Screenwriting How-To Articles

Tom Stempel doesn’t exactly disagree with the Academy voters about Parasite, but he has more reservations than they do. Then he gets onto new movies like The Rhythm Section and Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and gives you an appreciation of Harriet Frank Jr.

Barri Evins reveals the most powerful way to getting read and getting ahead. More fierce than talent, more reliable than luck, relationships are vital.

Being on a lockdown with COVID-19 quarantine can mess with a writer's mind. Jeanne Veillette Bowerman shares tips for writers on how to maintain your sanity and attempt to keep your writing goals on track. Plus, there are freebies!

Dave Trottier, "Dr. Format," continues answering readers' questions about scene headings to help you format your screenplay with confidence.

Filmmaker Brando Benetton credits include writing and directing the short "Nightfire" (2020). He talks about this action/thriller and how Brando was able to create a lot of production value on a tight budget.

Dan Goforth talks with Kevin Downes, producer of "I Still Believe," the inspirational true-life story of grammy-nominated Christian music star Jeremy Camp’s journey of love, heartbreak and faith.

Comedy guru Evan Smith explores a recent development in how sitcom pilots are structured—a new use of an old plot convention.

This week's podcast guest is Actor/Director Eric Etebari, discussing his latest action-adventure movie, "Emerald Run" (2020). Topics include how taking an acting class changed his life and how Directors can create a "Performance Environment" on set.

Sometimes, there’s nothing better than knowing you’re not alone. If you want to be a screenwriter, Paul Guyot, is giving every aspiring professional access to ask him anything! So ask!

Tired of getting rejected? Susan Kouguell shares the top screenwriting pet peeves that, if avoided, will help get you from the "pass" to the "consider" pile.

Susan Kouguell speaks with Paul Laverty about his new film "Sorry We Missed You," a wrenching, intimate family drama that exposes the dark side of the so-called “gig economy.”

This week's guest is UK filmmaker Francis Annan. His latest credit is Escape From Pretoria (2020) starring Daniel Radcliffe. Francis talks about what led to this film getting made and how they were able to cast a star actor such as Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter Franchise).

Want someone to help turn your story idea into a screenplay? Ray Morton explains why you need to do the work yourself if you ever want to become a professional screenwriter.

Writing a character driven drama? How do you show the character’s doubts and fears and emotions and small moments where they inch closer to their goal? William C. Martell looks at last year's "Brittany Runs a Marathon" and techniques like an "active lifestyle" and incremental goals.

Christopher Schiller lists 10 cold, hard truisms of the film industry, how to recognize them and how to deal with them to give your screenwriting career the best chance of success.

Ashley Scott Meyers talks with filmmaker Brandon Rhiness about getting movies made and coming up with stories that only need a few locations. The most recent example of this is the contained Comedy called "Hot Box," which he wrote and directed.

Multiple Emmy-winning screenwriter Erik Bork (HBO's "Band of Brothers") maps out exactly how to create the ideal writing session and trigger the best flow of ideas.

Tom Stempel tells you why the screenplay for "Bombshell" is better than you already thought it was. Then he will wrestle with "Ford v. Ferrari", "Little Women", "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," "1917," and gives you an appreciation of Buck Henry, writer of "The Graduate."

Susan Kouguell shared advice about getting your spec script ready for market.

Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Actor/Writer/Director Steven Chase. Topics include how Steven Chase wrote a script with his intention to star in it, and how he started making movies in Florida. His credits include Stan The Man (2020) and Shut Up And Kiss Me! (2004).

With the many ways to approach writing dialogue, Bryan Young shares three sure-fire dialogue tips to make sure your characters' words pop.

Purposeful Content Agency Tirota Unites with Leading Script-Writing Competition Finish Line to Encourage and Recognize Screenwriters with a Message. Learn about a new contest that is trying to make a difference.

Filmmaker Martin Gooch is back on Selling Your Screenplay Podcast for a third time! In this episode he talks about his latest Sci-Fi action movie Atomic Apocalypse.

Playwright Adam Brandner shares 75 lessons he's learned during his playwriting career to help you benefit from his mistakes and insights.

Ashley Scott Meyers discusses how he cast the main roles in the film, The Rideshare Killer, starring Eric Roberts.

Susan Kouguell explains what a screenplay treatment is, why you might need it to pitch your screenplay, and the do's and don'ts of creating a treatment.

Filmmaker Adriana Maggs talks about working in Canada and her latest movie, Goalie (2019), is a bio-pic about the legendary NHL goaltender, Terry Sawchuk. He played for all the top teams including The Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and Red Wings.

Have you hit a wall in your first draft or rewrite? Ray Morton shares advice on how to fix your story by knowing where to dig in.

Don't lock yourself in a box of only writing screenplays. Anne-Cecile Ville takes you on the journey of how she turned her idea into a book, then into a TV pilot, so you, too, can break outside of the box and write in multiple mediums.

Producer Jameson Parker talks about many details of the job of being a movie producer. Topics include: Making pitch decks or look-books, working towards a budget and making a Netflix TV series. Jameson Parker's credits include the horror movie Summer Of 84, Prodigals and the TV streaming series Julie and the Phantoms.

Professional screenwriter Bob DeRosa shares his passion project, "Gifted," and the 20-year journey to bring his screenplay to life... as a stage play.

Paul Joseph Gulino examines the film "1917," and how to deal with an implausible or impossible premise.

Director York Alec Shackleton talks about his latest movie, Disturbing The Peace (2020), an Action-Crime film which stars Guy Pearce. He discusses casting Guy Pearce and how he has continued to build a career as an indie filmmaker.

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).