by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) What causes an audience to care? Many writers have a difficult time being honest about whatโs really at risk in their stories. But it is risk that audiences truly care about. When the stakes in a story are too low, people become unsympathetic to the protagonist on the journey. External goals should... Continue Reading →
Impossible Goals, Impossible Obstacles
Editors Note: This article was originally posted on the ScriptFest Blog. It is reproduced here with permission. By Signe Olynyk (@Screenwriter12) CAUTION โ SPOILERS AHEAD (For the movies Life of Pi, Blackhawk Down, Despicable Me, and Wild) Adrift in a raft with a hungry tiger. Surviving in a downed helicopter in the middle of a... Continue Reading →
Quote of the Day: Robert Downey Jr.
The higher the stakes, the happier I am, the better I will be.
Quote of the Day: Steven Seagal
It doesn't work if the bad guys kill his mother's uncle's friend's neighbor's pet dog. You've got to make the stakes high.