Screenwriting

Pitching seems to be a mystery to some, especially if they're brand new to it. And even if they aren't, having a general idea of how to enter into one with confidence never hurts. Having been through the process myself, I'd like to offer eight valuable ways to pitch with confidence:   1) Do Your Research After you’ve competed your final rewrite, be sure to do some research about your chosen executive or network. Find out what they’ve produced and what they’re adding to their slate. Thi...

On my “Wall of Inspiration” is a button I bought on the opening night of a play 32 years ago. It reads, “Life is a constant audition.” It’s a good reminder because auditioning is hard, as I say several times in my last post on Stage 32, Preparing for Auditions: 7 [Guided] Script Approaches That Land You The Job. Just as hard, and very similar to auditioning, is networking. You’re putting yourself out there in front of people, all of whom will judge you in one way or another as you attemp...

If you're reading this blog post, it's because you want to make the most of this platform. You want to connect with others and take things to the next level.   During RB's "Ask Me Anything" webinar a few short months ago, he answered this very question, offering three tips to help creators like you make the most of the platform to help your film or TV career. Click the link below to hear the rest of what he has to say on how to maximize your potential here on Stage 32:   Click Here For R...

So you wrote a blog post for us, didja?Or you wrote one for your own site.And it looks like no one read it.You got maybe 3 comments and 2 likes. Frustrated, you decide that your post wasn't worthy and that doing this blogging thing isn't for you.   Before you decide to throw in the towel, here are four reasons why no one read your blog post today: You didn't offer them a solution to their problem. You didn't write the post for them, you wrote it for you. You've never posted before a...

Happy New Year, Creative Army. Time for our first Coffee & Content of 2019. Going with a little Colombian dark roast to kick the year off. First up, a heavy dose of inspiration from Casey Neistat (with over 2 million views, no less). Whatever you're looking to take on in 2019, you need to watch this video. No excuses, no stopping. Let's get it done. Next, Christian Bale has received his share of praise and criticism through the years. The praise has come from the way he's fully immerses hi...

I remember the beginnings of reality TV. It was a phenomenon that had people hooked on other people's lives every Thursday night at 8 p.m. Today we can binge watch those other people's lives. (Like that time I binge-watched Housewives of Beverly Hills one night after a blogging conference in Ohio.) And while it's clear these days that much of the scripts are, well, scripted, there is something to be said for the way these television shows capture our attention. Lisa Marinelli, a creative...

A lot of effort goes into making a film, so when you’re filming on a low to no budget, seeing your film through to completion is on you. This past year I learned the importance of compassion (for yourself) and the need for creating a realistic schedule. It is relatively easy to see film projects pile up on your hard drive. If you love writing scripts or being on set, the focus can end up being on shooting the film. When you don’t have a set deadline for the edit, it’s easy to get started on pr...

You’re in the middle of working on the best pilot script you’ve ever written. It’s fresh and unique, and you couldn’t be more excited about it. You even did your homework before beginning – you did lots of research to see what similar shows were out there and you were reassured that there was nothing quite like your concept. Then a new show is announced or (worse) airs, only for you to discover that this is the very same idea you’ve been working on, just with a slightly different twist. You feel...

Good morning, Creative Army. Welcome to the last Coffee & Content of 2018. We've had some fun, haven't we? Hopefully we've learned a bit along the way. Let's finish strong, shall we? Brian Helgeland has written some remarkable screenplays including L.A. Confidential (one of my personal favorites). In another phenomenal entry of the BAFTA Guru Series, Helgeland discusses the craft, the business, and how to navigate the highs and lows as writer. Next up from This Guy Edits, a look at the e...

Leave 'em wanting more.Keep 'em guessing.Leave the door open so the audience walks through. The idea of writing a TV series with irresistible cliffhangers is one that may have some writers confused, especially when it comes to the execution. But Lucy V, Hay of Bang2Write feels that too many mysteries or unanswered questions could mislead the viewer. Don't give them up, she says. Just use them the right way.     "...this is the problem with a good 80% of the TV spec series I see: they...