by Ken Aguado (@kaguado) Networking – it’s a mystery. Or at least it seems to be, based on the number of times I’m asked about the topic. This might be a reflection of how impenetrable the process seems to the uninitiated, or it might just be a proxy for how hard it is to break into... Continue Reading →
10 Tips for Taking a Hollywood Meeting
by Ken Aguado (@kaguado) & Douglas Eboch (@dougeboch) Taking a meeting in Hollywood can be intimidating, especially if you are new to the business. Like any business, Hollywood has it’s own customs and rituals when it comes to meetings. Here are ten tips to find success in the all-important art of the meeting. 1.... Continue Reading →
Strength in Weakness: 5 Flaws that Actually Make Characters Better
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) When we create characters, we’re often looking to add qualities that make them strong or interesting. However, asking where your character is weak can be an even greater way to make a protagonist compelling. A character’s weakness should cloud their better judgment. It should cause them to take actions they might not... Continue Reading →
Show Me The Magic! 3 Principles For Giving Your Characters Powers
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) In Save the Cat, Blake Snyder refers to a genre of films he dubbed “genie in a bottle” stories. These are films where the protagonist is endowed with some special gift or ability that they believe will solve all their problems. Of course, in the end the magic usually backfires on the... Continue Reading →
5 Personality Traits To Make Your Hero More Compelling
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Characters are compelling for the same reasons we are. When we have qualities, talents, and abilities that distinguish who we are from those around us, people tend to find us interesting. Giving your characters unique abilities or superpowers is certainly one way to capture the attention of the audience. However, most times... Continue Reading →
5 Tips to Start You on the Screenwriting Road to Oscar
by Steph Greegor (@stephgreegor) So, you’ve finally made the decision to jump right in and write your first screenplay. I mean, hey, if Hollywood can produce Gigli, surely you’ve got a shot, right? But, before you sit at your desk and write the next Hurt Locker, you’ve got these five things to do—they’ll help save... Continue Reading →
9 Networking Tips for Introverts
by Angela Bourassa At the recent ScriptFest in Burbank, I had the pleasure of attending Jessica Sitomer's free class on Networking for Introverts. When you get a large group of screenwriters together, a vast majority of them are likely to be introverts, and many of us flocked to Jessica's talk to learn everything we could... Continue Reading →
How NOT to Write a Character Description
Character descriptions are hard. I've read all sorts of articles on character descriptions, and I've yet to find anyone who's got a finger on what should be included in a solid character description. Ultimately your description should be compelling and memorable, and there's no simple trick for achieving that. As you struggle over the problem... Continue Reading →
5 Ways to Defend Your Writing Time
Defending writing time is a challenge that every writer faces. Family, friends, work responsibilities, and miscellaneous crap all seem to take over every spare second that you have. How can you possibly make enough time to write the next great American film? The first trick is figuring out when you write best. Do you like... Continue Reading →
Ask LA Screenwriter: Getting Read Without Going Broke
Today's question comes from Maria: What should I do if I want someone to read my script? The problem is that I don't have enough money to enter contests or go to festivals. Btw: I don't live in LA. This is a big challenge faced by people trying to break into the screenwriting world, including... Continue Reading →