Screenwriting How-To Articles

Dave Trottier, AKA Dr. Format, answers a reader's question on how to properly format scene headings.

When the industry shifts, a writer must shift with it and stretch their wings to step into different mediums. Which is only part of the reason why Christopher J. Moore just launched the first book in his new YA series, "The Switch Family."

Screenwriter Bob Saenz takes you into the year in the life of a professional screenwriter - it's not what you think.

William C. Martell explores the emotional journey and character development in the hit sequel, "Jumanji: The Next Level."

Considering making your own film, TV pilot or web series? Scheduling and budgeting your script will get you on your way! Paula Landry teaches you how to budget your project and think like a producer.

Filmmaker Robert Conway discusses making movies in Arizona. His recent credit is as Writer and Director of the Western film, Eminence Hill (2019), starring Barry Corbin (No Country For Old Men), Dominique Swain (Face/Off, Lolita) and Lance Henriksen (Aliens, Scream 3).

The Academy announces the 2020 Oscar Nominees for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay. Did your favorite make the cut?

Emmy-winning writer, actor, and producer, Lena Waithe, talks with Mike Sargent about her career, her writing process, and breaking the rules.

Ashley Scott Meyers goes into detail on the development and production of "The Rideshare Killer", a movie he wrote and directed. The path to go from page to screen involved going to American Film Market, finding a new location, because the house burned down in the Los Angeles fire, and much more.

Tom Stempel film reviews start with connecting Marriage Story to the Hopalong Cassidy B westerns of the 30s and 40s. Yes, and there is more on Pain and Glory, The Laundromat, The Report, Richard Jewell, Harriet, The Good Liar, Knives Out, Give Me Liberty, and Midway.

Script reader Ray Morton offers advice to get screenwriters back on track with New Year's resolutions to improve both your craft and your sanity.

Writing a good plot requires a strong central conflict. Scott McConnell uses the classic Hitchcock film, "Notorious," to demonstrate how to create a world where the worst thing happens to your characters

Susan Kouguell speaks with Oscar-winning screenwriter Charles Randolph about his writing process when adapting a true story for the screen and the challenges of bringing "Bombshell" to life.

Aiming to write a script? Barri Evins reveals what every aspiring writer ought to learn to lay the foundation of essential knowledge and tools to get started.

Christopher Schiller delves into capturing and utilizing sound in a movie and giving you tools to deliver much more producible scripts that don’t hit the wrong notes of those who haven’t heard the news.

British writer and director Dan Bronzite spoke to Peter J. Storey, the man behind Greenlit, a new London-based film-centric crowdfunding platform to find out how his new international service evolved and sets itself apart from the rest.

Producer/Director John Suits talks about his long success in filmmaking and the main focus was the Sci-Fi movie 3022, which John Suits directed and stars Miranda Cosgrove, Omar Epps, and Kate Walsh. John Suits has many credits to his name, including producing Cheap Thrills (2013) and The Crash (2017) and directing Pandemic (2016).

Joy Cheriel Brown compares the adaptation "Love, Simon" to its source novel, exploring the choices the screenwriters made in adapting the book into a movie.

Bryan Young talks with screenwriter/director of "Knives Out," Rian Johnson, about creating set-ups and pay-offs, his writing process, and analyzing classic movies.

Diane Drake, screenwriter of "What Women Want," examines the power and importance of the internal transformational moment of the story's hero.

Writer/Director/Actor Lisa Van Dam-Bates talks with Ashley Scott Meyers about the Body Horror movie Marla (AKA Marla Mae). This female filmmaker discusses how Reproductive Rights influenced her feature debut.

Ray Morton shares guidelines on choosing if you should write a screenplay for art or for commerce.

What are the key ingredients to a great story? William C. Martell examines the box-office hit, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, showing how the writers take the audience on an emotional journey.

Susan Kouguell speaks with "Parasite" editor Jin-mo Yang about his collaboration with Director Bong Joon Ho, defying the rules of genre, and finding the rhythm of the film.

Tom Stempel reviews Downton Abbey, Hustlers, and the lineup of this Fall 2019 Television Season.

Natalia Megas talks with writer-actor India Ennenga about her college degree in writing and her insights into a varied artist career.

Michael Tabb demystifies the use of flashbacks, why they don't always work, and how to create more effective and compelling flashbacks and voiceovers in your screenplays.

Writer/Director Adam Egypt Mortimer returns to the Selling Your Screenplay Podcast for a second time to talk about his new Thriller "Daniel Isn't Real" (2019). The movie's cast includes Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sasha Lane and Miles Robbins.

Susan Kouguell speaks with Anne McCabe ACE, editor of "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," who started as an Apprentice Editor in the cutting rooms of Woody Allen, Brian de Palma and Sidney Lumet.

Strong writing takes time because it demands deep thinking. Barri Evins offers pointers and examples on when to put enthusiasm on hold and slow your roll.

Treat yourself, or the writer in your life, to on-demand webinars, courses, and tutorials at a discount! The discount codes below are valid through December 2, 2019.

Screenwriter Jamie Grefe discusses how being on Facebook and connecting with Indie Filmmaker Jim Wynorski led to his big break. Jamie Grefe's movie credits include It Hunger (2019) starring Stormi Maya and The Wishing Forest.

Susan Kouguell interviews the 28-year-old Russian director and co-writer Kantemir Balagov about his award-winning second feature film Beanpole.

"A Million Eyes" short film recently received a Special Jury mention at HollyShorts Film Festival and is now under consideration for an Academy Award. Dan Bronzite interviewed director Richard Raymond about the short, working with the writer and cast, and his filmmaking career.

Susan Kouguell speaks with Academy Award-nominated producer Rosalie Varda about her new documentary film "Varda by Agnès" and collaborating with her mother Agnès Varda.

Writer/Director/Actor Wendy McColm talks about her debut comedy movie Birds Without Feathers. She discusses why filmmakers need to get their contracts in order, and what it takes to get an indie film made.

Film and Television Writer/Director Heather Hale shares her Producer’s POV (Point of View) on mind mapping and brainstorming new ideas for higher concept screenplays.

Christopher Schiller examines the screenwriter's secret friend, often overlooked but immensely important to the success of a movie—the script supervisor, often referred to on set as the “scripty.”

Andrew Bloomenthal interviews Edward Norton on his passion project, the epic detective drama based on Jonathan Lethem's novel, "Motherless Brooklyn," which Norton adapted, directed, and stars in.

"The Perfect Race" is the new faith-based film from Dave Christiano and Five & Two Pictures, starring Allee-Sutton Hethcoat.

Writers Heather DeVan and Jason DeVan talk about their Supernatural, Horror Thriller, Movie Along Came The Devil 2. Jason Devan is also the director and Heather DeVan is an actor in the film. Topics include, moving to Los Angeles and making a movie sequel.

Ray Morton explains the power of using suspense and surprise in dramatic storytelling.

Screenwriters Henry Jacobson and Avra Fox-Lerner discuss their new crime thriller feature film, Bloodline, and how they were able to attach Seann William Scott to the project.

In his continuing column, Understanding Screenwriting, Tom Stempel analyzes Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw; Brittany Runs a Marathon; Official Secrets, and The Big House.

TV writer and showrunner Ross Brown shares invaluable advice on how to process feedback on your script to improve the story without taking it personally.

In the latest edition of Understanding Screenwriting, Tom Stempel analyzes Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and The Good Fight.

Susan Kouguell interviews 19-year old Phillip Youmans about his journey as a writer and filmmaker, and bringing Burning Cane to the screen.

Heather Taylor gives an overview of Evil, a new CBS series by the Robert and Michelle King, featured at the 2019 Tribeca TV Festival in New York City.

Writer/Director Henry Alex Rubin discusses his new feature film, Semper Fi, how he got involved with that project, and his award-winning documentary, Murderball, that launched his career as a director.

William C. Martell dives into what a "slow burn" movie is by analyzing horror films, including Midsommar, which was recently re-released.