nywift: Photo via Go Into the Story. Discussions are the enemy of drama in a spec script. They are info swaps to give the reader story information, which is like putting stale bagels out for guests: unwelcoming and hard to swallow. It’s more accomplished work to compose images that do the same job. Crazy, Stupid,…
Read moreScreenwriters read screenplays – Moira Buffini
lifeascaty: Moira Buffini is an English screenwriter, playwright and actress known for writing Jane Eyre, Tamara Drewe, and Byzantium (adapted from her play A Vampire Story). In 2011 she took part in the BAFTA and BFI Screenwriters’ Lecture series, which you can listen to here. See the rest of my screenplay collection here. Jane Eyre…
Read moreSETTLING IN FOR THE BACKSTORY
Backstory mostly doesn’t matter. It’s just information used to interpret other information, none of which is dramatic.
Read moreHOW DOES TENSION WORK?
Like this. As long as its central question stays unresolved, it is tension. It’s the only thing that makes readers turn pages. Amplify these moments in your script. Set them up and draw them out. You need to build one in each scene, a bigger one for each sequence and the ultimate one that stretches…
Read moreOBSCURE SONGS IN DESCRIPTION LINES
This is especially true for jazz and classical music aficionados. The chances that you will run into a reader for whom your soundtrack choices are meaningful are close to zero.
Read morewriterlyn: Spent the morning reading and typing up notes for people. I know I technically need to get some of my own writing done…but the inspiration. I do not have it. #cloneclub
Read moreMy death will probably be caused by me being sarcastic at the wrong time. (via xstrange)
Read morebluestockingfilmseries: Shot of Penny Eizenga directing the crew on the set of her lyrical short film, The Run (Canada, 9 minutes). The film will make its world premiere at the 4th Annual Bluestocking Film Series on Friday, July 18th. Eizenga came to filmmaking later in life, though her previous careers in nursing, pharmaceutical sales, government affairs…
Read moreHOW YOUR SPEC SCRIPT IS LIKE OKCUPID
After reading this blog yesterday, a ringing indictment of the messages received by okcupid users, it occurred to me that online dating is very much like going through a pile of spec scripts. After the 500th “Hi, tell me about yourself.” message, you just check out. If you want to get a reply to your…
Read moreGood writing is remembering detail most people want to forget. Don’t forget things that were painful or embarrassing or silly. Turn them into a story that tells the truth. Paula Danzinger (via videoassocdallas) Live in the heartbreak moments, because thats when people connect to characters (via killtheintern)
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