Comedy vs Humor. Is There A Difference?

The terms comedy and humor are often used interchangeably in screenwriting. Is there a difference between the two? Actually, there is. And screenwriters should know them. COMEDY Comedy is the premeditated act designed to cause an audience to laugh. Comedy relies on jokes, visual gags, and physical acts to amuse and entertain an audience. It…

20 Emotions Found In Horror Films

Horror movies continue to be a staple on cinema screens and television on-demand queues. Audiences can’t seem to get enough of these films. So screenwriters continue to write them. Horror films must still follow the tropes of good screenplays in order to be successful. They need to take the audience on an emotional journey. By…

Note To Screenwriters: Audience Lives Matter

Screenwriters write both to express themselves and to emotionally stimulate an audience. Even if you write a screenplay that you never intend to show anyone, you still have an audience of one.  Audience matters. They need to feel something to continue watching. It’s vital to know your audience. Talk down to them and they’ll dismiss…

Visualize Your Scene Description To Hook Your Screenplay Reader

The scene descriptions in your screenwriting have a tricky, sometimes tumultuous, relationship with script readers. How so, you ask? Some script readers scan through screenplay scene description to speed up their reading process. I’ve spoken to studio level readers who read scene titles and dialogue. This approach tells them the story and gives them an…

Smart Dumb Comedy – It’s A Thing!

What the heck is this sub-genre of comedy films that are cropping up on our screens? Well, filmmakers aren’t being rude. They just want audiences to know that screenwriters toiled over their keyboards to write “dumb” gags. They are purposefully farcical and deserve more respect than dumb comedies which are poorly developed and badly written….

Are Story & Plot The Same Thing?

No sir. For starters one begins with an ‘s’ and the other with a ‘p’. Story has five letters and plot has four. Enough frivolities. Your screenplay is a delicate, finely-tuned literary instrument. Screenwriters must be well aware of these two terms to ensure the integrity of their screenwriting. Although both terms are inextricably linked,…

5 Crowdfunding Film Tips for Screenwriters

The traditional goal for a screenwriter was to get your screenplay optioned or sold. Then it was updated to becoming a produced screenwriter. Even more recently, the mantra is that screenwriters should produce their own films. That’s it, folks. We are now bona fide film producers. We must learn how to fund a film. Raising funds…

6 Simple (& Super Effective) Ways To Stop All The Characters In Your Screenplay Sounding The Same

One issue screenwriters commonly face is writing a distinct voice for each character.  Every character sounds the same in the first draft of many screenplays. Let’s take a look at dialogue and see how voice can be tailored to each character. But first, let’s define our terms. Dialogue is simply the words that are spoken. Voice is how…

How Can Screenwriters Get Their Films Financed (and Profitable?)

The film making and film distribution world has changed dramatically. Gone are the days when screenwriters could easily sell their screenplays to Hollywood producers for a million bucks. The modern sobering reality is that screenwriters must now play some role in getting their movies produced. They need to become bona fide movie producers. After you’ve dazzled…

The Art Of Writing Better Scene Description To Really Rock Your Screenwriting

Film making is a visual medium. Screenwriters are always told that less dialogue is more. Does this axiom also apply to scene description too? Well… kinda sorta… Dialog constitutes the primary colors of your film or TV script. The scene description is the shading. It is more than simply describing physical action. It needs to…

9 Reasons Bad Movies Get Produced

Let’s get one thing clear. Nobody sets out to make a bad movie. Not knowingly at least. Here are some things that could go wrong in the filmmaking process: 1) VANITY PROJECT The filmmaker wanted to showcase their talents; or lack thereof. They have a crew, resources, investment, locations etc. but nothing that is story…

What Are The Qualities Of Superheroes In Movies?

Superheroes are the subject of many of the highest grossing films on a global scale. They resonate so powerfully with movie audiences because they may be considered a metaphor for god. Screenwriters can powerfully exploit this. They linger in the background of human consciousness and only unfurl their wrath in extreme circumstances. Regardless of their actions, they…