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 …
Craft
Craft-based articles.
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. …
Dream Sequences: How to Craft Them While Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Dream Sequences: Avoiding the Lazy Screenwriter’s Crutch It was all a dream! First the audience gasps. Then they sigh and roll their eyes. Through overuse and poor execution, dream sequences …
Writing Tension in Screenplays: Learn from 10 NAIL-BITING Scenes
Writing Tension: The Difference Between Shock and Suspense Take an ordinary scene where for five minutes three people are sitting around a table talking about their day. Suddenly, BOOM! A …
Reboots: RIGHTS and WRONGS of Writing a Reboot
What is a Reboot? In the realm of movie-making, a reboot is a reimagining of an existing franchise that rebrands or restarts the established fictional world. The most notable franchises …
15 Guillermo Del Toro Quotes You Can Learn From
Since his debut film, Cronos, Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has been captivating audiences with a unique blend of fantasy and realism. We’ve compiled 15 Guillermo del Toro quotes that …
10 Filmmakers That Show HOW a Filmmaker Can BEST Tackle a Script
How Do Filmmakers Approach a Script? The screenplay is the spine of the movie. But the way it is interpreted for the screen is the key to turning a great …
Dual Protagonists: How to Handle TWO Lead Characters in Your Screenplay
Dual Protagonists: Breaking the Mould There is no law in screenwriting that dictates you must only have one protagonist, or main character, in your screenplay. Granted, most writers choose to …
Political Thrillers vs Political Dramas: What Are the KEY Differences?
While shows such as The Crown and House of Cards have been recent hits, political thrillers and political dramas have been around since the dawn of storytelling. After all, Shakespeare …
Creating Characters That Leap Off The Page: What Are The 15 VITAL Steps?
Creating Characters: A Daunting Process When writing a screenplay, the process of creating characters can be so arduous yet so enlightening, so varied yet at the same time so individually …
10 Superb TV Pilot Examples and The Keys to Writing a Great TV Pilot
What Makes a Great TV Pilot? Understanding the importance, function and objective of a TV pilot are the first steps to writing a great one. The difference between a failed …
Visual Storytelling: What Does it REALLY Mean, in Screenwriting terms?
What Is Visual Storytelling? By definition, visual storytelling is a story told through a visual medium. This can include anything from photography, video or illustration, which is then enhanced by …
Genre Mashup: 10 Vital Steps to Nailing a Mix of Genres in Your Screenplay
Genre mashups, also known as cross-genres or hybrid genres, are commonly found in many art forms – film, music or literature. It’s when an artist combines two or more genres …
Multi-Camera Scripts: How Do They Differ From Other Scripts in Content and Style?
The Multi-Camera Sitcom Since coming to the fore in the 1960s, the multi-camera situational comedy, or sitcom, has proven itself a genre that has been able to continually reinvent itself, …
Barry Berkman – ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Series: Part 6
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 Barry Berkman from Barry. What is an …
Biting Social Satire: How to Write a Great Critique
Social satire is a genre of film that relies on irony, exaggeration, ridicule, or humor to critique an unfavorable aspect of society and/or human nature. The best social satires are …
Antagonist Examples: 15 of the BEST Formidable Foes from Film & TV
In screenwriting terms, the antagonist of a story is arguably as important as the protagonist. In the very simplest terms, if your protagonist is the hero, then the antagonist is …
Playwriting vs Screenwriting: How PLAYWRITING Can Help Your SCREENWRITING
Both playwrights and screenwriters practice the art of dramatic writing with the same goal in mind. To tell a compelling story that leaves a lasting impact on audiences. The truth …
Writing the Tragic Romance: 7 Essential Elements to Breaking Hearts
Heartbreak is the key feature of a tragic romance. The central love story ends in heartbreak and, as a result, audiences walk away from the film feeling heartbroken. Most people …
Fight Scenes That Kick A*s: 15 Examples of a Superbly Written Fight Scene
Whether you’re a fan of highly choreographed martial art movies, or super polished CGI superhero battles: it is always useful to have a set of ground rules how to write a good fight scene.
Mockumentary Scripts: The Keys to Writing a Great Mockumentary
A mockumentary is a satirical film or television show that combines documentary-style filmmaking with fictional subject matter. But although mockumentaries feature fictional events, they differ greatly from traditional narratives. And this …
Why Nailing Your Elevator Pitch Can Massively Help Your Screenplay
It’s any screenwriter’s fantasy to come across an acclaimed director or producer out of the blue and pitch them their passion project. Enter the infamous elevator pitch. Chances are, of …
Writing Style 101: How to Discover YOUR Own Unique Voice
We are able to identify the distinct writing styles of our favorite screenwriters. Styles that make us love their stories. Quentin Tarantino‘s masterful monologues. Aaron Sorkin‘s long sequences of quick-paced …
ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Series: Part Five – Walter White
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 Walter White from Breaking Bad. What is …
The 10 Critical Steps of Good Character Development
In writing a screenplay, with every character, you create them and take them on a journey. But how do you get to that point? How do you know who your …