will focus on Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver. What …
Fact and Fiction: How to Handle THE TRUTH as a Screenwriter
Oftentimes, a film based in reality will include a handful of fabricated details and interactions. Many people dedicate themselves to pointing out instances where true stories deviate from the truth. …
Writing The Unlikeable Protagonist: How to Craft a Great Antihero
The Role of the Unlikeable Protagonist ‘Unlikeable protagonist’ sounds like an oxymoron. However, they’re a common occurrence in all forms of storytelling. The antihero protagonist is an increasingly prominent presence …
15 Motivating Jon Favreau Quotes on Filmmaking
Where to start with a filmmaker, actor, producer and writer as malleable and prolific as Jon Favreau? The multi-talented director behind Iron Man, the Mandalorian and The Lion King has …
Writing a Satisfying Story Ending: The COMPLETE Guide
Story Ending: The Most Important Part of Your Screenplay Any successful screenplay endeavours to tell the story of a character’s journey. A crucial part of that journey is the story …
Writing Stage Directions in a Screenplay: The ULTIMATE Lowdown
Crafting good quality stage directions can often be one of the trickiest parts of writing a screenplay. The directions need to be clear and concise but also need to engage …
What Goes into the Writing of a Documentary Script?
What is a Documentary Script? Documentary filmmaking is a non-fiction form of storytelling that depicts reality. The purpose behind the film could be to educate, inform or simply to document. …