Minor spoilers for Widows, Boy Erased, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Front Runner, First Man, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, and Creed II. by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Fleshing out characters can be a complex and tedious task. Deciding what details open up the character for the audience and what's simply minutiae takes maturity that usually only comes with practice... Continue Reading →
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Certain archetypal characters seem to appear again and again throughout storytelling history. Many early narratives told tales of youngsters without one or both parents. From Moses to Little Orphan Annie, orphans have served as heroines and heroes in countless stories, even when the plot does not specifically revolve around their abandonment. There’s... Continue Reading →
The following is an excerpt from Erik Bork's new book, The Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Idea for Screen, Stage or Fiction. by Erik Bork (@flyingwrestler) I have come to believe that 60 percent or more of what makes a film or TV project potentially successful (or not) is the core idea that could... Continue Reading →
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) There are a number of ways that a writer can begin crafting a story. Many begin with a character – the protagonist. Others begin with a concept. While there is not one “right” way to begin constructing a story, there are many ways to help jump-start the process. One method is to... Continue Reading →
Minor spoilers ahead for Bridesmaids, Peppermint, Brokeback Mountain, and Sierra Burgess is a Loser. by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Last week, we looked at principles of story setups and payoffs. We examined how these elements can drive the narrative journey in your script and thus the emotional voyage of the audience. This week, we will concentrate on... Continue Reading →
Minor spoilers ahead for Cray Rich Asians, Coco, and Operation Finale. by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) One of the most vital yet least discussed aspects of effective storytelling is the ability to execute potent setups and payoffs. While it may seem like common sense, the demonstration of this skill is often the factor that separates amateur scripts... Continue Reading →
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) The way that a protagonist moves through the world should be filled with challenges and tests of the ego. There is perhaps no better way to accomplish this than by thoughtfully creating differences in power between your character and the others she interacts with. Because there are so many types of power... Continue Reading →
by Ken Aguado (@kaguado) There’s an entire universe of media that’s sometimes overlooked by aspiring screenwriters: writing for documentary films and non-fiction television programming. We’re living in the golden age of documentaries, and there’s never been more opportunity. Every year there are dozens of terrific documentaries released and hundreds of hours of non-fiction television programming –... Continue Reading →
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) When we create characters, we make choices about who those characters are. Though we may never use the exact term, what we are really doing is creating the psychology of those characters. In other words, we are painting a picture of how their mind works and how that affects their behavior. It’s... Continue Reading →
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Film auteurs have come along less frequently since their heyday in the 1970s. However, a few storytellers have managed to remain relevant, all while writing and directing their own material, throughout the decades. Spike Lee first addressed racism and the struggles of black culture in his third feature film, Do the Right Thing.... Continue Reading →
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