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The 13 Key Elements of a Slasher Movie with 10 Slasher Movie Examples

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Jason Slasher Movie
The slasher movie sub-genre could be considered one of the most controversial sub-genres in cinema. With its stark violence, it’s often the subject of discussions around the effect of slasher films on society at large. These films burrow into our deepest fears and take hold of the wider imagination. They provide some of cinema’s most iconic moments and some of its most terrifying. And they hold a unique place in their ability to scare and shock. But how do you

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The 10 ESSENTIAL Steps to Writing a Police Procedural Script

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Fargo Police Procedural
Table of ContentsWhat is a Police Procedural?The 10 Essential Steps to Writing a Police Procedural1. Do Your Research2. Interesting Protagonist(s) 3. Equally as Interesting Antagonist(s) 4. Setting5. Point Of View6. The Set Up7. The Interaction between Protagonist and Antagonist 8. Make the Police Procedure Complex and Challenging9. Adding a Deeper Connection between The Protagonist and The Case10. Focus on Pace In ConclusionIn Summary What is a Police Procedural? A police procedural is a sub-genre of the police drama. It’s also

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What Makes A Great Action And Adventure Movie Script?

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Temple of Doom Action
The action and adventure movie genre is one that often sits at the top of the box office. It’s a genre that can have a wide reach across many different audiences and captivate with its mix of engaging characters, thrilling set-pieces and general sense of escapism. But how do you approach writing what is such a formidable and large scale genre? And what exactly are the elements that make up an action and adventure movie in the first place? We

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How Do You Write a Cinematic Two Hander? The ESSENTIAL Steps

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The Lighthouse Two Hander
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, with dual protagonists, is often called a two hander. Many movies and genres follow the arc of dual protagonists. It’s a popular form because you get to see two distinct characters on a journey together. The audience watches their conflicts push the story forward and how they develop as characters

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How to Write the Perfect TV Show Bible: The ULTIMATE Guide (with Examples)

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Game of Thrones TV Series Bible
Table of ContentsWhat is a TV Show Bible?Is a TV Show Bible Essential?How a TV Show Bible Can Be UsedIs a Bible Exclusive to TV?Do You Write a TV Series Bible Before or After the Script?What Does a Bible Look Like? TV Show Bible Template1. Title and Author 2. Logline and Introduction3. Structure, Tone and Style4. Themes5. Story World6. Characters7. Story and First Season Breakdown8. Summary of Each Episode9. Where Do We Go From Here?10. Style and Imagery Modifying the

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How to Write an AWESOME Movie Pitch or TV Pitch: The 10 KEY Steps

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How to Write a TV Show Script
A movie pitch is one of the most important pieces of writing a screenwriter has to master in order to sell a screenplay and build a successful career. It can also be one of the hardest to get right. Don’t let its size fool you. Even if a movie pitch (or TV pitch) is only one page long it can be the key to selling your idea to an executive, producer or screenplay reader. But often, condensing all their ideas

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The Best Movie Twist Endings: How to Genuinely Surprise Your Audience

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Pyscho Twist Ending
Table of ContentsWhy is a Twist Ending Effective?The Popularity of Twist Endings Key Elements to Writing a Satisfying Movie Twist EndingDoes it Make Sense?Subtle Foreshadowing Disguising a Twist within a Twist 3 Bad Movie Twist EndingsIn ConclusionIn Summary 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 whole. When done right, a twist at the end should genuinely surprise

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Daryl Dixon – Truly ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Series Part: 11

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Crossbow
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. View all Truly Original Characters > Table of ContentsWhat is an Original Character?Who is Daryl Dixon?What Makes Daryl Dixon an Original Character?Multi-Dimensional CharactersDaryl Dixon’s RelationshipsRick Grimes and Daryl DixonMerle Dixon and Daryl DixonCarol Peletier and Daryl DixonDaryl Dixon’s Journey and Character ArcDaryl Dixon’s Strengths and

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10 ESSENTIAL Elements of Writing a Great Contemporary Spy Film

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Spy Film Bourne
Table of ContentsWhat is a Spy Movie?What are the Top 10 Grossing Spy Movies of All Time?10 Steps to a Great Contemporary Spy Film1. A Fascinating Protagonist2. Friends and Frenemies3. Convincing Antagonists4. Gadgets5. Car Chases6. Explosions7. Weapons8. Intimate Relationships9. Location, Location, Location10. Topics and People in Great Contemporary Spy Films 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

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15 Fascinating Wes Anderson Quotes for Writers and Filmmakers

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Wes Anderson Quotes
Where do you start with Wes Anderson? The acclaimed director is one of the most distinctive and charismatic filmmakers of all time. And whilst he typically doesn’t spill his guts about his process, the few Wes Anderson Quotes there are demonstrate part of why he’s so distinctive and liked. Wes Anderson – American Auteur Wes Anderson grew up in Texas and it was there, at the University of Texas at Austin, that he met a collaborator that would become a

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How Do You Write a Query Letter? 10 Tips to Getting Your Script Read

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Query Letters
It can be hard to figure out where to send your work or who to contact about possibly reading your writing. Your work could be something that’s already written. It could even be a piece you have thought about writing and you want to know if it’s worth it to get started. Either way, an essential part of getting your work out there is being able to write a query letter. Table of ContentsWhat is a Query Letter? Main Purposes

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James Cameron MasterClass Review: Is It Worth It?

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James Cameron Masterclass Review
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! Purchase Course Who is James Cameron? James Cameron is one of Hollywood’s biggest-ever directors, heralding a number of cinema’s greatest blockbusters and holding some of the largest box office grosses of all time. He is best known for The Terminator (1984), Aliens (1986), The Abyss (1989), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Titanic (1997) and

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What Does a Story Editor Do? The ESSENTIAL Breakdown

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Adaptation - Story Editor
A lot of work goes on behind the scenes of all your favorite movies and TV shows. From designing sets and creating costumes, bringing what is on the page to life is a complicated process. Still, it all starts with words on the page that have been put there by talented writers. And those talented writers will often be aided in the process by a story editor. This role plays an important part in bringing a script to life. A

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What is a Soliloquy? And Is There Space for Soliloquies in Screenwriting?

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Taxi Driver Soliloquy
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 enough, such a question helps this article’s premise too. Is there space for soliloquies in screenwriting? What is a soliloquy and what is its purpose? Do they have a place in modern screenwriting? And how are they written into screenplays? Let’s take a look… Table of ContentsWhat is a Soliloquy?The

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How To Write Dialogue Between Multiple Characters: The ESSENTIALS

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12 Angry Men Dialogue Between Characters
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 or a veteran. In this article, we will provide all the tips needed to be able to grasp writing dialogue between multiple characters. It may seem overwhelming initially, but a structured and disciplined approach smooths the tricky path. And soon enough the ability to write dialogue between multiple characters will

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Deus Ex Machina: How to USE and/or AVOID in Screenwriting

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LOTR Deus Ex Machina
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 anticipation at an all-time high waiting for the ending? The movie has been good, and you cannot imagine anything taking away from it. So, as the end approaches it becomes clear all hope is gone. Nothing will be able to save the characters in the film from certain death or

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How Do You Write A Character Bio? The Road to GREAT Characterisation

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Tony Soprano Character Bio
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 needs some semblance of a bio before they can start writing because it is the only way to truly know who your character is. Without one, it’s harder to feel their existence as something tangible. The best way to think of a character bio is as it being their passport.

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What is a Page One Rewrite? The ESSENTIALS of Rewriting a Script

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Page One Rewrite Limitless
A ‘page one rewrite’. It can be one of the most dreaded words a screenwriter can hear and something that most writers will hope to avoid. However, it’s inevitable that at some point in your writing career you will have to start a script from scratch. It could be something about the structure that’s not working or something about the protagonist arc or well, everything. Either way, a page one rewrite will require you to keep the core ideas of

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How to Create a Writing Schedule: The KEYS to Building a Writing Routine

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Writing Schedule
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 feel like standing at the bottom of a mountain, wondering how on Earth you’re going to get up to the top. However, creating a writing schedule and writing routine is a simple way to make the impossible seem possible. Establishing a writing routine is pivotal to making writing a part

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Beth Harmon – Truly ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Series Part: 10

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Beth Harmon Original Character
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. View all Truly Original Characters > Table of ContentsWho is Beth Harmon?What Makes Beth Harmon an Original Character?Multi-Dimensional CharacterBeth Harmon’s RelationshipsMr Shaibel and Beth HarmonTownes and Beth HarmonBenny Watts and Beth HarmonBeth Harmon’s Journey and Character ArcBeth’s Strengths and WeaknessesWeakness As StrengthIn Conclusion What is an Original Character? It’s a

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Issa Rae MasterClass Review: Is it Worth It?

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Issa Rae Masterclass Review
Our review scores for the Issa Rae MasterClass: Lessons – 9/10Workbook – 8/10The Community – 5/10Value – 8/10Overall Verdict – Very useful! Purchase Course Issa Rae MasterClass Pros: Assignments – Most of the lessons end with mini-tasks that encourage involvement, as well as enabling the skills Issa has discussed to be put into practice.Structure – There is a strong structure to the lessons. They start off general but build to in-depth areas of the industry. Engagement is encouraging – Issa

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What is a High Concept Comedy? Crafting a Unique Comedic Premise

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Bruce Almighty High Concept Comedy
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 point. And a ‘high concept’ comedy channels this appeal in one of the most striking ways possible. Table of ContentsWhat is a High Concept Comedy? Examples of High Concept ComediesThe Key Elements of Writing a High Concept Comedy1. What is Your High Concept?2. Characterisation 3. Setting Up the Protagonist 4.

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What is a Bottle Episode? The KEY to Writing a Self-Contained Script

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What is a bottle episode - Breaking Bad
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 a crucial moment to bring together important themes in a focused way. Whilst practically they can also serve as a budget saver within the middle of a series, restricting all the action to one location. In this article we’ll take a look at what makes a great bottle episode, the

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How Do You Deal With Rejection? 10 ESSENTIAL Tips for Screenwriters

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Deal with Rejection
Rejection is inevitable. To live is to face rejection. Whether it’s rejection from a potential employer, from friends or an unreciprocated love. Everyone has to deal with rejection of some sort. And better yet, the film and TV businesses are a veritable cosmos of rejection. Pitches that crash and burn, pitches received with great enthusiasm – then passed on. Projects picked up then dropped or stuck in development hell. Projects turned down by actors, directors, and studios.  Any rejections, including the

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What is Method Writing? Meaningless Buzzword or Useful Tool?

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Barton Fink Method Writing
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 in a tough industry. New approaches to writing, however, could be helpful to some writers seeking to stand out in such a competitive field or to break through writer’s block. And one approach that has gathered momentum in recent times is “method writing”. Table of ContentsIntroduction: What is Method Writing?Employing

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Tyler Durden – ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Series Part: 9

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Tyler Durden 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 Tyler Durden from Fight Club. Table of ContentsWhat is an Original Character? Who is Tyler Durden? What Makes Tyler Durden Original? Multi-Dimensional CharacterTyler’s PurposeTyler’s InfluenceAn Anti-Hero’s JourneyTyler Durden & Masculinity In Conclusion What is an Original Character? It’s a character that sticks with you even when they’re long gone from your screens. It’s a character that serves as

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What Can a Table Read / Read Through Do For Your Screenplay?

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Table Read:Read Through Frank Sinatra
A table read is one of the most important steps in the production process for any feature film or TV series.  You’ve poured your heart and soul into your screenplay, you’ve collected feedback and you’re ready to send it out into the world.  But before you unleash your carefully crafted words, have you ever heard them spoken aloud?  A table read puts your screenplay at a huge advantage and can be crucial to its success. It can even be considered

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Forensic Scene Analysis: Breaking Bad’s ‘I Am the One Who Knocks’

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I am the one who knocks:I am the danger scene
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 to the overall piece, and why they prove so memorable. Today, we’re going to take a look at the Breaking Bad scene – ‘I am the one who knocks’ (also known as the ‘I am the danger’ scene). Table of ContentsBecoming ‘The Danger’The Chemistry Teacher in Over His Head‘I Am

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How To Write Great Dramedy: The KEY Elements of a Dramedy Script

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The Favourite Dramedy
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. A dramedy is no different and perhaps the most difficult of all genre hybrids to balance. Taking a serious topic and injecting comedy into it is an art form. And if it’s not done carefully it can go really wrong. There are different ways to go about writing a script

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What Does ‘Greenlit’ REALLY Mean? 9 Key Factors in the Script Development Process

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Greenlit, Expectation vs Reality
There’s often a misconception around the meaning of the term ‘greenlit’. There is a vast difference between a producer/studio commissioning a script and a movie getting greenlit. Usually, it goes in that order. It’s important to demystify the process of a movie getting greenlit, especially for those starting their career in screenwriting who might dream of it being as simple as: write script, get paid, repeat. Unfortunately, the process from script to screen is longer, more complex and can sometimes

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20 Aaron Sorkin Quotes for Screenwriting INSPIRATION

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Aaron Sorkin Quotes
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 Sorkin quotes that provide insight into why he’s not just a popular screenwriter but a voice of wisdom for aspiring writers. The man behind The West Wing, The Social Network and The Trial of the Chicago 7 is held up as one of the greatest screenwriters of all time. His

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How Do You Research a Screenplay? 10 Elements of Superb Screenplay Research

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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. Sometimes the subject matter and characters you’re writing about are very familiar to you and you can simply draw on what you already know. But other times you may need to write about something or someone very different from your own personal experiences, and then you’re faced with the task

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Writing Subtext: What are the Different Forms of Subtext?

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Writing Subxtext - Truman Show
Table of ContentsWriting Subtext: What is Subtext?Different Forms of Subtext1. Thematic Subtext The Truman ShowMulholland DriveMoonlight2. Subtext In Dialogue ParasiteThe Social Network3. Subtext in Imagery Brokeback Mountain Citizen Kane4. Subtext in ActionsBreaking BadInglorious BasterdsHow to Execute Subtext in Your ScreenplaySubtext ExercisesTo Conclude: What to Remember About Writing 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 sitting underneath

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How to BEGIN Writing a Fantasy Script: 7 Great Ways into the Fantasy Genre

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Fantasy Genre - Fantasy Script, Game of Thrones
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 precedents. So much so that beginning a fantasy script can seem like a gargantuan task involving world-building, unique character work and vast imagination overall. Typically, the fantasy genre is associated with dragons, wizards and quests to fight evil. Though this does relate to the fantasy genre, there is so much

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The Best Time Loop Movies: How Do You Make Repetition Unique?

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Edge of Tomorrow - Time Loop Movies
Table of ContentsWriting Time LoopsThe Key Elements of a Time Loop Movie:1. Write Compelling ProtagonistsPhil Connors in Groundhog DayWilliam Cage in Edge of TomorrowNyles and Sarah in Palm Springs2. Create a Clever Setting for the LoopIn Palm SpringsIn Edge of Tomorrow3. Find a Satisfying SolutionWhat Do Each of These Movies Do Right?Don’ts of Time Loop Movies DON’T Steal IdeasDON’T Overuse Confidence and Control DON’T Rely on the StereotypesDON’T Balk from Big Themes To Conclude: Embracing CreativityIn Summary Writing Time Loops

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Eleven from STRANGER THINGS – Original Characters Series: Part 8

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Eleven-fron-Stranger-Things-S1
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? It’s a character that sticks with you even when they’re long gone from your screens. It’s a character that serves as a reference point in casual conversation or a character that sums up a behavior or generation. original, adjective“not the same as anything or anyone else and therefore special and interesting…”—

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Movie Memoirs: How Do You Adapt a Memoir for the Screen?

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Catch Me if You Can Movie Memoir
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 adapted from a book and depict the true story of the protagonist’s life as told from their perspective. But how do you write a memoir movie? And how do you go about the tricky processing of adapting a memoir into a screenplay? We take a look at the tricks and

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The 10 BEST AI Movies: Different Representations of AI in Movies

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Ghost in the Shell AI in Movies
Table of ContentsWhat Are AI Movies?Top Ten Best AI Movies10. Ghost in the Shell (1995)9. Westworld (1973)8. Wall-E7. A.I. Artificial Intelligence6. Her5. Minority Report4. Blade Runner3. The Matrix2. 2001: A Space Odyssey 1. Ex Machina How Do You Write AI in Your Screenplay?1. Consider Your Genre2. Protagonist or Antagonist?3. What is the Purpose of Your AI Character?4. What is the Message You Want to Convey?5. ResearchIn Summary: What Are AI Movies? Narratives focusing on artificial intelligence have been used repeatedly in books,

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Setting as a Character: Get the MOST Out of Your Screenplay’s Setting

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Lost in Translation Setting as Character
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 our favorite movies wouldn’t be the same without their iconic settings. Think of Harry Potter without Hogwarts or The Shining without the Overlook Hotel. Here, settings function as characters in their own way, supporting the narrative and impacting the course of the storyline. The notion of ‘character’ can be stretched

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Writing Dystopia: The Keys to Crafting an ORIGINAL Dystopian Movie

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Blade Runner 2049, Writing Dystopia
Table of ContentsDystopia vs. Post Apocalypse, What’s the Difference? The Dystopian World of SnowpiercerThemes in Dystopian Writing 1. Environmental Degradation Wall-EOkja2. Totalitarian Governments: The Hunger GamesThe Handmaid’s Tale3. Technology Taking Control Protagonists in a Dystopia: Antagonists in Dystopia: Snowpiercer’s AntagonistsOkja’s AntagonistsIn Writing Dystopia, Show Don’t TellWriting the Final Scene of a Dystopian Movie In Conclusion 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 gained increasing

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The Insider Interviews – with BREAKING BAD Producer Karen Moore

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karen moore titan screenwriting contest
This latest iteration of our Insider Interviews Series is with producer Karen Moore, one of the three judges of Industrial Scripts’ inaugural screenwriting contest, The TITAN Awards. Karen Moore Biography Karen Moore has enjoyed a 30-year career in high-end television production. She started out producing shows and TV movies from the late 1970s onwards and has gone onto produce some of the most successful series of recent years. Karen was an early producer on Breaking Bad, producing 20 episodes overall. She

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The Insider Interviews – with SICARIO Producer Ed McDonnell

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This latest iteration of our Insider Interviews Series is with producer Ed McDonnell, one of the three judges of Industrial Scripts’ inaugural screenwriting contest, The TITAN Awards. Ed McDonnell Biography Ed McDonnell has produced some of the most interesting and critically acclaimed films of the last twenty years and racked up $1.25 billion in global box office in the process. His career typically straddles the border between arthouse-commercial and in doing so, he’s garnered a reputation for working with brilliant, visionary

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The Insider Interviews – with Mega-Producer Patrick Crowley

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patrick crowley producer judge the titan awards
This latest iteration of our Insider Interviews Series is with producer Patrick Crowley, one of the three judges of Industrial Scripts’ inaugural screenwriting contest, The TITAN Awards. Patrick Crowley Biography Patrick is a producer with $5.83 billion in box office revenue to his name. It’s fair to say he knows a thing or two about working at the top of the film industry. He’s served as the producer on the Bourne and Jurassic World franchises, The Other Guys and as an

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The 10 Best Final Battles: How to Write a GREAT Final Battle

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Jon Snow Final Battle
Table of ContentsWhat is a Final Battle?Why Are Final Battles Important?What Makes a Great Final Battle?How Do You Write a Final Battle?Characterisation and Story DevelopmentThe Three Act Structure: Final Battle EditionFirst Act: Set up the battle.Second Act: ConfrontationThird Act: ResolutionThe Pace of a Final Battle10 Amazing Final Battle Examples10. Mad Max- Fury Road9. Kill Bill: Volume 18. Avatar – Battle for Pandora7. Avengers: Endgame6. Gladiator 5. Saving Private Ryan4. The Revenant3. Game of Thrones – “The Battle of the Bastards”A

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Forensic Scene Analysis: ‘The Red Wedding’

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The Red Wedding Scene
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 going to analyse and discuss the iconic scene ‘The Red Wedding’ in Game of Thrones, Season 3 Episode 9 ‘The Rains of Castamere’.  SPOILERS AHEAD! Table of ContentsThe Importance of The Red WeddingThe Setup of The Red WeddingForms of the Setup Small Moments of Disclosure: How We Know Something is

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10 ESSENTIAL Screenwriting Exercises to Move Your Script Forward

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Screenwriting Exercises, Shakespeare in Love
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 also need a prompt or a structure to help move your writing forward. This is where screenwriting exercises can prove vital, helping you maintain writing momentum but refreshing your approach. The goal is to think outside the box. You might be surprised by the things you come up with that

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