advice

Articles
February 8, 2017 0 Comments

The Opening Scene is the Hero Your Screenplay Deserves

by Tim Long (@ScreenplayStory) In the competitive world of screenwriting, where industry readers judge your script in the first few pages, openings are a vital part of a successful screenplay and film. Not only are they important first impressions of your writing ability, they also serve a variety of narrative

Articles
January 25, 2017 0 Comments

3 Cures for the Third Act Blues

by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) I’ve lost count of the number of writers I’ve consulted with who got stuck after the second act of their script and never finished it. At first glance, this may seem surprising to those who couldn’t imagine stopping after getting through the drudges of the lengthy second

Articles
December 14, 2016 0 Comments

3 Lessons Writers Can Learn From Musicals

by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) There was a time in Hollywood when musicals ruled the box office. We still are occasionally treated to the art form when a Broadway hit comes to the screen. This year, however, we have the opportunity to see a musical in theaters that was not based on

Articles
November 30, 2016 0 Comments

4 Changes You Can Make to Reboot Your Story

by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) The end of the year is quickly approaching and more than one writer made a goal to complete that story idea that has been sitting on their desktop since January. Sometimes, stories need a significant shift in approach in order to relight the spark that gave them

Articles
November 16, 2016 0 Comments

Meaning Makers: 4 Symbols That Can Strengthen Your Story

by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Good stories are like puzzles that the audience gets to put together both individually and collectively. Some pieces require a bit more searching when looking for where they fit into the whole. These pieces often offer the biggest emotional rewards for the audience as well. Taking a

Articles
November 4, 2016 0 Comments

Five-and-a-Half Ways to Become A Great Screenwriter

by Greg DePaul (@GregDePaul) 1. Read Every Book on Screenwriting. I’m gonna win your respect by not even pushing you to buy my book, which is prominently featured below this article. But you really should read every book on screenwriting ever written. Books by writers who’ve sold scripts and had

Articles
October 12, 2016 0 Comments

7 Story Lessons from the Films of A24

by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) A24 might not be a household name in the tradition of Warner Bros or Paramount Pictures. However, few companies have brought as much high quality storytelling to the screen as consistently as they have over the past few years. When sophisticated movie goers see their logo before

Articles
September 28, 2016 1 Comment

The Guide Character: Creating Someone to Lead Your Protagonist

by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Characters most effectively develop as a result of interacting with other characters. A standard trope in storytelling is that our protagonist will not figure out solutions to their conflicts on their own. They need experiences that will teach them what works and what doesn’t. They need training

Articles
September 27, 2016 0 Comments

Ken’s Top 10: Tips for Aspiring Screenwriters

by Ken Aguado (@kaguado) Sorry, this article is not about screenwriting. Well, some of it is, but it’s really about familiarizing yourself with some well-known tips about how to become a screenwriter. Talent is only one component of the process. Thomas Edison formulated that success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.