Uncategorized · 7 min
A Filmmaker Speaks (2): Making It.
Award winning writer/director Christina Andreef has seen it all – not getting into film school, working with Jane Campion’s and finally seeing her own films at…
The Journal
Vol. 17 · 1,240 entries
26 August 2026
Quote of the day
Take what’s useful, argue with the rest.
Vol. 17
Uncategorized · 6 min
A Filmmaker Speaks (1): Writing it.
Award winning writer/director Christina Andreef has seen it all – not getting into film school, working with Jane Campion and finally: seeing her own films at…
Uncategorized · 2 min
Farewell, Blake
I have been referring to SAVE THE CAT more and more often lately. Blake brought the importance of concept and broad story structure back to the…
Story & Structure · 3 min
Four flaws that kill your Hero.
To build a strong character arc, the writer sets up the Hero's flaw early on. A flaw is a weakness for the Hero but a strength…
Uncategorized · 7 min
Leave the Right Things Out
Freelance writer/ cinephile Bryn Tilly read the book and watched the movie. Now he scrutinises the changes - and particularly the omissions -author John Ajvide Linqvist…
Script Perfection · 2 min
FD8 – Need it or just want it?
I have used the new release of Final Draft on and off for a couple of months now and I am reasonably satisfied with it. I…
Script Perfection · 1 min
Its time to stop looking stupid
If you didn't notice the error in the title, this blog entry is for you. I don't usually reprint entire blog posts but I read this…
Post Series · 4 min
Writing for Daily Drama (4)
Jan Ellis writes for South-African television as one of the team on “Binnelanders”. (Interestingly, he does this from Sydney in Australia.) For us, Jan explores what…
Story & Structure · 2 min
Inventor or Innovator?
Will you ever come up with a truly original movie concept? Look at it like this: how many unique ideas does one have in a day? Truly…
Post Series · 4 min
Writing for Daily Drama (3)
Jan Ellis writes for South-African television as one of the team on “Binnelanders”. (Interestingly, he does this from Sydney in Australia.) For us, Jan explores what…
Story & Structure · 2 min
Events vs. Actions
In the context of story I often speak of EVENTS and ACTIONS. In essence it's a very simple and at the same time hugely important concept.…
Post Series · 5 min
Writing for Daily Drama (2)
Jan Ellis writes for South-African television as one of the team on “Binnelanders”. (Interestingly, he does this from Sydney in Australia.) For us, Jan explores what…
Post Series · 3 min
Writing for Daily Drama (1)
Jan Ellis writes for South-African television as one of the team on "Binnelanders". (Interestingly, he does this from Sydney in Australia.) For us, Jan explores what…
Post Series · 6 min
Guilty Pleasures
Writer/Producer Meg Shields reflects on the development of her script which recently won the Bill Warnock Feature Writers Awards in WA. Will this mean a future…
Post Series · 8 min
Structure: The Incredibles
A structural overview of The Incredibles (Brad Bird 2004) "Animation is not a genre but an art form" says writer-director Brad Bird on the commentary track.…