Screen Writing

There are many opinions on the countless ways to breathe life into screenplay heroes, but a character cannot be compelling on the page or the screen without these five elements. It's the writer's...

When you read great dialogue, it should pop off the page at you. And when a scene is performed, great dialogue should make the scene pop, too. Movie script dialogue should not only add suspense,...

Movie scripts conform to a strict industry standard. This article will outline how to format your script professionally. Click on the pictures for examples!

Retcon stands for "Retroactive Continuity." It's a writing device used to change or undo previously established mythology. It's most commonly found in long running franchises where...

Some of the most memorable and ground-breaking moments in television have been the result of a mini-series. Roots continues to impress and inspire. Angels in America shed light on the heartbreak...

A script is an outline of a story. It is written in a dialogue form, and the narration is very descriptive so that when you read it, you can visualize each scene and follow the story and plot.

The format requirements of screenplays have destroyed more than one great idea. Many writers think a screenplay is easier to write than other types of literature because scripts are shorter than...

They say the bulk of writing is rewriting, and while heavy rewrites will surely make your script better, they will probably leave you with sticky continuity problems, too. All the cutting and...

Science fiction movies are constantly earning money at the box office and some of the top grossing movies of all time have had science fiction themes, like the two Star War trilogies. CGI has made...

Screenwriting is a competitive field, and you're working hard to make your script the best it can be. How do you push that screenplay to be the very best you can make it? Well, one way is to...

If you are trying to sell a screenplay, you will often be asked to submit a "one-sheet" or one page treatment. This is a description of the story that fits on one page, along with title...

Writing a screenplay can be a very daunting task, but if you're prepared, your ideas should tell a story. Organize your thoughts and ideas into a manner which will make it easier to put the ideas...

I work in the Industry and read tons of bad and the rare good script. So often people get tied up in overly clever dialogue, characters etc. and lose sight of the most important aspect of any...

Most stories have easily defined beginnings, middles and ends, but in the screenwriting world, this is known as the three-act structure. The three-act structure is easy to understand, but...

So you've got a story in mind for a TV script, but you want to make sure it gets read. Most studio executives, agents, development executives and producers have enormous stacks of scripts to read...

A short movie script is easier to write and make than a feature movie script. It can showcase your talent and create opportunities for more work. Here are some basic steps to get you started.

The inciting incident in a screenplay, also known as the catalyst, explodes into the main character's world and propels her in a new direction. Whatever situation the protagonist is in when the...

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of movies based on comic books. Though it wasn't the first movie in the genre, when Bryan Singer's "X-Men" was a a surprising...

Dealing with clichés is among the most intuitive parts of a screenplay writing process. As a writer, you have to know when you're approaching the trite and tired, and detour around as best you...

In my capacity as a professional script consultant, I often read dialogue that would work just fine in a print medium and yet which sounds stilted, rambling, contrived and much too cumbersome if...

Ever wonder how the genius' at Disney write those amazingly good movies? Well they follow a How To Guide similar to this one.

If you are writing a character script, it isn't about the plot that you are developing. It is really about the characters who move through with the plot, as well as their failures and heroic...

Everyone seems to have an idea they think would make a perfect movie. The problem is not everyone knows how to write a screenplay. However in this day and age with the help of some wonderful...

Henry James wrote, "You must be willing to kill all your precious darlings." During the editing process, a writer must make some brutal decisions. A feature length screenplay is traditionally 120...

No matter how good your story is, if the dialogue is stilted your TV script won't make it to first base. It's the first way a studio or story editor will assess how well you can write. But if you...

If you're a writer, then you know it's hard enough not to write a love story in some shape or form, let alone trying to keep your past out of the story. Most everyone who is single has somebody...

Whether you're an actor, director, producer, writer, stage hand or just a theater and film junky, you often have to read scripts quickly while also retaining the information. Sometimes it can be...

You live a normal, ordinary life but no one knows your imagination is running a mile a minute. You're a movie buff but more than that. You wish you could put your story ideas on paper and have...

Character Slugs refer to the names of characters that appear on top of the dialogue that particular character says. Formatting them properly can determine whether or not your script gets...

For first-time screenwriters, writing that script that will send your career to the top can be difficult. One of the most difficult things is to decide what type of script you should writer;...

There are thousands upon thousands of screenplays out there and yet only a small percentage of them actually turn into successful, or produced, films. Following this tutorial will get you on the...

Being a professional screenwriter, something I find when reading a plethora of scripts are undeveloped characters. The characters are funny or dramatic, but never grow or digress. Follow these...

Writing a screenplay from a novel can be like trying to fit 10 gallons of water into a 5-gallon container. Screenplays are generally around 120 pages, a novel between 300 to 500 pages or more....

While the most important step in selling your screenplay is, first and foremost, writing a great screenplay, a key component to getting your script noticed in Hollywood is crafting a memorable,...