writing

What Screenwriters Are Being Judged On

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As a screenwriter, you’re being judged in three different categories. by Steve Kaire The first is your material. When you’re in a pitch session, it’s your ideas and stories which are going to make an impression on the listener. Ask yourself these questions: Is your story unique? Are you approaching it from a different angle … Read more

The Tenets of Tentpole Movies

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It’s almost summertime at the box office, which means big effects, big budgets, and even bigger stakes for the studios. Because it’s tentpole movie season. by Danny Manus You’ve probably heard the terms four-quadrant and tentpole movie, but what do they mean exactly? Should you be writing one? And what makes them work? A four-quadrant … Read more

Writing With a Partner

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Writing partnerships are like marriages. They can continue in bliss or end up in bitter divorce. by Steve Kaire Working with a writing partner can either reduce your workload by half or create twice the headaches. Any kind of partnership is fraught with peril. If it fails, not only does the project come to an … Read more

When Your Scene Focuses on What Isn’t Happening

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Here’s a little-known secret about stories: they’re about what your characters do. Okay, so maybe it’s not so little known. I mean, duh, right? Your character does something and then he does something else—and, presto, you have a plot! And yet writers often end up spending a huge chunk of time describing what their characters … Read more