Category: Writing

How Screenwriters Can Survive the Recession

While times are tough for everyone, the creative industries have been hit particularly hard. With fewer opportunities and more people going for them, pitching your scripts can often feel like an uphill struggle… if you get to pitch them at…

What’s In a Title?

20th Century Fox recently revealed the title to the 5th film in the Die Hard series: A Good Day to Die Hard.  It’s always good to see a sequel that doesn’t go for the easy way out and just slap…

Character Is Plot

It’s been said that character is plot.  What does that mean?  Simply put, the choices the lead character makes drives the direction the story takes.  In movies with weak plots, stuff happens and characters do things, but the two aren’t…

Plots Are Conflict Resolutions

People thrive on conflict.  There’s a reason why shows such as Jersey Shore and Real Housewives of (Name Your City) are so popular–they’re all about conflict.  Feature films are no different.  They need a strong central conflict that drives the…

Writing romance – the guidelines

Romance Writers of America, an organization for romance writers, notes that every romance should contain two basic elements, “a central love story and an emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending.” So whether you are writing a  novel or a screenplay, there are a few…

Write About Real Life Instead of Movie Cliches

Nobody likes to see clichéd plots in movies.  After all, everybody and his brother has pointed out the tried and tired plot that Avatar used, which was similar to a slew of movies like Pocahontas, Dances with Wolves, and Fern…

Plot Is Determined by Setting

The plot of any story is driven by the choices its protagonist makes.  However, the other major factor that affects the plot is the setting–the time and location the story takes place.  Not much thought is given to setting of…

How Important Is Theme?

When asked, “What’s Moby Dick about?” you can answer in two ways:  1) it’s about an old sea-captain searching for the whale that took his leg years ago; 2) it’s about how obsession can destroy you.  The first answer refers…

Basics of Screenplay Format

  This may be obvious, but the purpose of screenwriting is to end up with a motion picture.  This basic yet essential fact is why the screenplay format is so important.  Much like plays require a format agreed upon by…

Netflix produces first original series

April 5, 2012 – Netflix  announces its first original series,  LilyHammer. The show, which rolled out its first eight episodes in February 2012, stars Steve Van Zandt as ex-gangster Frank Tagliano, an ex-mafia boss in the witness protection program who asks to be sent…