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…
Tag: Hollywood
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…
Choosing Your Next Screenplay
Scriptwriters should always be working on multiple screenwriting ideas. Hopefully not all at once. You’d be amazed at how you can come up with story ideas for one screenplay while working on another. This is the beauty of being a screenwriter. Having many projects in development. At some point we need to decide which screenplay…
The Golden Rules Of Cracking The Hollywood Nut
Words of wisdom from BOSI. 1) Be prepared to meet always-questioning, confused investors/executives. Many times folks with lots of loot, power, and influence aren’t the most creative people. So help them get inside your brain. Put together storyboards, have drawings, play music, do a puppet show, anything. Well, maybe not a puppet show. 2) Be…
The 10 Screenwriting Sales Commandments
From the Gospel of Marvin Acuna. 1) THOU SHALT SMILE AND BE PASSIONATE Sales is a transference of energy. So if you are passionate and believe in your material, then your passion will be contagious. But if your pitch is a snoozer, then don’t expect Hollywood Professionals to embrace your material. And remember to smile. 2) THOU SHALT…
Building Your Screenwriting Career
Lee Jessup, career strategist, discusses ways to break into the industry. Spoiler alert! It’s going to take time and it won’t be easy. But you already knew that. Making it as a screenwriter is possible – but it’s not going to be easy. People ask me why I remain optimistic about a writer’s ability to…
Introduce Your TV Pilot With A Dilemma
TV script consultant, Jen Grisanti discusses how to approach writing a TV pilot. A hot trend in story structure is having the series dilemma link to the pilot dilemma. When done correctly, you set up both a closed-ended arc and an ongoing serialized arc for your story. A dilemma is defined as being forced to…
What Kind Of Spec Script Should You Write To Break Into The Film Industry?
Breaking into the film and TV industry is hard. There is no single way of doing it. It isn’t like other professions where you earn a qualification, start at the bottom and work your way to the top. There is no ladder or easily definable career path for screenwriters. It is a career lattice defined…
Personal Aspects Of Pitching
Jacob Krueger, writer for Script Magazine discuss the planning and purpose of pitch meetings, rather than actual mechanics. 1) TARGET THE RIGHT PRODUCERS It’s astounding how many writers disregard this vital principal. In fact, Hollywood is clogged with half-baked pitches, flung haphazardly and repeatedly at any producer willing to listen, without any thought about what…
Why Can’t I Sell My Screenplay?
Staton Robin from Script Magazine discusses some common conceptions and misconceptions writers have about selling their screenplays. Yes, the industry’s tough. All you can do is be aware of the industry and improve your craft. Persistent complaining has never resulted in a sales. Executives don’t write checks after you’ve worn them down. The good news…
Creating Empathy And Sympathy For Your Characters
Empathy and sympathy are related emotional concepts crucial to engaging screenwriting. They’re designed to create an emotional response in your audiences to make them care about the characters in your screenplay. Caring doesn’t always mean the audience wants the characters to achieve their goals, but rather the characters being interesting enough to engage with them. When screenwriters create an initial emotional bond,…
The 3 Basics Of Horror Films
Horror movies are considered the easiest and cheapest way to break into a seemingly impenetrable business. Stars are generally not required and they are easier films to produce and distribute. Over half of the top 20 most profitable films of all time are horror movies. Paranormal Activity posted a return of over 6500% on its…
Gideon's Screenwriting Tips: Now You're a Screenwriter 