
Top screenwriting and film publication since 1989
Screenplays
Your opening pages send all sorts of messages that transcend the actual story you are telling. They are your introduction, your initial handshake, your non-verbal communication that you are a writer to be taken seriously.
Nikki Toscano discusses the adaptation and seamless collaborative process with author and co-creator Liz Moore, why she was drawn to lead character Mickey’s voice and her unreliable narration, the importance of balancing character drama and the murder mystery, ensuring each twist served a larger narrative purpose. And the importance of portraying the Kensington community authentically, involving local advisors and casting.
Television
Michelle Nader discusses her current projects, including the multi-camera show ‘Shifting Gears’ and a new series, ‘Deli Boys’, which she found compelling due to its novelistic script and universal themes. Additionally, she talks about her background in comedy, highlights the challenges of sitcoms, describes them as akin to poetry in their rhythm and difficulty, and so much more.
Jon Watts and Christopher Ford talk about the process and the finer points of writing such a high concept show in a galaxy far far away.
Meet our contributors
Career
What if you have 40 Thieves robbing passengers on an express train or a teacher with 40 Students or an office with 40 Executives? How to create distinctive minor character roles. From Weapons For Weirdos to “Warriors” Theory to creating “spear carrier” characters who don’t feel like a number.
Do you want to get to know a storyteller? Have a look at their work. It reflects their inner landscape and reveals how they experience life—sometimes in very concealed ways. Author, screenwriter, filmmaker, and creative coach Mario O. Moreno shares his journey navigating the industry, and getting back to the essence of storytelling.
Interviews
Paul William Davies gives insight to his writing process and tackling the challenges of mystery writing for his new show ‘The Residence’.
Mark Anthony Green discusses his approach to filmmaking, focusing on thematic anchors, like tribalism and character development, particularly Ariel’s character. As well as his overall mission to engage with audiences, his dream collaboration with music artists Nile Rodgers and The-Dream and praises his crew for giving it their all to support his vision.
Writing inspiration
When writing the Sci-Fi script, audiences are looking for entertaining stories with interesting, developed characters that take them out of this world and into another.
Learn the foundational principles of writing crime, how to authenticate your forensics while keeping it entertaining, how to take true, dramatic stories and make them your own, how to set a crime scene, and more!
Recent stories
Ask the Coach by Jenna Avery
Writing coach and Called to Write founder Jenna Avery responds to readers about the purpose of writing.
Script to Screen - Learn How to Make a Movie
In this wide-ranging interview, Susan Kouguell discusses with filmmaker Catherine Gund their respective work and shared artistic sensibilities in terms of employing nontraditional filmmaking structures, the inclusion of poetry in film, tackling challenging subject matter, and how to make it the most honest.
Screenwriter Interviews
David Koepp talks about penning this crackling thriller, writing on spec, and utilizing a MacGuffin that’s simple and powerful.
Education
This live webinar will explore why these pages matter so much, and how you can entice a reader to stay with your script.
Selling Your Screenplay Podcast by Ashley Scott Meyers
Ashley Scott Meyers talks with filmmaker Jon Gunn about writing the ‘The Unbreakable Boy’ and how he gets to the truth of the story when he adapts books and true stories.
Script to Screen - Learn How to Make a Movie
Bianca Poletti discusses the development and collaboration phase of the short film, which was inspired by the likes of David Lynch and Stephen King, the film’s underlying thematic elements, to the importance of building a strong team, how her team was able to license an horror iconic film clip, and being a versatile filmmaker.
