by Shant Yegparian (@shantyegparian) Ever since George Romero's classic zombie films such as Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, Spielberg's Jaws, and even Hollywood's golden age with multiple tales of Nosferatu, we've seen filmmakers pull inspiration from these classics. What's great about monster films is that audiences already know the legends... Continue Reading →
The Guide Character: Creating Someone to Lead Your Protagonist
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Characters most effectively develop as a result of interacting with other characters. A standard trope in storytelling is that our protagonist will not figure out solutions to their conflicts on their own. They need experiences that will teach them what works and what doesn’t. They need training that will prepare them for... Continue Reading →
Ken’s Top 10: Tips for Aspiring Screenwriters
by Ken Aguado (@kaguado) Sorry, this article is not about screenwriting. Well, some of it is, but it’s really about familiarizing yourself with some well-known tips about how to become a screenwriter. Talent is only one component of the process. Thomas Edison formulated that success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. This article is about that... 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 →
Ask the Tough Questions, Write Better Screenplays
by Aaron Mendelsohn (@amendelsohn) I don’t love the story-breaking process. It’s like putting on sunscreen when all I really want to do is get outside and play with my kids. It’s like doing push-ups before breakfast. I whine about it, I put it off, I dread it every time. And every time, I’m really, really... 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 →
12 Words to Leave Out of Period Screenplays
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Etymology is the study of the history of words. It’s something surprisingly few writers know much about, considering that words are all we actually have to work with. However, knowing where a word originated and the era it came out of can be of much use in telling truthful stories. If you... Continue Reading →
5 Ways to Use Robots in Your Story
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Scientists and Futurists continue to debate the role that artificial intelligence will play in our future. Will we see technologically-crafted beings that are indistinguishable from humans? Will they eventually overcome us and force us into their servitude? Storytelling on the screen has long been concerned with the relationship between humankind and our... Continue Reading →