Articles focussing heavily on TV.
The Insider Interviews series started in 2010 as a set of recorded interviews, featuring the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Gareth Unwin, who produced THE KING’S SPEECH, Ben Wheatley and Hossein Amini, the Oscar-nominated writer of DRIVE and THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY. You can watch these here. The Insider Interviews now exist as live monthly events in …
The Insider Interviews series started in 2010 as a set of recorded interviews, featuring the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Gareth Unwin, who produced THE KING’S SPEECH, Ben Wheatley and Hossein Amini, the Oscar-nominated writer of DRIVE and THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY. You can watch these here. The Insider Interviews now exist as live monthly events in …
THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE is a Netflix miniseries loosely adapted from the book by Shirley Jackson. It was created by horror maestro Mike Flanagan (OCULUS, GERALD’S GAME), who also directed every episode. It revolves around the Crain family who, as children, lived in a haunted house where their mother died. …
VIDEO ESSAY: Dual Perspectives – THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE Read More »
Follow my blog with Bloglovin Screenplay Font – Does It Matter? This article will explain what the industry-standard screenplay font is. As well as explaining what it is, we’ll look at the reasons why this is font holds the title of the industry-standard font for screenwriters and filmmakers alike. Additionally, we’ll explore the possibility of whether there …
How to Pitch a TV Show: The Key Steps Writing is, obviously, a vital part of creating a TV Show. However, it is sadly not the only vital part of the process. Knowing how to pitch a TV show is crucial to getting it made. So what steps are necessary to create a successful TV …
CATASTROPHE CATASTROPHE is a Channel 4 and Amazon Prime show. It’s created by, written by, and stars American comedian Rob Delaney and Irish writer-actress Sharon Horgan. It was nominated for a Peabody Award and Delaney and Horgan won a BAFTA for Best Writer: Comedy. The first episode of CATASTROPHE opens with an American businessman (Delaney) …
Gus Fring BREAKING BAD, created by Vince Gilligan, introduced us to many great characters. Antihero Walter White (Brian Cranston), the cancer-diagnosed high school teacher who turns to making meth. Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), his young sidekick, who was originally intended to die early on but proved a favourite. Hank Schrader (Dean Norris), Walt’s brother-in-law and …
VIDEO ESSAY: Creating the Fascinating Antagonist – Gus Fring Read More »
Before editing was created and perfected as its own art form, every film was in real time. (Although this isn’t entirely true: before sound, films were shown at whatever speed the projectionist decided.) However now, even though editing opens up so many possibilites, the real time screenplay is still popular. There are several levels of …
Taylor Sheridan Taylor Sheridan got his start as an actor, his most notable role arriving in the form of Deputy Chief of Police David Hale in SONS OF ANARCHY. He transitioned this experience into screenwriting. Over a few years, he wrote SICARIO, HELL OR HIGH WATER, and SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLDADO, also writing and …
Taylor Sheridan Quotes For Writers, Directors & Producers Read More »
Vince Gilligan Vince Gilligan got his start as a writer for THE X-FILES, but these days he’s best known as the creator, showrunner, writer and director of BREAKING BAD and its spin-off, BETTER CALL SAUL. Following the rise and fall of meek science teacher turned meth kingpin Walter White (Bryan Cranston), BREAKING BAD ran for …
Vince Gilligan Quotes For Writers, Directors & Producers Read More »
Understanding Screenplay Atmosphere Screenplay atmosphere is difficult. At the bottom of the poster for THEY CAME TOGETHER, a spoof of rom-coms, there’s a disclaimer: Please note: New York City plays such a central role in this story, it is almost like another character in the movie. Although intended as a compliment, this has become a familiar …
Why Screenwriters Should Understand Screenplay Atmosphere Read More »
In our Genius Character Reveals series we examine scenes and moments where a film or TV show reveals a tremendous amount of character information in a compressed amount of screen time. This instalment focuses on Jim Hopper (David Harbour), the chief of the police department in the sleepy town of Hawkins, from the Netflix hit STRANGER THINGS. …
GENIUS CHARACTER REVEALS: Jim Hopper (STRANGER THINGS) Read More »
THE INSIDER INTERVIEWS: BEN ROBERTS The Insider Interviews series started in 2010 as a set of recorded interviews, featuring the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Gareth Unwin, who produced THE KING’S SPEECH, Ben Wheatley and Hossein Amini, the Oscar-nominated writer of DRIVE and THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY. You can watch these here. The Insider Interviews now exist …
Ryan Murphy Quotes Ryan Murphy is one of the few super-producers working in TV, along with the likes of Shonda Rimes and Greg Berlanti. His run of hit shows includes NIP/TUCK, GLEE, AMERICAN HORROR STORY, AMERICAN CRIME STORY, and FEUD. On the feature film side, he’s written and directed RUNNING WITH SCISSORS and directed EAT, PRAY, …
Ryan Murphy Quotes For Producers, Writers & Directors Read More »
The second act is all about escalating stakes. There’s a gap in the classic three act structure as extolled by many screenwriting books and teachers. The problem is the second act, which is usually the bulk of the story. Depending on your terminology of choice, you’ll likely find a plot point or turning point at …
OPINION: Why Your Second Act Must Have Escalating Stakes Read More »
Talent Connector, the free online script promotion bonus offered to qualifying Industrial Scripts clients, has been expanded this month with the launch of Talent Connector LIVE. TCL is open to OVERDRIVE members only, and will run alongside and in addition to IS’ popular Insider Interviews series. The regular private pitch-networking night will involve agents, executives …
Talent Connector LIVE opens to OVERDRIVE members Read More »
THE INSIDER INTERVIEWS: DUNCAN HEATH The Insider Interviews series started in 2010 as a set of recorded interviews, featuring the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Gareth Unwin, who produced THE KING’S SPEECH, Ben Wheatley and Hossein Amini, the Oscar-nominated writer of DRIVE and THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY. You can watch these here. The Insider Interviews now exist …
THE INSIDER INTERVIEWS: CARYN MANDABACH The Insider Interviews series started in 2010 as a set of recorded interviews, featuring the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Gareth Unwin, who produced THE KING’S SPEECH, Ben Wheatley and Hossein Amini, the Oscar-nominated writer of DRIVE and THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY. You can watch these here. The Insider Interviews now exist as …
In our Genius Character Reveals series we examine scenes and moments where a film or TV show reveals a tremendous amount of character information in a compressed amount of screen time. This instalment focuses on FBI special agent Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) from MINDHUNTER. Bill Tench and MINDHUNTER MINDHUNTER is a crime drama based on the …
GENIUS CHARACTER REVEALS: Bill Tench (MINDHUNTER) Read More »
In our Genius Character Reveals series we examine scenes and moments where a film or TV show reveals a tremendous amount of character information in a compressed amount of screen time. This instalment focuses on Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom), the title character from The CW musical dramedy show CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND. Rebecca Bunch and CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND …
Genius Character Reveal: Rebecca Bunch (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) Read More »
As a screenwriter, it can be confusing navigating the multitude of literary agents out there. Big or small, almost all literary agents won’t accept unsolicited material. Many specify that unsolicited material will be returned or destroyed unread, in order to protect them from complaints or lawsuits from disgruntled amateurs. These days, when it’s easier …
Writing great dialogue is difficult, but one way to get a step closer is through the use of subtext. Subtext, literally what is below the text, is the deeper implication behind the surface meaning. Dialogue is not the same as real speech. Dialogue is inevitably heightened, even if it’s simply a matter of removing spaces and …
With the dominance of superhero and tentpole films, sometimes it seems like there’s no place in cinema for everyday heroes. Most audiences don’t want their reality simply reflected back to them. However, there are still degrees between these extremes. It’s still possible to engage an audience by showing everyday heroes on screen. As well a sense of escapism, …
Why Screenwriters Should Tell Stories about Everyday Heroes Read More »
History is, to gently mutilate a great quote, often stranger than fiction, which is what makes it such a great basis for fiction. Of course, mining history for a solid TV script isn’t as simple as shoving a good story into a period setting. So what makes for a good period piece? As always, there …
How to Mine History & the Real World for Your Next TV Script Read More »
THE INSIDER INTERVIEWS: RHODRI THOMAS The Insider Interviews series started in 2010 as a set of recorded interviews, featuring the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Gareth Unwin, who produced THE KING’S SPEECH, Ben Wheatley and Hossein Amini, the Oscar-nominated writer of DRIVE and THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY. You can watch these here. The Insider Interviews now exist …
The ‘building-block’ nature of screenwriting is such that any screenwriter needs a selection box of varying skills . As you’d expect, different screenwriters tend to find themselves drawn to, and more skilled at, certain aspects of the process. Whether its creative story ideas, unique characters, or a structure so tight, there are perks and pitfalls …
In our Genius Character Reveals series we examine scenes and moments where a film or TV show reveals a tremendous amount of character information in a compressed amount of screen time. This month’s instalment focuses on FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle Maclachlan), the lead character from TWIN PEAKS. Dale Cooper and TWIN PEAKS TWIN PEAKS is the rare TV show that was a …
GENIUS CHARACTER REVEALS: Dale Cooper (TWIN PEAKS) Read More »
12 Quotes about the Importance of Networking No matter if you are a producer, writer or director, a would-be executive or talent agent, if you want to crack film and TV you have to make yourself known. There is no escaping the necessity of attending events, arranging meetings and introducing yourself to begin those important relationships. …
12 Quotes about the Importance of Networking in Film & TV Read More »
THE INSIDER INTERVIEWS: PAUL WEBSTER The Insider Interviews series started in 2010 as a set of recorded interviews, featuring the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Gareth Unwin, who produced THE KING’S SPEECH, Ben Wheatley and Hossein Amini, the Oscar-nominated writer of DRIVE and THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY. You can watch these here. The Insider Interviews now exist as live monthly events in central London, which is a combination …
This is a true story. The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987. At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred. The Coen brothers began their film FARGO with this title card. In …
It goes without saying that reading a script does not have the same sensory effect on a human being as watching a film or TV show. That’s because there are certain types of scene that can only be properly realised on screen. Sometimes the most memorable and visually impactful scenes are the ones that don’t …
10 Types of Scene that Work Onscreen but Not on the Page Read More »
THE INSIDER INTERVIEWS: NISHA PARTI The Insider Interviews series started in 2010 as a set of recorded interviews, featuring the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Gareth Unwin, who produced THE KING’S SPEECH, Ben Wheatley and Hossein Amini, the Oscar-nominated writer of DRIVE and THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY. You can watch these here. The Insider Interviews now exist as live monthly events in central London, which is a combination …
We all know that most good characters undergo some kind of change over the course of their story. Whether it’s a change in perspective, circumstance or goal, WE as the audience feel closer to the character, having witnessed their growth. But when audience members learn to expect character growth, it takes a more extreme transformation …
Genius Character Reveals Welcome to the first of our new series: GENIUS CHARACTER REVEALS. In this series we’ll look at scenes and moments where the film or TV screenwriter/director has revealed a great deal of character information in a compressed amount of screen time. As a courtly bow in the direction of the 400th anniversary …
Understanding The Riddle of Tone The release of BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE is an appropriate moment to talk about tone, one of the least understood tools in the screenwriter’s toolbox. In the broadest sense, tone can be classified as comic, dramatic or tragic, but even within these “master” tones there are subdivisions. There …
THE INBETWEENERS Before we get into the cases “for” and “against” both the script reader and their report, let’s just remind ourselves what the script reader was reporting on! If you’ve never heard of British TV comedy THE INBETWEENERS, you’re probably either not based in the UK or have been asleep for the past eight …
Check out this Script Reader who passed on THE INBETWEENERS! Read More »
A Screenwriting Salary – how much do UK scribes REALLY earn? Although it’s hard to get on the screenwriting salary ladder and even harder to stay on it – let alone climb beyond the middle rung – it is possible to make a living as a screenwriter (though Herculean levels of self-discipline, at least one …
A Screenwriting Salary – how much do UK scribes REALLY earn? Read More »
Linear Storytelling Power How important is the straight-and-narrow in screenwriting? Can so-called conformity actually get you noticed? As screenwriters, we are left to own imaginations to find ides that strike a balance between what may be fun to us and what could resonate with a wider audience. This hunt for the perfect concept is one that …
In a giant sea of screenwriting tips and advice, where does one begin? It’s almost as bad as dieting these days. Cranberries are bad for you. No, scrap that, we’ve now decided they’re good for you. Your protagonist should dominate most scenes. It’s fine for your protagonist to drift in and out, to strengthen your …
These are the Only Screenwriting Tips Worth Keeping Read More »
You’ve rewritten, redrafted, typed ‘Fade Out’ more times than you can count. You’re finally satisfied that your script, the one you’ve poured months maybe even years into writing, is finished. Now what? For most writers, the endgame is seeing their script up on the big screen or on television, and getting paid. But, how do …
10 Fee-Charging Screenwriting Contests, their Likely Profits and Prestige Read More »
What is the BBC Writers Room? Writing may be a solitary task and, frankly, that’s often one of the things that appeals to those of us who do it, but every writer needs help before their work is ready to find an audience. For new writers, it’s essential and that is why resources like the BBC …
10 Reasons Every Writer Should Explore The BBC Writers Room Read More »
A couple of months ago I had a friend round for dinner who just so happens to be the Head of Development at one of the best TV companies in London. In a series of what appeared to be ginormous coincidences, I also just so happened to have recently completed a spec TV pilot that would …
You’re no stranger to getting advice if you’re a writer. Thousands of books, hundreds of films, and even entire college majors have been dedicated to the art of honing the English language. As a result, there are bound to be some bits of writing advice that come into debate. While some words of wisdom may …
5 Bits of Famous Writing Advice You Should Ignore Read More »
Unheralded Scene: TOGETHERNESS (2015) In our “Unheralded Scene” series, our consultants nominate a classic film or TV scene, which in their view hasn’t received the admiration it deserves. It might be a scene from a classic movie, which has been crowded out by other, more “showy” scenes and set-pieces. It might be a deleted scene …
THE NEWSROOM This post started as a tweet, developed into a Facebook status and is now finding full expression as a blog post. recently I finished, in a double-bill, The Newsroom Season 3 (and, by extension, The Newsroom). Some observations: The Observations 1. Humbug to the naysayers. So it’s not quite The West Wing, …
9 Observations about Aaron Sorkin’s THE NEWSROOM Read More »
Like it or lump it, the role of the industry script reader is becoming increasingly important in film and TV. With the volume of scripts being written, increasing year-on-year, the challenge for those in power becomes one of filtration – everybody wants great writers and everyone wants hits, right? But hardly anyone has the resources …
How to Write a Screenplay: Your 30-Step Guide. So – you want to learn how to write a screenplay. You think about it constantly. Whenever you watch a movie you annoy your friends, going on about how you could have written a better script. You daydream about Jimmy Kimmel making fun of you as …
All Screenwriters LOVE Moaning Because there’s been quite a lot in the press lately about the plight (or otherwise) of women screenwriters, I’ve been thinking a bit lately about whether I think I’m hard done by because of my sex (sex as in female, not sex as in, I’ve been trying to sleep with people for …
Why Women Screenwriters should Stop Moaning and Just WIN Read More »
What I’ve Learnt about Screenwriting: Part 1, The Idea So I’ve been doing this for a while now, and for some reason I feel a powerful, hubristic, intimations-of-mortality urge to communicate nuggets of web-friendly wisdom to all you aspiring screenwriters out there, who will no doubt be stealing jobs from me this time next year. Specifically, I …
What I’ve Learnt about Screenwriting: Part I, The Idea Read More »
Write What You Know or Just Say No! (and other rhymes) I’m going to give you procrastinating scribblers a little bit of advice today. Yes me, who gets up at the crack of 10.30 in the AM and eats really really really old Chinese food from the back of the fridge to get thin. That statement …
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