Film

Articles focussing heavily on Film.

How Do You Write a GREAT Sidekick Character?

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Samwise Sidekick Character
Writing a sidekick character can come with a lot of creative freedom. Where your protagonist or hero may have a rigid characterisation, a sidekick can complement them in many different ways. Are they a life-long friend, a reluctant ally, or even an animal? As the name suggests, their main role is to assist the protagonist (or perhaps antagonist). As such, a sidekick can be equally as crucial to story development as those that they accompany. Despite not being at the center

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How Do You Write a Convincing and Powerful Death Scene?

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Iron Man Death Scene
How to write a good death scene? This is a question writers may well have been pondering since stories were told on the walls of caves. From Shakespeare to Spielberg, death scenes are ever-present in storytelling. Sometimes death in a film or TV show doesn’t even have to be realistic to have us mourning our favorite characters. Audiences have shed many tears over a fictional, fantastical death before. A great death scene can make or break the legacy of a

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How Do You REALLY Analyze Films? The Keys to Film Analysis

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Analyze Films
Everyone who has an interest in movies has probably tried to analyze a film at least once. Maybe you analyzed films for your own pleasure or maybe you needed to do it for a university assignment. Either way, you will probably have realized how daunting it can be. You need to take into consideration so many aspects that you might not even know where to start. Nevertheless, if you know what to look for, film analysis can be highly enjoyable

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Patrick Bateman – Truly ORIGINAL Characters Series: Part 21

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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 Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. View all Truly Original Characters + Table of ContentsWhat is an Original Character?Who is Patrick Bateman?Complex, Three-Dimensional CharactersPatrick Bateman’s “Relationships”Jean and Patrick BatemanPaul Allen and Patrick BatemanDetective Kimball and Patrick BatemanEvelyn Williams and Patrick BatemanStruggle for PowerPsychology of Patrick BatemanReality vs. Constructed RealityWas It All In His Head?In Conclusion: What Makes

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The KEY Building Blocks to Writing a GOOD Romantic Comedy

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Crazy, Stupid Love, Writing Romantic Comedy
The romantic comedy goes all the way back to Shakespeare, with plays such as Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream being full of love triangles and comic misunderstandings. If done right, writing romantic comedy can be a surefire way to crowd-please both critically and commercially. It’s a genre that has evolved through time but has remained extremely popular with audiences and the box office. Although sometimes reduced to cliche, romantic comedies, at their core, are about happiness and

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What is the But and Therefore Rule in Screenwriting?

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Matt Stone and Trey Parker But and Therefore Rule
In every screenwriting class, you are going to learn about many rules. However, the most important one is always the same: give the story energy to keep the viewers engaged. Keeping an audience entertained is, after all, the entire purpose of a story. However, everyone who has ever tried to write a script will have found themselves in a position where maintaining a constant engaging narrative that relates to the audience and has a logical flow to it is hard

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What are the 15 Worst Short Film Cliches You MUST Avoid?

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Short Film Cliches Reflection
Short films are as prominent as ever as an effective form of expression for emerging filmmakers. However, a constantly used form runs the risk of certain techniques becoming overused and cliched. There are certain short film cliches that will instantly turn off audiences and those in the industry. With limited time and usually budget, it can be easy to fall back on these cliches to fill in gaps or force the film to progress. But remember, the foundation of a short film

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15 Sam Mendes Quotes to INSPIRE Writers & Filmmakers

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Sam Mendes Quotes
Both an Oscar winner and a blockbuster director, the breadth of Sam Mendes’ work perfectly demonstrates his versatile talent. And the 15 Sam Mendes quotes we’ve picked below illustrate how this versatility comes from a deep understanding of and commitment to craft. Jumping from genre to genre, his consistency comes from his innate theatricality. This provides his films with strong characters and stories as well as captivating visuals. From American Beauty to Skyfall, it is safe to say that he

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How Do You Use the Bookend Technique in Screenwriting?

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Memories of a Murder Bookend Technique
Often there are terms in screenwriting that do what they say on the tin. The bookend technique fulfils this mantra. It’s a plot device used to sandwich a story like two bookends. But what exactly does the bookend technique look like in screenwriting? And how can you deploy it? In this article, we will help you understand the bookend technique and how to use it in your own writing. To do this, we will take three easy steps. Teach you

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What The Social Network Opening Scene Teaches Screenwriters

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The Social Network Opening Scene
The Social Network opening scene grips the audience into its world. It’s one of the most compelling examples of an opening scene in its use of quick dialogue, acute character set-up and rich conflict. Written by the characteristically sharp Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network, as a whole, is a masterful exploration of clashing egos. It’s ultimately a brilliant character study, taking a look at what drives someone with ruthless ambition. And it’s the opening scene that lays this thematic purpose

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Narrative Pacing: The KEYS To Mastering Your Screenplay’s Pace

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silence of the lambs narrative pacing
When it comes to narrative pacing, we all know the feeling of being on the edge of our seats, biting our nails with anticipation for what’s to come. It’s likely you’ve experienced the opposite too – slogging through something miserably tiresome, desperate for it to end or wondering where it’s leading. Both show how narrative pacing is integral to the smooth reading of a screenplay. It impacts the audience’s response, perspective and enjoyment of a story. So how do you

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What is an Unreliable Narrator and How Do You Write One?

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American Psycho Unreliable Narrator
It’s comforting to settle into a story where we can trust the narrator to guide us easily and expertly. The narrator is, after all, the audience’s compass through the story, a framing device on which they can rely heavily. However, not all narrators can be trusted with equal measure. The unreliable narrator can lead the audience down the wrong path either on purpose or by virtue of their personality. But what’s the use of an unreliable narrator in screenwriting? And

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What is a Mary Sue Character And How Do You Avoid Writing One?

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Rey Mary Sue Character
In recent years, there has been a lot of dialogue around who the term Mary Sue can be ascribed to and what constitutes it. But what, fundamentally, is a Mary Sue character? And perhaps more importantly, with it being seen largely as a negative trait for a screenplay, what can be done to avoid it? In this article, we look into the meaning of a Mary Sue character and how you can protect against writing one in your screenplay. So,

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The Viking Movie: 10 Elements to Writing This Powerful Sub Genre

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The Northman Viking Movie
In many ways, the Viking movie is a sub-genre as old as the cinematic form itself. And Vikings have certainly been an integral part of folklore and storytelling for centuries. However, the Viking movie seems to have found new life in recent years. Not only that but Viking tropes find their way into movies and TV shows that have another primary genre, such as the Thor series. So how can you weave Viking elements into a screenplay? What do you

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15 Striking Martin McDonagh Quotes for Writers and Filmmakers

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Martin McDonagh Quotes
He’s one of the most distinctive contemporary writers; someone who entertains and shocks in equal measure. His films are bold, action-packed but most of all, hilarious. In this striking mix, Martin McDonagh is an enigmatic figure. So we’ve pulled 15 amazing Martin McDonagh quotes in order to gain insight into this writer and director’s creative process, outlook on the industry and unique voice. Martin McDonagh – From Stage to Screen Whilst he’s perhaps best known for his work as a

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The Comedy Horror Movie: The KEYS to Both Laughs and Scares

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Write a Comedy Horror Movie
Washington Irving’s short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has been cited as “the first great comedy horror story”, as readers were made to “laugh one moment and scream the next”. This is, in essence, what comedy horror movies are all about. We’ve all been in that situation where our friend is describing something awful…and yet our first instinct is to laugh. Is that because we’re horrible people? No! We tried not to laugh, after all. So why do we?

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How Do You Break into the Film Industry? 10 Important Lessons

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Break into the Film Industry
The film industry is infamously hard to break into. This applies whether you’re behind the scenes, in post-production or right in front of the camera. It can be tricky to find that first job to kickstart your career. However, there are ways to gain experience and impress employers – it certainly isn’t easy, but it’s also not impossible. So we’ve put together 10 important lessons for breaking into the film industry. What are the fundamental things you must know in

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The 10 KEY Building Blocks to Writing Revenge Stories

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Kill Bill Revenge Stories
Revenge stories are a popular sub-genre almost guaranteed to satisfy an audience. They’re typically a visceral and cathartic response to injustice and consequently something that elicits easy emotion. We love to follow a journey of change and retribution and revenge stories provide us with these essential elements. Writing revenge – defined as the action of hurting or harming someone in return for an injury or wrongdoing suffered at their hands – can be particularly fun, dark, and, as with writing

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What is the Special Girl Trope and How Do You Avoid It?

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Twilight Special Girl
As a screenwriter, a trope can be both your best friend and your enemy. How is a writer meant to stand out when the same plot line has been repeated a million times before? At the same time, a trope is often a trope because it taps into something that audiences want to see. There is perhaps little better example of this than the Special Girl trope. Film constantly influences society; how we think about ourselves and how we view

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What’s SO Good About The Citizen Kane Ending?

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Citizen Kane Ending Scene
Citizen Kane; a classic piece of cinema still studied in film schools throughout the world today. Written by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles, it was directed by Orson Welles, who also took the starring role. The 2020 Netflix movie Mank even tells the remarkable story of how the film was created back in 1941. It’s the ending though, in particular, that stands out as one of the most iconic and cited examples of great storytelling in cinema history. But

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What is Circular Storytelling? The KEY Lessons For Story Structure

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Gone Girl Circular Storytelling
Circular storytelling is a structural technique visible in many stories across film, TV, literature and other mediums. But what exactly does the structure entail? And could it be useful to your screenplay? We take a look… Table of ContentsWhat is Narrative Structure?What’s the Point of Circular Storytelling?Circular Storytelling in Other MediumsThe Hero’s JourneyCircular Storytelling in Dan Harmon’s Story CircleCircular Storytelling in SitcomsDetermining the Best Narrative Structure For Your ScreenplayIs Circular Storytelling Right for Your Story? What is Narrative Structure? Everyone

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Writing Act Three: The Conclusion – An ESSENTIAL Breakdown

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Fury Ending - Writing Act Three.
The third act. The end. The stroll off into the sunset or dramatic cliffhanger. Writing your third act is the finishing stretch and, therefore, vitally important in leaving the audience or screenplay reader with a great and lasting impression of your screenplay. This is what you have been building to for the past one or two hours. It doesn’t have to be a happy ending or thrill ride. What it absolutely should do though is satisfy all those questions act

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Forensic Scene Analysis: “I Drink Your Milkshake!”

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Daniel and Eli - There Will Be Blood
“I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!” – Some scenes in film and TV are so memorable they transcend their origin and become part of film culture. In this series, we take a look at what makes those scenes so beloved. We’ll break down why the scene works and what it demonstrates about the screenwriting craft. Understanding what turns a good scene into a great scene is illuminative when writing a screenplay. By looking at the finished product on

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The 22 PIXAR STORYTELLING RULES: Lessons for Screenwriters

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Up Storytelling
Pixar films are some of the most well-crafted stories in cinema history. And so it’s no wonder that there appear to be Pixar storytelling rules that writers and directors of these movies typically follow. In 2011, a Pixar story artist, Emma Coats, wrote and tweeted a list of “Story Rules” she learned while working for Pixar. Note: She has now stated she wishes she had called them “guidelines” instead. The so-called guidelines were essentially a number of tips for writers

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15 David O. Russell Quotes Writers & Filmmakers Can Learn From

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David O. Russell Quotes
He’s one of the most charismatic contemporary American directors; someone who manages to craft intriguing and intimate stories with big stars attached. But what makes David O. Russell tick creatively? We’ve put together 15 fascinating David O. Russell quotes to see what goes into this maverick director’s writing and directing process. David O. Russell – Beginnings Growing up in New York, Russell has said he always had an affinity with filmmaking, falling in love with filmmakers like Martin Scorsese in

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Is The Godfather Opening Scene the Best Opening Scene EVER?

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The Godfather Opening Scene - Bonasera Asking
What do great opening scenes do? They capture the essence of the upcoming story, whether the audience knows it or not. At their best, they lay out the story’s essential driving theme cinematically and grippingly as well as establishing tone, genre and some elements of characterisation. With this in mind, The Godfather opening scene makes a strong case for a perfect opening scene. But what is it exactly that makes this scene such a great opening to the film? And

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5 VITAL Lessons Screenwriters Can Take from Aaron Sorkin Scripts

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Social Network Aaron Sorkin Scripts

Aaron Sorkin is one of the few screenwriters whose name alone can get a film greenlit. And Aaron Sorkin scripts not only make great TV or film blueprints but are …

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Ferris Bueller- Truly ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Series: Part 18

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Ferris Beuller Original Character
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 a classic movie character; Ferris Bueller from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. View all Truly Original Characters + Table of ContentsWhat is an Original Character?Who is Ferris Bueller?What Makes Ferris an Original Character?Breaking the Fourth WallFerris’ RelationshipsCameronJeanieSloaneEd RooneyFerris’ ParentsConfidence Versus Arrogance Having a Day OffIn Conclusion What is an Original Character? It’s a

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Writing Act Two: The Conflict – An ESSENTIAL and SIMPLE Breakdown

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Dune
So you’ve finished act one. You’ve got your beginning and you probably have some ideas about your ending, but how do you create your middle? What happens between the end of the first act and the beginning of the third? Well, appropriately enough, writing act two is next on the agenda. Act two is the core of your story. The central, overarching plot and all your character arcs come into play. It’s for these reasons that writing act two is

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What is Magical Realism? The KEY Steps to Using it in Screenwriting

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Birdman Magical Realism
Table of ContentsWhat is Magical Realism?The History of Magical RealismOriginsMagical Realism in LiteratureMagical Realism in FilmFantasy Versus Magical Realism Three Key Elements of a Magical Realism Film1. The Real-World Setting How Does the Setting Reflect the Story and its Themes?2. Mythology, Folklore and or Historical Influence How Do Myths and Folktales Inform Magical Realism?3. Underlying Social or Political CommentaryHow Does the Underlying Social and Political Commentary Impact Films?The Six Key Steps to Writing the Magical Realism Genre1. Read and Research Current

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What Does a Script Coordinator Do? The BEST & SIMPLEST Breakdown

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Script Co-Ordinator Seinfeld
When we think about screenwriting we tend to think about the writer behind the work we eventually see on the screen. But what about all of the other important jobs we don’t see that help the script become successful? A lot of work goes on behind the scenes. And for burgeoning writers, it can be easy to lose sight of the hard graft that goes on to make films and TV shows come to life. One of these crucial job

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15 Great Taika Waititi Quotes for Writers & Filmmakers

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taika waititi quotes
He’s one of the biggest contemporary Hollywood directors. And his wit and charisma stand him out from the crowd. It’s easy to forget though that there is some serious craft behind this personality. And by collecting these 15 inspiring Taika Waititi quotes, we can learn from the writer/director’s unique (and hilarious!) perspective on filmmaking, screenwriting and life. But first, a little background… Humble Beginnings The son of an artist and school teacher, Taika Waititi grew up in Wellington, New Zealand.

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How Do You Write a Zombie Movie That’s ACTUALLY Original?

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While movie trends come and go, there are some genres screenwriters will return to time and time again. The zombie movie is one of those; a trope that isn’t likely to die out any time soon. Like vampires, zombies inspire emotions of both fear and fascination. It is far easier to kill off a human character than a creature that cannot die because it is already dead. In short, they are unpredictable, difficult to defeat and consequently provide opportunities for

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Writing Act One: The Setup – An ESSENTIAL and SIMPLE Breakdown

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Baby Driver Opening Scene
So you’ve prepared your story idea and want to put pen to paper. But where to start? No matter if you’re preparing to write the beat sheet or redrafting a finished product it’s always worth putting extra care into your first act. While it might not be as exciting as the brilliantly executed plot twist at the end of act two or the satisfying, tear-jerking ending, act one is a vital opportunity for your screenplay to start as it means

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6 KEY Ways to Adapt a Short Story & the Best Short Story Adaptations

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Arrival Short Story Adaptation

Short stories can seem like unlikely source material for some of the best and most compelling feature films. They may be limited in their length but often it’s the confines …

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15 Brilliant Robert Eggers Quotes on Storytelling and Filmmaking

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Robert Eggers Quotes
After the success of The Lighthouse, it was no surprise to see Robert Eggers helm a blockbuster, particularly one with such a talented cast. With The Northman, Eggers announced himself as a visionary director who could exist outside indie-arthouse film. In light of this, we’ve collected 15 of the most interesting Robert Eggers quotes for a closer perspective on his directorial style and approach to storytelling in general. Robert Eggers – From Stage to Screen Born in New Hampshire in

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How Do You Write a Screenplay Prologue? Dodge These Key Pitfalls

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The Dark Knight Prologue
A prologue can be used to introduce the audience to the characters, tone and theme of your screenplay. It should plummet them into the story from the start as you set the scene. But are prologues necessary? And what are the pros and cons to having one in your screenplay? In this article, we will look at examples of prologues in TV and film, and the key elements of writing an effective prologue. Table of ContentsWhat is a Prologue? How

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15 Fascinating Alex Garland Quotes for Writers and Filmmakers

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Ex Machina Alex Garland Quotes
From merciless zombies to a beautiful hidden beach in Thailand, Alex Garland has written many cult and classic films in a range of different spaces and genres. Not only is Garland’s creativity portrayed through his writing, but through his directing as well. He’s not often seen in the limelight, so getting an insight into his innovative mind through his interviews and quotes is precious. And it’s in this spirit that we’ve gathered 15 Alex Garland quotes to inspire writers and

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How Do You Best Convey the Passage of Time in Your Screenplay?

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Passage of Time Metropolis
It’s rare that you would find a script without any significant passage of time whatsoever. It’s often a vital part of how a script develops and keeps its audience engaged. Thus, it is important to consider the different ways in which you can portray the changing of time. In this article, we will explore the different ways in which you can incorporate and utilize the passage of time in your screenplay. This is both in terms of format and content.

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How Do You Write Highly Realistic Dialogue? The 10 KEY Steps…

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The Master Realistic Dialogue
One of the biggest humps to get over when writing for film or television is dialogue. Even if you have a perfect story, outline, and characters, bad dialogue can bring the whole operation down. 99% of the time, what you need is to have realistic dialogue. Of course, not every project needs realistic dialogue all the time (see: The Grand Budapest Hotel). But unless your premise and tone align along wacky lines or you have a specific stylistic remit, it’s

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How to Effectively Weave Character Backstory into Your Screenplay

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The Godfather Character Backstory
So, you made it through one of the hardest parts of writing a screenplay; you created your characters. From childhood trauma to adulthood adventures, you’ve fleshed out your entire character backstory. You should be excited to move forward. Any main character of any compelling story has to have a backstory to match. And anytime you write a character whose story deserves to be told, it’s important for the audience to know your character’s entire history so they love your character

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15 Matt Reeves Quotes to INSPIRE Writers and Filmmakers

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Matt Reeves Quotes

He’s emerged as one of the most striking directors of the 21st century. Quietly he’s helmed some of the biggest hits of the 2010s and 2020s, managing to infuse big …

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A Screenplay Option Offer Comes In…Here’s How You Navigate It

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Screenplay Option
Table of ContentsWhat is a Screenplay Option?Important Points to Know From the Very BeginningWhat About Money?Dollar Option on a ScreenplayHow Long Should the Optioning (and Renewal) Period Last?What’s Your Role During the Optioning Period?How Much Can Your Screenplay Be Changed?To Lawyer Up, or Not to Lawyer Up?A Screenplay Option – Final Points So, you’ve written a screenplay and a producer has approached you about a screenplay option. Amazing – right? You’re one step closer to having your work make it

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The Insider Interviews – GLADIATOR Screenwriter William Nicholson

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William Nicholson Interview
This latest iteration of our long-running Insider Interviews series is with William Nicholson, the prolific screenwriter behind such hits as Gladiator, Shadowlands, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and Breathe, amongst many others. William Nicholson Biography Though perhaps most known for his work as a screenwriter, William Nicholson is a writer across film, novels, theatre and television. And this breadth was visible right from the start of his career, when he wrote a TV play (Shadowlands), which then became a stage play,

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10 INCREDIBLE Closing Scenes & What They Teach Screenwriters

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There Will Be Blood Closing Scene
The closing scene of any film is crucial. The last scene and image should stick with viewers. If done well, it can prove to be a vital cog in a successful film. In contrast, an unsatisfactory ending can ruin a film. This is especially the case if it feels rushed, confusing, or if the main character experiences no growth or change. The best story endings conclude the arc of a character’s journey in a satisfying way. This doesn’t mean your

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The Insider Interviews – with Mega-Producer Basil Iwanyk

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Basil Iwanyk judge of TITAN screenwriting contest
This latest iteration of our Insider Interviews Series is with producer Basil Iwanyk, one of the three judges of the second year of Industrial Scripts’ screenwriting contest, The TITAN Awards. Basil Iwanyk Biography For thirty years, Basil Iwanyk has been producing incredible movies. His CV speaks volumes – a range of blockbuster smashes and indie, critical darlings. From Wrath of the Titans and John Wick to The Town and Sicario. After starting out working for Warner Bros in the 1990s, Basil founded his

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The Insider Interviews – with Oscar-Nominee Shannon McIntosh

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Shannon Mcintosh TITAN Screenwriting Contest judge
This latest iteration of our Insider Interviews Series is with producer Shannon McIntosh, one of the three judges of the second year of Industrial Scripts’ screenwriting contest, The TITAN Awards. Shannon McIntosh Biography Shannon McIntosh is a producer with over thirty years of experience in Hollywood. From starting out as an executive at Miramax in the heyday of 1990’s indie film to producing some of Quentin Tarantino’s biggest hits – Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. We sat

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What is the Definition of CINEMATIC, in Screenwriting Terms?

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Blade Runner -Defintion of Cinematic
Table of ContentsThe Elements of CINEMATIC1. Visual Elements2. Music and Dialogue3. Dynamic Cinematic TechniquesMise-en-scène in the Definition of CinematicUsing Cinematic Language to Achieve “Cinematic”The Definition of Cinematic in TV SeriesIn Conclusion We’ve all heard the term “cinematic”. Film reviews, job offerings, script feedback, award acceptance speeches. Many people in the industry use this term, some of them quite lightly. But what is the real definition of “cinematic”? In the dictionary, cinematic means “relating to cinema”. Plain and simple. But not

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An Interview with 2021 TITAN Awards Winner James Foye

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James foye winner The TITAN screenwriting contest winner
About The TITAN Awards The TITAN Awards is a global, prestigious screenwriting contest whereby material competes against its own kind for as long as possible over the course of a contest cycle. Horror feature vs Horror feature, Series Bible vs Series Bible, Sci-Fi vs Sci-Fi, 1 Page Pitch vs 1 Page Pitch etc. Even in the contest’s inaugural year (2021), the situation was ferociously competitive and there were a great many writers and projects that impressed. The annual awards are rare in talent discovery terms

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An Interview with 2021 TITAN Awards Winner Todd Restler

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Todd Restler 2021 TITAN screenwriting contest winning writer
About The TITAN Awards The TITAN Awards is a prestigious annual screenwriting contest whereby material competes against its own kind for as long as possible over the course of a contest cycle. Horror feature vs Horror feature, Series Bible vs Series Bible, Sci-Fi vs Sci-Fi, 1 Page Pitch vs 1 Page Pitch etc. Even in the contest’s inaugural year (2021), the situation was ferociously competitive and there were a great many writers and projects that impressed. The annual awards are rare in talent discovery terms

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