Screenwriting

It’s true that the writing sample is the most important part of any query letter. However, you need to spend some time making sure that the query letter is solid as well. First impressions matter, and you can rub agents the wrong way if your query letter isn’t up to snuff. Here are the 10 biggest mistakes screenwriters make when querying. 1. Using A Generic Greeting If you are submitting a query letter, address the agent properly by name in your greeting. It’s unprofessional to use a...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? Whether you’ve been writing, filming, editing, or simply dreaming up your next big idea, I’ve got some inspiring content to fuel your passion and keep you moving forward. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. This week’s featured video essay comes from FilmStack and takes a closer look at the quiet brilliance of Cillian Murphy. Most actors spend their careers chasing the spotlight. Cillian Murphy spent his time avoiding i...

There are so many different aspects to your screenplay that will guarantee its success. A compelling story is one such aspect, but without interesting characters, the story will just fall flat. Here are some tips to help you write the best characters possible, and bring that story to life. 1. Make The Lead A Likable Person You may want to avoid this, as trying to make a character likable can often make the story dull and uninteresting. After all, if there's no one creating conflict, then the...

Happy Thursday, Creative Army! As you probably saw from my posts, I like to compare festivals and markets not against one another, but year over year. We had a fantastic Cannes last year, but there was still much apprehension in the air. Residue from COVID and the strikes, although even then, the international perspective remained optimistic. This year, the vibe was overwhelmingly positive, and we’ve returned to business as usual. The general feeling toward any negativity is that it’s all he...

Whether you are making Hollywood blockbusters, indie darlings, or passion projects in your back yard marketing your film on social media is incredibly beneficial. However, you may not be sure where to start. This article hopes to give you a guide, offering tips and advice on using social media as a creative. Create a Plan Work out what you want to share and when you want to share your posts. Take time to work out your target audience and post at the best times for them in order to get the m...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? Whether you’ve been writing, filming, editing, or simply dreaming up your next big idea, I’ve got some inspiring content to fuel your passion and keep you moving forward. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. This week’s featured video comes from Corridor Crew: Stuntmen React to THE KARATE KID (ft. Ben Wang). Corridor Digital founder Niko Pueringer and professional stuntman Gui Silva (Black Panther, among others) are join...

*This blog is co-written by Elizabeth Blake-Thomas and Isabella Blake-Thomas. Embarking on the journey of screenwriting demands more than just creativity—it requires foresight into what makes a script not only compelling on paper but also viable for the silver screen. At Mother and Daughter Entertainment, we understand the intricacies of transforming a script from concept to production-ready material. Whether you're driven by passion, personal exploration, or the ambition to see your story unf...

I have been writing and publishing stories for more than 10 years, first as a novelist. I always wrote in a silo, never sharing my work until I had reworked it countless times. Heaven forbid someone sees my terrible first draft! After publishing two novels this way, I opened myself up to a trusted friend as my next story was more complexly layered. It all made sense in my head, but would my reader get the connections? By bouncing around ideas and sharing my drafts with this friend, I fixed plot...

Television is a lot like food. Really! The packaging piques our interest by showing us what’s inside: ads, posters, etc. We might buy it because a friend told us how much they loved it, or maybe we saw it prominently featured at the front of the store (Netflix’s Top 10). We order it off a menu – think the home page of HBO Max or the evening lineup on CBS. Each restaurant’s menu is different - each platform has its own brand. And we expect to be served what we think we are buying: a bag of M&M’s...

Every creative journey has its storms, those moments when doubt, setbacks, and exhaustion make the finish line feel impossibly far away. Whether you're an artist, filmmaker, musician, or entrepreneur, the road to bringing a vision to life isn’t paved with ease. Instead, it's filled with unexpected detours, financial struggles, and moments where quitting seems like the only option. But here’s the truth: the projects that matter most are often the hardest to make happen. The Weight of the Proces...