by Greg DePaul (@GregDePaul) If you’re channel-surfing on a Tuesday night and briefly land on This is Us [pilot script], you might think you’ve stumbled on an episode of Parenthood. After all, This Is Us also airs on NBC, also gives us a saccharine look at American family life, and also uses the adoption (more or... Continue Reading →
Script Check List: 5 Things Your Story Should Have
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) There are certainly no formulas to writing a good script. None that work anyway. There are, however, forms. Good music uses chords that resonate together. Painting uses color systems that work in unity or intentional disunity. Photography uses composition techniques to most effectively draw the eye through the story of the image.... Continue Reading →
Finding Your Flock: An Interview with the STORKS Writer/Director and Cast
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Nick Stoller might have the most range of any writer in Hollywood. He is able to seamlessly move from writing lewd romps like Get Him to the Greek and Sex Tape to the friendliest family affair like The Muppets. Having launched his career by directing Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Stoller has established himself... Continue Reading →
4 Ways to Tackle the Third Act of Your Screenplay
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) A great deal of ink has been spilled about endings – in life, in all things we begin, and certainly in writing. Most of us are interested in finishing well. But how does one accomplish such a thing in storytelling? An entire volume could be written about the connection between a good... Continue Reading →
Rewriting Your Script Like a Pro: The 3 Step Guide
by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) Rewriting your script is always a daunting process. Getting to the end of the first draft is hard enough. Now you're supposed to go back through it and pick apart all of the beautiful work you just did? The very idea of starting a rewrite can be heartbreaking. And then there's the... Continue Reading →
Monster’s Ball Script
The Monster's Ball script was written by Milo Addica & Will Rokos. It was nominated for an Academy Award.
Best Bang for Your Buck: WeScreenplay’s 72-Hour Coverage
by Angela Bourassa There are A LOT of people out there who offer coverage to screenwriters. Coverage, for the uninitiated, is the industry term for a written assessment of a screenplay. In the studio setting, it usually includes a brief overview of the plot, the reader’s thoughts on whether or not the script has potential, and... Continue Reading →
How to Look Like a Screenwriter
by Fin Wheeler Screenwriters are a deeply superficial bunch. We spend every writing hour trying to find new ways to show, not tell, our protagonist’s flaws, strengths, and character. Despite this, we often overlook the importance of our own physical appearance. Research has shown that in the average white collar work place, those who are... Continue Reading →
Ken’s Top 10: Tips for Choosing a Script Concept
by Ken Aguado (@kaguado) “What should I write?” It’s the first question every writer asks themselves before they embark on a new project. Very often the answer to this question starts with a flash of inspiration that leads to a story the writer “just has to tell.” And while I would never want to be the... Continue Reading →
5 Basic Formatting Errors that Kill Script Readers
[Editor's note: This guest post was written by Lee Hamilton of the Shore Scripts Screenwriting Competition. Learn more about the competition at the end of the article.] by Lee Hamilton When writers submit scripts to production companies or directors, the first hurdle they must face is getting past the reader. Maximize your chances by... Continue Reading →