Omar Epps as John Laine in the sci-fi film, “3022,” a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films. by Carrie Harris (@carrharr) Recently, I had the opportunity to talk to director John Suits about his film, 3022, which stars Omar Epps, Kate Walsh, Miranda Cosgrove, Angus MacFayden, and Jorja Fox. The film was written... Continue Reading →
6 Story Lessons from AVENGERS: ENDGAME
This article was originally posted on Medium. It is reprinted here by the author with permission. by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) I have to begin with a confession — I’m not a Marvel person. I don’t get super hyped about these movies. In all honesty, I haven’t even seen all of them (I skipped both Ant-Mans and Doctor... Continue Reading →
3 Burdens that Characters Must Bear
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 →
4 Ways to Approach Desire in Your Main Character
Minor spoilers ahead for Bad Times at the El Royale and First Man. by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) One of the most compelling ways to move your protagonist through every scene in your story is to keep his or her desires just below the surface in the subtext. Cluing the audience in to what the character really wants in each... Continue Reading →
Announcing LA Screenwriter’s First Online Course - ON CHARACTER
We are thrilled to announce our very first online course, On Character, presented by John Bucher and Jeremy Casper. Hopefully many of you already know John as your favorite story guru -- he shares insights on LA Screenwriter every Wednesday. What you may not know is that John also teaches writing and filmmaking with his... Continue Reading →
5 Exercises for Developing the Psychology of a Character
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 →
Why Empire Strikes Back is Remembered - And Infinity War Will Be Forgotten
by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) (Minor spoilers ahead.) I finally got the chance to see Avengers: Infinity War on Mother’s Day – it was part of my gift from my husband. Go see a movie while I watch the baby. (If you’re a parent, you get what an amazing gift that is.) When I got home... Continue Reading →
The Faustian Bargain: 5 Deals Your Character Might Make
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) In the classic story by Goethe, the character Faust makes a deal with the devil, exchanging his soul for knowledge. The idea of a Faustian Bargain -- sometimes called a Faustian Pact -- has long been a trope of storytelling, where the willingness to abandon one’s principles or eternal value for worldly... Continue Reading →
Breaking Down an Unexpected Protagonist in AN ORDINARY MAN
by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) Brad Silberling has had an enviable career as a writer, director, and producer. His directing credits range from Casper to City of Angels to A Series of Unfortunate Events to Jane the Virgin. His writing credits include the beloved 10 Items or Less with Morgan Freeman and now An Ordinary Man starring... Continue Reading →
Lessons from the Screenplay: Fresh Perspectives in GET OUT
Michael Tucker is the mastermind behind Lessons from the Screenplay, a YouTube channel where he breaks down story and character lessons from great screenplays. Michael has kindly allowed us to repost his awesome videos, so we're going to share one of our favorites today: Get Out -- A New Perspective in Horror. Check out the... Continue Reading →