Story & Structure

The craft of telling a story starts with structure skills.

Train Your Screenwriting Brain

by

“I am not very good at screenwriting.”  “I have no original ideas.” “I’m a hack. I can only write clichés.” “No matter how hard I try, nothing worthwhile comes out.” “It’s just too hard. Everything’s been done.” by Karel Segers These are not my words. I’m paraphrasing young people who are working hard to learn the … Read more

Stick. To. One. Hero.

by

I shouldn’t be telling anyone what type of story to write. But it’s astounding how many screenplays by first-timers attempt to juggle the journeys of more than one Hero, preferably from a shifting POV.  Why? Surely not because of a multitude of multi-protag hits at the box office. by Karel Segers Do you also feel … Read more

Structure: E.T.

by

As a young teenager, Close Encounters made the deepest impression on me. Five years later, E.T. became the first movie I ever went to see a second time in the cinema. It made me officially a Steven Spielberg fan. by Dave Trendall (structure breakdown) and Karel Segers (notes). I’m still a big Spielberg fan, although … Read more

Video: Brian McDonald (with Warren Etheredge)

by

Just when I had given up all hope on finding fresh, insightful videos on screenwriting and storytelling,

Read more

The 3 P’s Of A Screenplay Disaster [beyond structure]

by

Until effective screenwriting techniques become second nature, there is just too much to keep in mind

Read more