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 …
Craft
Craft-based articles.
Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Review: Is It Worth It?
Our scores in this in-depth Shonda Rhimes MasterClass review: Lessons – 7/10 Workbook – 9/10 Community -7/10 Value – 8/10 Overall Verdict – Thumbs Up! Pros of the Shonda Rhimes …
Writers Advice: 50 Gems of Wisdom from Industry Titans
Every screenwriter needs advice. Put simply, a career won’t progress without listening and taking heed of the right advice. Writers advice can be easy to find. But great advice, well …
What Makes a Great Monologue? 10 Great Monologues Screenwriters Can Learn From
In film and TV, great monologues have the power to hit an audience more than any other moment in a story. They can be gut-wrenching emotional confessions, pivotal moments of …
How to Write an Animated Film: 6 Vital Steps to Scripting Animation
Have you always had an affinity for animation? Do you have a story idea that you think would be perfect for an animated film? Are you simply finding that your …
The Different Types of External Conflict & 10 Great External Conflict Examples
External conflict is an essential part of screenwriting in that it’s essential in driving any plot. It is different to internal conflict in that whilst internal conflict is within the …
How to Write a Modern Western: The New Wild West
The Western was one of the earliest cinematic genres and it has had a number of resurgences and reinventions over the last one hundred years. It’s a genre that through …
Forensic Scene Analysis: The Whiplash Scene – ‘Not Quite My Tempo’
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 …
Writing Dialogue Expertly: Learn from These Great Dialogue Examples
It’s no question that one of the most powerful elements in a story is dialogue. In film, dialogue builds the overall tone of the movie, establishes the relationships between characters …
How to Write a True Crime Movie: The 12 Key Elements to a True Crime Story
How to Write a True Crime Movie: Working with a True Crime Story The phrase “Based on a true story” is one guaranteed to make any moviegoer perk up in …
How Do You Write a Cliffhanger? The 8 Steps to REALLY Hooking An Audience
This article will explore the cliffhanger, as a screenwriting mechanism, and how best to deploy it in your screenplay. We’ll examine the following: What is a Cliffhanger? What Effect Does …
The 10 Key Elements to Writing a Courtroom Drama
The courtroom drama, also known as the legal drama, is a long-standing staple in entertainment. This noteworthy genre of film has generated such timeless classics as To Kill a Mockingbird and 12 …
What is Chekhov’s Gun? 5 Ways to Skilfully Use One in Your Screenplay
Chekhov’s gun is a term that – in its simplest form – bestows purpose upon any object, character or situation within a narrative, on which the writer explicitly chooses to …
10 Amazing Opening Scenes & What Screenwriters Can Learn From Them
A first impression counts. We all know that. And in screenwriting it’s no different. Your screenplay’s opening scene is vital. Screenplay readers will often tell you that the first ten …
15 Brilliant Montage Examples for Screenwriters and Filmmakers
The montage is an ever present part of modern screenwriting. Filmmakers and screenwriters frequently use this technique, regardless of genre. But what are the best montage examples and what do they teach …
Looking to the Future: How Video Game Logic Can Enhance Your Screenplay
This article will delve into the dynamic world of video games and video game logic. Many video games have been translated on-screen into video game movies, and the line between …
How to Write a Film Noir: Utilising the 8 Essential Pillars of Film Noir
This article will delve into what film noir is and its common tropes. We’ll offer pointers on how to write a film noir that both honours the traditions of the …
How To Write a Captivating Love Triangle: The ULTIMATE Guide
How To Write a Love Triangle This article will offer some key pointers on that most time-trodden (and wildly successful) cinematic device – the love triangle – and hopefully assist those …
The 6 Key Steps to Writing the BEST Script Outline Possible
How to Write the Best Script Outline Possible Achieving the extraordinary usually requires extraordinary planning. Hence before writing a great screenplay, you need a great script outline. The world of …
How to Write a Sitcom: The Crucial Rules of The Game
How to Write a Sitcom: The Crucial Rules of The Game It feels more important than ever to have a good laugh. And what better way to poke fun at …
How to Get the Best Out of a Nonlinear Narrative (With the Best Examples)
How to Get the Best Out of a Nonlinear Narrative The nonlinear narrative is a common feature of contemporary movies (and TV as well). It has become such a familiar …
15 In-Depth Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block for Screenwriters
15 In-Depth Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block for Screenwriters Now more than ever is a time for creativity. But it’s easier said than done to get started on your …
How to Write a Thrilling Heist Movie (or TV series): The 10 Perfect Steps
How to Write a Heist Movie (or TV series): The ULTIMATE 10 Steps A band of misfits. A slick elite group. “Getting away clean”. Whatever the stakes. A heist …
How to Write a Surrealist Film: Learn The Core Principles of Surrealism
How to Write a Surrealist Film: The Core Principles of Surrealism Surrealist film tends to fall far from the aims of the original Surrealist movement. This article will demonstrate how …
How to Write a Coherent and Compelling Movie Synopsis: The Key Steps
How to Write a Synopsis That Stands Out You might think writing a movie synopsis is a chore when you’re slumped at your desk. Your eyes straining against the harsh …
How to Expertly Use (and Not Use) a Framing Device in Your Screenplay
How to Use (and Not Use) a Framing Device in Your Screenplay An elderly narrator sits down in a chair. They talk directly to camera. They are the storyteller. We …
Writing a Scene: What Are The 10 Key Steps To Dramatic Excellence?
Writing a Scene: Breaking Down the 10 Key Steps in Getting Started As with most stages of the screenwriting process, writing a scene is a journey of discovery. It is useful …
Voice-Over Narration in Screenplays: The Ultimate Guide
Voice-Over Narration—How to Get it Right and How to Get it Very Wrong A common piece of advice given to newer screenwriters is: avoid voice-over narration at all costs. This …
15 Brilliant Flashback Examples for Screenwriters and Filmmakers
15 Brilliant Flashback Examples That Show How to Best Use It It’s almost hard to think of a modern film that doesn’t have a flashback example somewhere within it. Of …
The 6 Pillars of Writing a Great Post-Apocalyptic Movie
How to Write a Great Post-Apocalyptic Movie The post-apocalyptic movie feels eerily relevant. Deserted streets, daily political briefings, biotech-clad figures. These are no longer just science fiction fantasies. But …
50 Energising Screenwriting Productivity Hacks
The 50 Ultimate Screenwriting Productivity Hacks Why are productivity hacks important for screenwriters? What distinguishes screenwriting productivity hacks from those for other disciplines? ‘To be productive’ means to be effective …
How to Write a War Film: The ULTIMATE Guide
How to Write a War Film That’s Compelling and Modern This article will offer key pointers on how to write a war film. Using five successful but very different films …
From Book to Screen: 9 Essential Steps to Skilful Adaptations
From Book to Screen: 9 Essential Keys to Adaptation Stories that have made the journey from book to screen have always been popular. But it feels more than ever they …
Aaron Sorkin Masterclass Review: Is it Worth It?
Aaron Sorkin MasterClass Review: Is it worth it? Scores for the Aaron Sorkin MasterClass: Lessons – 7 /10 Workbook – 8.2 /10 Community – 6.5 /10 Value – 7.5 /10 …
How to Expertly Create High Stakes in Your Screenplays
The Importance and Meaning of High Stakes in Screenwriting It’s pretty simple. Story stakes answer the question… “So what? Why should we care?” High stakes can benefit the story in …
On the Nose Dialogue: How to Lose It or Use It in Screenwriting
On the Nose Dialogue: How to Lose It or Use It in Screenwriting Granted, writing on the nose dialogue might not be the greatest sin in screenwriting terms. But it’s …
The Deep Value of Subplots: With 10 Awesome Examples
The Value and Importance of Subplots: With 10 Amazing Examples Subplots. Most movies and TV series have them, whether large or small. The grand overarching plot is the defining part …
How to Write a Captivating Psychological Thriller
How to Write a Captivating Psychological Thriller A psychological thriller. It’s a story that gets in your head and keeps you on your toes. Psychological Thriller: ‘a thriller narrative that …
Truly Understanding Story Structure: The Vital Steps
Understanding Story Structure: The Essential Steps Story structure. It’s easy to take it for granted. It’s easy to think it unimportant in a world where structure is constantly being played …
How to Create a Credible Movie Villain for your Screenplay
Creating an Awesome Movie Villain for your Screenplay In this article we’ll look at different examples and tools for creating believable movie villains. In Writing Screenplays that Sell, Michael Hauge …
The 7 Vital Steps to Developing a Great High Concept Movie
Turn Your Loose Story Ideas into a High Concept Movie in 7 Steps What is a “high concept” movie? What do movie producers and executives look for in a …
How to Write a Love Interest That Audiences Believe In
How to Write a Love Interest who Audiences Believe… If your mind immediately jumps to soppy worn out cliches when you think of love interests, you’d be forgiven. But …
How to Harness the Power of Visual Metaphor In Your Screenplays
What is a Visual Metaphor? And How to Use One in Your Screenplay… You want a screenplay to be entertaining but reflective and unique but relatable. You want the audience …
How to Write a Compelling Science Fiction Movie
How to Write a Compelling Science Fiction Movie While science fiction movies can be exhilarating to watch, they can be just as daunting to write. How do you create …
49 Fixable Reasons A Screenplay Reader Passed On Your Project
49 Fixable Reasons A Screenplay Reader Passed On Your Project Every writer has experienced that moment of wanting to throw the towel in after getting rejected. However, it’s important not …
‘Show Don’t Tell’ – Why The Screenwriting Mantra Endures
‘Show Don’t Tell’ – How to Best Follow the Principle It’s a term you hear frequently when it comes to storytelling – ‘Show Don’t Tell’. But what does it …
How to Expertly Develop Your Character’s Fatal Flaw
A Character’s Fatal Flaw – What Does it Mean? In good stories, as in life, one of the most important aspects is the search for growth and the striving …
How to Properly Nail Your Character Arc: The Ultimate Guide
How to Nail Your Character Arc: The Ultimate Guide A crucial part of any screenplay is the main character’s growth and evolution from beginning to end. This is their …
How to Write an Awesome Beat Sheet for Your Screenplay
Why a Beat Sheet is Important to Your Screenplay Whilst inspiration can strike at any minute and writing can be incredibly spontaneous business, screenwriting is usually smoothest when you’ve got …
35 Movie Tropes and How to Avoid Them in Screenwriting
35 Movie Tropes and How to Avoid Them in Screenwriting Most audiences can agree that movies often lose their impact when writers cut corners and rely on cliches and …