11 Laws of Great Storytelling

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Jeffrey Hirschberg says: “While it is impossible to have a foolproof formula, I have learned certain principles dramatically increase the probability of your story achieving a modicum of greatness.” by Jeffrey Hirschberg Throughout my years of screenwriting I have read and analyzed thousands of scripts from writers of all levels, including screenplays from my students … Read more

Is it Learnable?

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Each time I teach, I learn. In a weird and wonderful way, every student is a teacher. Each individual has valuable experience or knowledge to share with whomever wants to learn. During my time teaching in the Middle East, I learned how two of my students – Arab and Greek – expect a Hero to … Read more

Best o/t Web 13 Dec 09

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Here’s our weekly selection from the blogosphere. Feel free to recommend anything or give your feedback in the Questions and Comments below.

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Chris Weekes tops The Black List

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A big congratulations to Chris Weekes, whose script MUPPET MAN tops the newly released Black List with Hollywood’s most liked unproduced scripts. It’s great for Chris and it’s more egg on the faces of those who couldn’t see his talent while he was working in Australia. I first wrote about Chris back in May 2008. … Read more

Introducing Minor Characters

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Does the guy appearing only in the second scene of your script for half a page really need a two-page intro? Christina Hamlett shows you how and why you should put your energies into the characters that count. EXT. CHICAGO STREET – NIGHT JOSEPH TAMBERLIN, a homeless man of 47 is asleep between two garbage … Read more