10 Secrets to Creating Unforgettable Supporting Characters
Posted on May 8, 2012 in General Screenwriting, Story | No Comments
Everybody wants to play the lead, but being the supporting character has its perks too.
Learn MoreYou are browsing the archive for General Screenwriting.
Writing for Hollywood without living there
Posted on May 3, 2012 in General Screenwriting | No Comments
Bradley Jackson is the writer behind “The Man Who Could Not Cry” a wonderful film that has piqued the interest of some people Hollywoodside. But the Austin based writer isn’t ready to uproot just yet…
Learn More
An Interview with Hitchcock’s Writer: John Michael Hayes
Posted on May 3, 2012 in General Screenwriting, Interviews | No Comments
John Micahel Hayes penned many great Hitchcock films including Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, The Trouble with Harry and The Man Who Knew Too Much. Here is an interview with Hayes done in the 1960s.
Learn More
The Essence of Comedy Writing
Posted on April 26, 2012 in Filmmaking 360, General Screenwriting, Structure | 1 Comment
What is at the heart of comedic writing? What makes a joke work? Why are some jokes not as funny the second time around? Read the article, I’m not going to explain it in this description!
Learn More
Michael Bay’s Rejected “The Dark Knight” Script
Posted on April 11, 2012 in General Screenwriting, Outtakes | 3 Comments
“We pan to a beautiful woman: platinum blonde with a huge rack. She is the hottest woman in the world, but she wears glasses because she is also the smartest woman in the world.” Who wouldn’t want to see this get made?
Learn More
C. S. Lewis Advice to Young Writers
Posted on April 10, 2012 in General Screenwriting | No Comments
In his life, C.S. Lewis received thousands of letters from children who were eager for more knowledge of his bestselling Narnia books and their author. Lewis always replied with understanding and respect. Below is an example where he offered 5 writing tips to his young fan.
Learn More
Polone: Who Really Determines the Fates of Aspiring Screenwriters?
Posted on April 6, 2012 in General Screenwriting, Selling Your Script | No Comments
Gavin Polone, producer of Zombieland, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the Gilmore Girls, talks about who really controls the future of aspiring screenwriters.
Learn More
6 Steps to a Perfect Catchphrase
Posted on April 4, 2012 in General Screenwriting | No Comments
What makes a memorable catchphrase? Science went hard to work to find the answers.
Learn More
Don’t work for Free
Posted on April 4, 2012 in Filmmaking 360, General Screenwriting | No Comments
Daedalus Howell tackles the sensitive subject of compensation when it comes certain creative endeavors with a simple motto: Don’t Work for Free.
Learn More
David Mamet’s Notes to the Writers of “The Unit”
Posted on March 29, 2012 in General Screenwriting | 1 Comment
David Mamet’s “The Unit” ran on CBS from 2006 to 2009 and covered the lives of secret military operatives. Prior to airing, Mamet wrote this memo to the writing staff chock full of useful writing tips.
Learn More
18 Tricks and Traps to Writing Better Descriptions
Posted on March 9, 2012 in General Screenwriting | No Comments
Description – or the action part of a script – can be difficult to write. Here are a few tips and mistakes to avoid to keep your reader glued to the script.
Learn More
Tips for Making Comedy Sketch Videos for the Internet
Posted on March 6, 2012 in General Screenwriting | No Comments
Ryan E. Hoffman shares some ideas on how to write for online comedy and how to find the right collaborators.
Learn More
How to Get it Done in the First Ten Pages
Posted on March 2, 2012 in General Screenwriting, Story | No Comments
The Script Lab takes a look at Five Iconic Movies (Edward Scissorhands, Cool Hand Luke, The Big Lebowski, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and 500 Days of Summer) and how they cover the five essential elements in the first 10 pages for an attention grabbing script.
Learn More
Writing Exposition: 5 Helpful Techniques
Posted on February 24, 2012 in General Screenwriting | No Comments
“Show it, don’t say it” is a good mantra to follow. But sometimes, for economic or timing sake, you have to get the audience up to speed and the only way to do that is to just have a character say it. That’s called exposition and it can be bad filmmaking if its overused. Here are five techniques to deliver exposition while making it not look like exposition.
Learn More
Finding the Secret to Found Footage Films
Posted on February 17, 2012 in General Screenwriting | No Comments
Found footage films give the viewer the impression that they are watching 1st hand footage of an event happening. This style has been implemented in films like “Blair Witch Project”, “Cloverfield”, and “Paranormal Activity”. But even this style of gonzo storytelling has it’s own emerging set of rules:
Learn More
