Screenwriting How-To Articles

Script's Editor Sadie Dean interviews Aaron Rahsaan Thomas who is a three-time NAACP Image Awards nominee, co-creator and former showrunner of CBS’ 'S.W.A.T.', and all-around genuine and knowledgeable industry leader.

Who are “The Ghost Bros”? We are a multi-ethnic group of paranormal television show fans and screenwriters from various places in the US. We are a cadre of horror writing fans/screenwriting splinter-cell within the sub-culture of The Ghost Adventures Crew international and are taking social networking on a supernatural spin.

Script's Editor Sadie Dean interviews prolific producer Randall Emmett about his feature directorial debut thriller 'Midnight in the Switchgrass'. The two discuss his attraction to the material, working with renowned filmmakers, his collaboration with screenwriter Alan Horsnail and much more.

How a percentage is calculated, how the fraction is determined and just what whole is to be considered can all be incredibly complex and difficult elements to fathom. If you don’t have a handle on how these elements interact you can be easily overwhelmed or underserved by the “simple” percentage involved.

Celebrating the Female Screenwriters Who Came Before Us: Ruth Gordon

Ever wonder what it's like to work with a writing partner? Or how to find one? Or if it's worth looking for one?

With Emmy-Winning Producer Cindy Cowan

Meet the Native women who are on a mission to empower and inspire Native American storytellers, by forging the way with their historical one-hour drama series 'unCIVILIZED'.

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with filmmaker Craig Moss. He is the writer/director of movies such as 'Bad Ass' (2012) starring Danny Trejo and Ron Perlman and 'Let Us In' (2021) with Tobin Bell and Sadie Stanley.

Script's Editor Sadie Dean interviews 'Great White' director Martin Wilson. They discuss his filmmaking journey starting out in commercials, geek out on classic 80s horror films and dive deep into what it was like filming location and combating natural elements that lurk beneath.

Hungry to discover how to write a screenplay that is unique to you? Barri Evins shares a recipe for cooking up a story that tastes delicious to you and to your audience based on… pizza! Handcraft your story layer-by-layer, plus insights from A-List writers on how they create flavorful and distinctive stories. Topped off by a Writers' Workout to strengthen your own delectable voice.

In this installment of "Ask the Coach" Jenna Avery answers a pre-submitted question about when to abandon a current work-in-progress to tackle a new idea.

History is written and rewritten in films and on TV. Frank Deese pulls back the curtain on the beginnings of the hit television series "24" and how it soon influenced contemporary events in America and beyond.

Problems of screenwriting in two films, 'In the Heights' and 'Da 5 Bloods', and solutions in one television series, 'Big Sky'.

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Del Weston.  Besides writing movies such as 'Trick' (2021) and 'Split' (2007), Del Weston is the creator of The Action On Film Festival which has been running for over 17 years now.

Script's Editor Sadie Dean interviews Joshua Safran, the creator, showrunner, writer, and executive producer of the much-anticipated reimagining of 'Gossip Girl'. They take a deep dive into the beginning of his writing career to landing the original 'Gossip Girl', and his personal connection to the characters. Plus, Josh shares practical advice for writers who want to break into a writer's room.

Jeanne Veillette Bowerman talks with opera singer, Lucia Lucas, and 'The Sound of Identity's director, James Kicklighter.

Screenwriter Dan Goforth takes you into a screenplay competition scores, and how the reader comes into play.

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with writer/producer Richard Finney. Richard has produced movies such as '100 Girls' and a screenplay he wrote inspired 'Alien Zoo', a Virtual Reality experience produced by Steven Spielberg and Walter Parkes.

Script's Editor Sadie Dean interviews writer/director Josh Lawson about his rom-com 'Long Story Short', his filmmaking journey and above all else, his love for this "pull at your heartstrings" genre.

Andrew Bloomenthal interviews ‘I Carry You with Me’ co-writer/director Heidi Ewing about her unique hybrid film exploring love and the American dream.

As a writer, when our characters and stories won’t go where we want them do, it is not our job to force them to. Instead, it is our obligation is follow them where they want to take us – to go where the script takes us.

Susan Kouguell Interviews 'Esther in Wonderland' Filmmaker Stephanie Bollag at the Tribeca Film Festival.

While narrators are used to bridge gaps and provide context in documentaries, they can also lend gravitas, levity, pathos, or whatever mood the filmmaker wants to convey. That doesn’t necessarily make them biased or unreliable narrators.

Script contributor Nanea Taylor shines the spotlight on screenwriter Mark Romansky.

Script's Editor Sadie Dean interviews 'Let Us In' director/co-writer Craig Moss about this screenwriting journey of making a living off of the spec market, his foray into directing parody films in changing genres, and landing on his new sci-fi/thriller film 'Let Us In'.

Script contributor Michael Lee Simpson interviews Academy Award-winning producer Maryann Garger about her journey developing and producing animation films, and working on the Academy Award-winning animated short film 'If Anything Happens I Love You'.

Script contributor Stewart Farquar dives deep into why female character parts in movies are left on the sidelines, and why it's important to make sure their parts are equally as well written as their male counterparts.

Script contributor Thuc Nguyen speaks one-on-one with 'Zola' director/co-writer Janicza Bravo about casting, landing on visual creative choices, and her advice for women to stay in their power.

In this series of articles, William Dickerson continues to examine the script-to-screen translations of scenes from notable films. After all, the entire point of writing a screenplay is to transcend the act of writing itself, to “show, not tell.”

Susan Kouguell Interviews Egyptian Filmmaker Ayten Amin About Her New Feature 'Souad'

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with writer/director Marcelo Grion.  They talk about 'The Prototype' (2021), a sci-fi thriller with a cast including Victoria De Mare and Theresa Tilly.

"Cynde, Maria, Jane, Mary and Margaret took the images that defined history for their generation, yet their own stories have not been told, until now. The shifting scenes between the inhumanity and beauty they filmed, woven with their moments of humor, illustrate how they tried to cope with all they were witnessing. The wars and crises they covered produced images that can be difficult to watch, so I strived to create a balance of stories and images." - Heather O'Neill

In this double-header, Script's Editor Sadie Dean speaks with both screenwriter Mishna Wolff and director Josh Ruben, the creative duo behind the pleasantly hilarious, coolly stylized jump-scare, whodunit horror film 'Werewolves Within'.

In this new column, Script contributor Nanea Taylor speaks with up-and-coming Horror screenwriters about their writing process, what projects they are currently working on, and shares some insider tips of the trade.

In this three-part series, TV writer/screenwriter Aadip Desai, will dig into the concept of a writer’s voice and see if he can make more sense of it for all of us. Of course, this applies most to emerging writers (not young) and those who have broken in but are still developing their voices.

“I loved the idea of making a film that could intertwine fact and fictional storytelling, and through the spinning together of the two, arrive at an authentic portrait of a woman who often shared her most private self in her fictional writing.” - Laura Fairrie

Dave Trottier, Dr. Format, shares advice on how to convey camera direction in your script, without writing camera direction.

Hoping to break into screenwriting from outside L.A.? Rebecca Norris chats with screenwriter Amie Charney, the first recipient of the Harlequin Creator Fund for television writing, about developing her pilot with Harlequin and eOne, breaking in remotely from San Antonio, and why it's never too late to chase your dreams.

Tom Stempel reviews two Taylor Sheridan films: Tom Clancy's 'Without Remorse' and 'Those Who Wish Me Dead' and Brad Ingelsby's 'Mare of Easttown'.

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with writer/author Erik Bork. Returning for a third time on the podcast, Erik Bork talks about his non-fiction writing guide book "The Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage or Fiction."

Welcome back to “Ask the Coach," today’s question is about whether or not writing and marketing experts and gurus help writers or just get in the way.

Just like in film, the writing of a game is the skeleton of it. In the case of 'Ghost of Tsushima', Ian Ryan, lead writer for the game, is responsible for the compelling narrative of the award-winning game.

Celebrating the Female Screenwriters Who Came Before Us: Frances Goodrich Hackett

Writer Chris Rafferty shares his incredible journey to the writers room, his perseverance to pursue screenwriting full time and a sentimental goodbye to 'Lucifer'.

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with mystery-horror movie 'Open Your Eyes' writer/director Greg A. Sager.

Your success happens by identifying the best possible connection that aligns with your brand and goals.

No one likes staring at a blank page or struggling to find time to write every day. Stop the guilt trip!

Are screenwriters becoming too business-minded in their creative process?

Script's Editor Sadie Dean interviews 'Flatbush Misdemeanors' co-creator and star Dan Perlman about creating a zero budget proof of concept that swept film festivals, collaborating with co-writer Kevin Iso and the collective humor that the behind-the-scenes team adds to this off-beat Showtime comedy series. Plus, Dan shares invaluable advice on taking life by the horns and shooting a low-budget proof of concept.