Story. Screenplay. Sale.
‘Information consumes attention, hence a wealth of information causes a poverty of attention.’ Do you ever sit down to write, but instead find yourself browsing news sites and social media in a state of perpetual distraction? What do you aspire to achieve with your writing, and how do you harness the lens of attention to … Read more
Screenwriting teacher John Truby talks bluntly about pitch slams, and how the film industry has changed in the last five years. Development funding, he cautions, is now rarely extended. Pitches alone aren’t the recipe for success. John instead argues that writers should focus on the simple rule: put it on the page. If you liked … Read more
Gruff, grim and grizzled screenwriting guru Robert McKee looks at what differs sophisticated contemporary works from the golden years of stage, page and screen; the rise and possible decline of film as an art form; and what the TV legal thriller Damages is doing right (hint: it involves the use of hooks. Like this one). … Read more
Almost inevitably, Youtube instructional videos tend to involve several minutes of bad jokes, dithering and mildly embarrassing vignettes from the maker’s personal life (try clearing your search history first next time, guys). John August (Big Fish, Corpse Bride, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Go) bucks the trend by jumping straight into the action. How to … Read more
This video’s doing the rounds, and with good reason: it’s a must-see if you’re interested in how stories will be told in the age of digital. Kevin Spacey gives an impassioned talk about how the digitally native will engage with all types of media in ways traditional features ‘could only dream of’. It’s all content, … Read more