Story & Structure · 5 min

Writing the High ROI Screenplay (Part 5)

This week we continue with part five in a twelve part series of JT Velikovsky's doctoral thesis: “Understanding And Exploring The Relationship Between: Creativity; Theories Of…

Best of the Web · 1 min

Best of the Web 26 May

Story & Structure :: Story Inspiration :: Script Review: Star Trek Into Darkness :: Screenplay Review: Superman (JJ Abrams 2002 draft) :: Amateur Friday - Going…

Logline It! · 4 min

Logline it! – Black List – Week 16

Writing loglines is an essential skill for screenwriters, from early development through to the pitch. In this section, we review the loglines and short synopses of…

Best of the Web · 1 min

Best of the Web 19 May

Story & Structure :: Character Growth :: Writing Effective Transitions :: 10 Screenwriting Tips You Can Learn From Misery :: Surprise Amateur Wednesday - Keep Us…

Movie Reviews · 2 min

Mini Review – Broken

Broken Mercifully Short Review by Jonathan Empson  Despite its downbeat title, this likeable film is more humanist than miserablist. It studies the tensions between three middle-class …

Movie Reviews · 2 min

Mini Review – Tabu

Tabu Mercifully Short Review by Jonathan Empson  God, this is awful. Pilar is a middle-aged woman, plain but with expressive eyes. She believes in God, is…

Logline It! · 4 min

Logline it! – Black List – Week 15

Writing loglines is an essential skill for screenwriters, from early development through to the pitch. In this section, we review the loglines and short synopses of…

Story & Structure · 1 min

[Video]: Derek Ciafrante on Going Back

Screenwriter/director Derek Ciafrante (Blue Valentine) talks candidly about tribalism in America, historical conflict, and going back to basics to write his well-received crime noir The Place…

Best of the Web · 1 min

Best of the Web 12 May

Story & Structure :: Writing Concepts First :: How Much Can I Assume My Audience Knows About The Classics? :: 10 Screenwriting Tips You Can Learn…

Movie Reviews · 2 min

Mini Review – The Place Beyond the Pines

The Place Beyond the Pines Mercifully Short Review by Jonathan Empson Wall-of-death motorcycle stunt rider Luke returns to the town of Schenectady, NY, with his carnival…

Movie Reviews · 2 min

Mini Review – Spring Breakers

Spring Breakers  Mercifully Short Review by Jonathan Empson  I love the idea of da kids deciding to watch this based on its title and expecting a…

Logline It! · 6 min

Logline it! – Black List – Week 14

Writing loglines is an essential skill for screenwriters, from early development through to the pitch. In this section, we review the loglines and short synopses of…

Story & Structure · 1 min

[Video]: Mark Boal on Courting Controversy

Screenwriter/Producer Mark Boal (Zero Dark Thirty, The Hurt Locker, In The Valley Of Elah) talks to DP/30 about the critically acclaimed yet highly controversial terrorist hunt…

Story & Structure · 7 min

Are You Serious About Your Writing Career?

How serious are you about your writing career? This isn’t a facetious question. If you are writing lots of material but you are not paying attention…

Best of the Web · 2 min

Best of the Web 5 May

Story & Structure :: Exposition :: Storytelling Strategies: The Puzzle in Silver Linings Playbook :: Know Who You Are Writing For :: Some Thoughts on the…