Screenplay structure is the backbone of any successful film, serving as the blueprint that guides the narrative from start to finish. At its core, screenplay structure organizes the story into a coherent and engaging sequence of events, ensuring that each scene builds upon the last to create a compelling journey for the audience. Among the various structure tools used to understand and ..read more

The chain of command of a film is quite similar to a large business or organization. At the top you have the CEO or in this case Executive Producer, usually someone with the money or controlling the money. From there you have Producers which sort of function as COO, chief operating officers. Down the line you have a Director and under that nearly all departments answer to the ..read more

Which is Best for Your Story? In Aspects of the Novel, novelist E.M. Forster wrote, “The king died and then the queen died. The king died and then the queen died of grief.” The first sentence describes two events of a story, while the second sentence describes two events of a plot. As many writers and critics have noted, the essential difference between a story and a plot is that the first is a series of chronologically ordered ..read more

After you type “The End” on your screenplay you are thrilled to have accomplished your goal of finishing your screenplay. Shortly after that, you wonder what to do with it next. Maybe you are a writer director and you plan on going out and trying to make the screenplay into a film next. Maybe you plan on submitting it to screenwriting competitions. Or maybe you ..read more

A mother walks into a room and informs her two young daughters that they are going on a playdate with some children they have never met. One daughter replies, “Will they like me?” The second daughter responds, “Will I like them?” While there are many qualities of good dialogue – including realism, essentialized brevity, individualized voices, irony, and wit – implication is one ..read more

Find a Producer as a Screenwriter After you have written your screenplay the only next step is to get your film made. In that next step there are actually quite a few more steps. For the many screenwriters who do not have an agent or manager, the next step you should take is to find a producer. A producer is at the top of the chain of command when it comes to making a film. They help find the money, all the talent, and are the ones who sign all the agreements and contracts. If you are just starting ..read more

Create Characters Who Are Believable Individuals “All your characters sound the same!” Ever had that note from a producer, exec, writer, or script consultant? Yikes if you have! It’s damning. And it hurts. It means your script is not yet pro or produceable. But this is not the time to feel stupid or to cry. Truth is truth. See this damning script note as good news. You have learned what is holding back your story and storytelling. The question now is: How can this problem be fixed ..read more

Items All Writers Want in a When a screenwriter's work gets the interest of a producer, it's the beginning of a potential journey to the big screen. The screenplay option agreement is the document that can carry this dream forward. While these agreements can vary widely, there are five critical items that all writers should look for to ensure their interests are protected and their work is valued ..read more

When you are writing your screenplay, most of the time you are not thinking about what it would cost to make what’s written on paper into a full film. That is okay, your first step as a screenwriter should be to only write a great screenplay. After you have written that first draft, before you dive into polishing the script for its second draft, you should also take the time to understand what it ..read more

In your career as a screenwriter you may think that just being a good to really great writer is all that you need. Of course you know you need to make connections or find an agent or maybe even a producer. Something that is often overlooked is how you are perceived by other people. Usually that comes from two questions: “Do I trust this person?” “Is this person credible ..read more