What Screenwriters Should Consider When Writing Holiday Films
Creative Screenwriting Magazine contributing writer Mark Sevi shares his thoughts on writing the next Christmas (or other holiday) hit. So get cracking! THE WRITE TIME IS NOW When should you write that holiday film? Any time really, but if you’re shooting for Christmas this year, start now. Sure, we’re all a little burned out with the […]
The Story Worlds We Create
How would you like to go: …somewhere where the skies are blue the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true. Where troubles melt like lemon drops, Way above the chimney tops… That, of course, is excerpted lyrics from the fantastical film The Wizard of Oz. The Frank Baum story The Wonderful Wizard of […]
10 Keys To Great Screenplay Endings
There are two things on the meta level that no screenwriter can get wrong. The first is the beginning of any story, the hook; the second and more important is the ending. I’m talking about the plot ending combined with the thematic (emotional) ending. Ending minutes or pages are the last thing your reader/viewer experiences […]
You Talkin’ To Me? How To Write Better Talking Head Scenes
Alfred Hitchcock had a famous quote to the effect that you should be able to understand the entire story of a film without sound. There is no doubt that a film should strongly convey its story through images. But what would a film be like if you couldn’t hear those famous words… “And this one […]
That Scene In Your Screenplay Sucks
The number one failure for most non-pro screenwriters (and for some pro writers) is as fundamental as FADE IN: It’s the scene. Flabby, flaccid, forgettable, feckless… yeah a lot of F-words – because most screenwriters just deliver either a clichéd presentation or do only one thing in a scene and then move on. Your screenwriting needs […]
