Parks and Recreation is one of my favorite comfort shows. It's something I can put on to brighten my mood, and it never fails. On his YouTube channel Behind the Curtain, N.T. Jordan, pulled together some of the best interview clips of co-creator Michael Schur (also the creator of The Good Place) and others discussing... Continue Reading →
How to Get the Rights to Adapt Your Favorite Book, Song, or Anything Else: The Complete Guide
Our good friend Ken Aguado has put together a handy new guide for screenwriters who have their sights set on adaptation but have no idea how to actually go about acquiring the rights to their favorite IP. Based On: A Non-Lawyer’s Guide to Acquiring Film and Televisions Rights from Everywhere, is available on Smashwords for... Continue Reading →
Producing Your Own Script for Novices
Today's guest post is written by Vanessa Frank, the presenter of Film Funding from A-Z, an on-demand course which teaches film finance to independent filmmakers. by Vanessa Frank Hollywood is full of anecdotes about screenwriters who got their big break after putting their script into production themselves. Whether you’re fed up over dealing with apathetic prospective producers... Continue Reading →
Writers: Treat Your Career Like a Startup
Today's guest post comes to us from Lisa Ebersole, the creator of 37 PROBLEMS. Lisa coaches professional screenwriters to write scripts that sell by identifying their authentic lens. Learn more at lisaebersole.net by Lisa Ebersole (@lisaebersole) My first job out of school was at a tech startup. I was employee #3 and my duties included... Continue Reading →
7 Elements of a Viable Story Idea
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 →
5 Reasons Why Live Reads Matter
This article originally appeared on Write/LA. It is reprinted here with permission. by Tim Schildberger (@LiveReadLA) Live reads are an incredibly important part of the writing process – and an incredibly underused resource. Let’s be clear – hearing a robot voice on your screenwriting software is not an effective live read. Getting your spouse, your cousin, and... Continue Reading →
10 Steps to a Compelling Logline
by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) Loglines suck. Even for optioned writers, writing a compelling logline can be a daunting challenge. I know this because I’ve personally given written feedback on over 1,400 loglines, and in that group, I came across maybe ten that were flawlessly written. Of course, “flawless” is a matter of opinion, but in... Continue Reading →
A QUIET PLACE: 6 Story Lessons that Apply to Every Genre
This article originally appeared on Medium. It is reprinted here with permission. by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) Fair warning: there are spoilers ahead. I never go see horror movies. Never. I wait until they’re available to buy or stream, and then — only if I’m incredibly intrigued by the concept — will I watch a horror movie in the middle of the afternoon... Continue Reading →
How to Get an Agent - Part One
by Douglas Eboch (@dougeboch) & Ken Aguado (@kaguado) As established members of the entertainment community, we are frequently asked to speak to aspiring filmmakers. And with the success of our book, The Hollywood Pitching Bible, the number of speaking invitations has greatly increased. We are now regularly invited to speak at numerous entertainment industry events, festivals,... Continue Reading →
3 Cautionary Steps When Killing Your Protagonist
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) WARNING: DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS SUBJECT, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS There are several films in theaters right now where the protagonist dies before the story concludes. This can be a risky move for a writer to execute. It can make for a powerful moment of catharsis in the audience but... Continue Reading →