What I Hate About Studios [And Why I ‘Get’ Some Pirates]
About 5 years ago, Sheridan Cleland of MyPDFscripts wrote the below article on his blog. Soon after, the site disappeared. I wanted to keep the memory alive, because these practices by the studios have...
View Article“Set Up The Goal Before The End Of Act 1”– And Other Bad Screenwriting Advice
If anyone tells you the that a screenwriter must set up the story goal before the end of Act 1, avoid their screenwriting advice. They don’t understand drama. I’ll explain in a minute. The internet is...
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The Idea: The Seven Elements Of A Viable Story
The Idea is a book that could save screenwriters weeks, months or even years of time wasted on projects that will never make it to the screen. Erik Bork points out that readers, agents and producers...
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Courses, Books & Consults Won’t Cut It.
In addition to working with writers, producers and agencies everywhere, I teach screenwriting courses at film schools in Australia, Europe and online. The school gigs largely consist of lecturing...
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The Dreaded Passive Protagonist Will Never Kill Your Script Again
It keeps surprising me how many writers turn in scripts with a passive protagonist, or featuring characters that are barely active. I’m talking about writers who have read screenwriting manuals, taken...
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Masks, Archetypes and Metaphors [and why the Donald doesn’t don]
In this post, I want you to bear with me, as I meander through Covid-19, The Don and masked superheroes, to finally demonstrate how masks and metaphors improve your screenplay. How I Learned to Stop...
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Wow Them In The End – Give Your Screen Story An Amazing Ending
In 2009, Aaron Sorkin almost made it to the top of the Black List, with The Social Network. You know who beat him? Christopher Weekes, an Australian 20 years Sorkin’s junior, who had penned a script...
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Taming The Industry Standard 1-Page Synopsis
Isn’t it remarkable how a simple synopsis, a seemingly innocuous 1-page text, can give a writer a world of pain. If it’s such a drag, then why bother? Plain and simple: nobody wants to be bored reading...
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Reading Screenplays — Without Wasting Your Time
One of the most effective ways to learn about screenwriting is – wait for it – reading screenplays. Duh! Yet, I’ve read so many rants about the quality of scripts, that it warrants a clear view on what...
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Ready To Break Rules? One Word Will Tell.
Nothing appears more appealing to the beginning writer than to break rules. And nothing is more annoying than hearing “Do this; don’t do that!” Some will say that rules are essential, because without...
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