Script coverage: an introduction. You’ve finally written the words “fade out” on your script, but how do you know if it's good enough to send out into the industry? The tried and trusted way is to first get feedback in the form of "script coverage" on your story. This article, therefore, is a comprehensive, no […]
Script Development 101: Option Agreements, Development Deals & More. Confused about the script development process once a script starts to gain some "heat" from the industry? Baffled by option agreements? Not sure what a spec development deal is? In this post we cover the essentials every aspiring screenwriter MUST know about the business side of […]
How to write a flashback in a script. Wanna know how to write a flashback in a script the right way? Great, because some of the most memorable moments in cinema history have been flashbacks. From Alvy’s iconic “seems like old times” montage at the end of Annie Hall, to Cheryl’s painful memories of her […]
How to write a montage in a script: a quick and dirty guide. We’ve seen them in countless movies and TV shows, but knowing how to write a montage in a script is another matter altogether. • Just what is a montage exactly? • How should you format a montage in a screenplay? • How […]
20 best drama script examples to download and read for free. Writing a drama script is a great way to showcase your character development skills—and, notoriously, practically all Oscar and Nicholl contest winners are drama screenplays. But in order to reach that level, it’s super important to read as many drama scripts as you can. With […]
How to write a script for a short film: a 9-step guide. Ever considered writing a short film as a way into Hollywood? As a screenwriter, you might think that your only ticket to a career is by writing a low to mid-budget spec or a studio blockbuster. But in reality, an immediate (and practical) […]
The 6 key character archetypes needed to nail the perfect cast list. You’ve probably heard that you should develop a movie script’s characters using a seemingly endless array of “character archetypes,” such as the “outlaw,” “fool” or “shapeshifter.” Character archetypes in movies have been popularized in books like 45 Master Characters by Victoria Schmidt. The […]
How to write a believable police investigation scene in your script. Thankfully, screenwriting isn’t just about “writing what you know.” It’s obviously also about creating and recreating worlds that you might have zero experience of. So let’s say you want to write a script that involves a crime scene or police investigation scene... But you’ve never […]
Save the Cat Beat Sheet vs. Screenplay Sequences. Just how useful is a Save the Cat beat sheet (also known as the “Blake Snyder beat sheet”) to the budding writer? Is it the go-to template that anyone can plug their story in to and get amazing results? Or is it a screenwriting-by-numbers method that’s not […]
How to write a fight scene in a script. Writing fight scenes can be tricky for many screenwriters. How exactly do you lay out a fight scene on the page? Do you describe every blow and gunshot? Or do you leave most of it to the director? And if so, how much? We’ll be answering […]
