Screenwriting How-To Articles

Social media can be a great place to learn. Script shares advice from writing partners Scott Beck and Bryan Woods on writing an opening scene that hits all the marks, sharing a scene written by M. Night Shyamalan.

Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Novelist Justin Sloan about how an indie author can take a book from idea to sale.

Screenwriters imagine the joy of selling their script, but what happens after you get that big sale? Bob Saenz takes us through the anatomy of screenplay development.

Host Gray Jones interviews Priyanka Mattoo, a writer/filmmaker and former UTA and WME agent who shares how to find a Hollywood mentor during lockdown.

Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Writer/Director Ben Rood about starting out with short films and production during the COVID-19, Coronavirus Pandemic.

Script scours Twitter for screenwriting tips so you don't have to. A BBC Writer's Room tweet took us down a fabulous rabbit hole of wisdom for writers. Get advice on taking notes, what the differences are in the UK vs US film industries, and breaking into screenwriting.

Whether you are writing a war movie like “1917" or a fantasy film like “Lord Of The Rings” you will need to write epic battle scenes - but how do you do that? Do you leave it to the stuntmen? William C. Martell looks at an epic battle scene from “Game Of Thrones” for the answers.

Host Gray Jones interviews Will Pascoe, showrunner of “Absentia.” Will also wrote for such shows as “The Finder,” “Orphan Black,” “Da Vinci’s Demons,” and “Shut Eye.”

Writer/Director Joshua Caldwell discusses "Infamous" (2020), his latest crime thriller which stars Bella Thorne and Jake Manley. Caldwell also talks about winning an MTV Film Award, the good and bad of Social Media and casting Bella Thorne.

After joining Twitter in 2008, Script has read countless screenwriting tips from professional writers and industry executives. We're launching a new column to share some of the best writing tips we see on Twitter to help you learn more about the screenwriting business and improve your craft. Let's start with story outline.

Dave Trottier, Dr. Format, shares advice on how to format your screenplay to show a Zoom or Skype conversation.

Host Gray Jones interviews Jami O'Brien, creator and showrunner of "N0S4A2" on AMC.

Ashley Scott Meyers talks with the Polish Director Agnieszka Holland about her latest credit, the war-time drama Mr. Jones (2019). This movie stars Vanessa Kirby (The Crown - TV Series, Mission: Impossible - Fallout) and James Norton.

Who else but Tom Stempel would connect Ulysses S. Grant and Jane Russell in a column about screenwriting? Dive into his thoughts on creating interesting characters for actors to play.

How will the future of moviegoing change as we look to the "new normal," post COVID? Paul Peditto analyzes the options movie theaters have to attempt to open back up for film viewing, exploring different articles and opinions circulating in the press.

Host Gray Jones interviews UK show creator / showrunner and practicing doctor Dan Sefton, who is also the co-founder of the independent production company Seven Seas Films.

Directors Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion discuss how making commercials for big brands, such as Nike, led to the transition into feature films. Milott and Murnion have directed several features, most recently "Becky" (2020), the action packed "Bushwick" (2017) and the horror comedy "Cooties" (2014).

Revolution brings evolution in both the world and in a writer's stories. Jeanne Veillette Bowerman encourages writers to get real, be raw, and put power behind your words.

In order to show growth, to evolve, we’ve always needed to change from where we were to where we need to be next. Entertainment attorney, Christopher Schiller, explores how we approach change, how we assess what change is really needed, and where we need to evaluate how to make the required change into a beneficial step forward.

Host Gray Jones interviews writer-producer Steve Harper, who wrote for "God Friended Me," "American Crime," and "Covert Affairs," and created the hit web series "Send Me."

Rebecca Norris reviews Prewrite, a screenwriting app and visual writing tool to help writers stay organized and combat writer's block.

Screenwriter Matt Lieberman discusses writing for animation. Lieberman's writing credits include the hit animated movies "Scoob!" (2020) and "The Addams Family" (2019). "Scoob!" features the voice talent of a cast which includes, Will Forte, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Isaacs, Zac Efron and Amanda Seyfried.

Ray Morton shares advice on how to write what you know and twist it in a dramatic way to help your odds of crafting a story executives want to read.

No two paths to a writing career are the same. Susan Kouguell interviews Austin Winsberg, writer, creator and executive producer of "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist" on breaking in, working in the writers' room, and growing a tough skin.

A well-written movie can not only change a person's viewpoints, but also have the potential to change history. Frank Deese explores President Richard Nixon's fascination with "Patton" and the potential impact of the movie on Nixon's decisions regarding the Vietnam War.

Host Gray Jones interviews writer-producer Evan Bleiweiss, who has written for "The Vampire Diaries," "Rosewood," and "The Crossing," and has sold several TV pilots, though he never went to college.

Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Kevin James Barry about the thriller "Among Them," which Kevin is the Director and Producer on.

Getting feedback on your story can help elevate your writing. Dave Trottier, AKA Dr. Format, shares tips on working with a story analyst to get the most out of a script evaluation.

Susan Kouguell interviews writer/director Amir Mann about breaking into the film industry, working on international projects, and advice for emerging screenwriters.

Host Gray Jones interviews Carole Kirschner, creator and director of the CBS Diversity Institute Writers Mentoring Program, and director of the Showrunner Training Program.

Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Filmmaker Vaughn Stein about his latest movie "Inheritance" (2020), which Vaughn Stein directed and how he started out as an Assistant Director.

With all the free "screenwriting advice" floating around the Internet, professional screenwriter Bob Saenz debunks some of the worst career advice he's seen lately.

Every moment counts in a screenplay. We can’t waste pages slowly setting up the characters and world of our stories before the plot kicks in. We need to hit the ground running! Illustrate the world as the story unfolds. William Martell looks at the first ten pages of “The Dawn Of The Dead” remake as an example.

Host Gray Jones interviews writer Spiro Skentzos, who has written for "Arrow," "Grimm," and TV pilots, as well as "Chadam," an animated web series he co-created.

Ashley Scott Meyers talks with actor turned filmmaker Clark Duke. Most people will know Clark Duke as an actor in "Kick-Ass" (2010), or comedies like "Hot Tub Time Machine" (2010) and "The Office" (TV-series). Clark discusses his feature debut as a Director/Co-Writer/Actor on the Crime/Drama "Arkansas."

Film executives, agents, directors, producers, and all those reading your script demand that your characters “speak” to them. Susan Kouguell shares her top 10 tips for writing dynamic dialogue.

Susan Kouguell dives deep into questions about writing spec scripts, including steps for selling your screenplay, rewrite advice, and more!

Host Gray Jones interviews veteran producer Shawn Ryan, who has created or co-created a number of series, including "The Shield," "The Chicago Code," "Last Resort," "Timeless," and his current series "SWAT."

Ashley Scott Meyers talks with accomplished writer/director Martha Stephens. Martha discusses her latest movie "To the Stars" (2019) and the experience of her work being screened at Sundance and South By South West (SXSW) film festival.

Ray Morton examines the different structures of television shows in the era of "Peak TV" - the good, the bad, and how to fix your story's execution.

Barri Evins brings you an inside perspective, interviewing working professionals throughout the industry, offering insights for writers in uncertain times. Television Producer Mark Teitelbaum discusses working while under quarantine, changes on the set, and what will make a pitch a viable TV project as content-hungry networks and streamers plan to reopen.

Brad Johnson launches his new film review column, looking at films from the perspective of a writer, with Netflix's "The Lovebirds," starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani.

Host Gray Jones interviews writer/producer team Benjamin Raab and Deric A. Hughes, currently co-executive producing "Legacies" on the CW, who have written and produced on "Arrow," "Scream: The Series," "The Flash," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Warehouse 13."

Tom Stempel can only manage to write about an HBO movie, a Norwegian historical film, a 1933 MGM all-star stinker, and a rather well-known 1959 comedy. Well, nobody’s perfect.

Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Filmmaker Darren Coyle about his latest comedy "Chasing Sunshine," which he is the Writer/Director/Producer on. Coyle shares pro tips on shooting moving car scenes with a process trailer and submitting to film festivals.

Pushing yourself to be creative while pondering the future of the industry? Barri Evins shares in-depth interviews with industry pros. Get insider details on moving projects forward right now, what you should know about getting repped, and what the “New Normal” in Hollywood may look like.

Professional screenwriter Paul Guyot shares advice on not only navigating screenwriting during a global pandemic, but also on creating a mindset and practical support network for your writing journey beyond a lockdown.

Now a film and TV writer on an unimpeachable career path, Charles Ray Hamilton hadn’t always seen a clear finish line. This Texas native can credit to a brand of persistence you only see in artists—and the belief that the payoff justifies the journey.

Host Gray Jones interviews veteran comedy writer Ken Estin, showrunner of "Cheers" and "Taxi" and creator of "The Tracy Ullman Show," and Paula Finn, the author of "Sitcom Writers Talk Shop."

Ashley Scott Meyers talks with screenwriter Alan Trezza about his latest credit, the horror comedy "We Summon The Darkness" (2019). The cast of that movie includes Alexandra Daddario ("Baywatch," "San Andres") and Maddie Hasson.