helping filmmakers tell amazing stories
SMASHED started with a bang back in April. I had no idea what I was in for, and now, as we approach the final weeks of post, I finally have some time to reflect upon the process. I’ll share more about the experience of writing, …
This issue seems so obvious. I think it’s a challenge because, in part, we avoid escalation of problems in our personal lives, but in the make believe fantasy worlds we spend so much time in, escalation is the backbone of intrigue. I’ve been teaching for …
Lesson 2: Underdeveloped Characters The more you write, the more active you are in learning to become a better writer, the more you’ll see these glaring problems diminish. You will learn to spot them faster, and avoid them the first time. Practice is king. According …
LESSON 1: UNDERDEVELOPED PLOTS I love this visual. In fact, I love it so much I thought I would spend 10 articles writing about each category. I came across this image in an email recently (you may have gotten too). Maybe it was the …
The terms “based on” and “inspired by” suggest very different standards of adherence to the facts providing the ideas for a film and the degree of fictionalization used to enhance the story, change the narrative, or make the film more marketable. A film that was “inspired …
Screenwriting Competition — Now Accepting Screenplays Is your script ready? Writing screenplays is a beast, so shouldn’t a short screenplay be easier. YES. And I believe they are – if you know what you’re doing. Most people try to do too much in short screenplays. …
There’s a reason I like to call it feedback instead of criticism. First, feedback doesn’t sound so harsh, and second, most people (even writers) don’t know how to properly give constructive criticism. But let’s look at the word criticism before we decide how to deal …
Screenwriting competitions require strategies; You’ve worked hard on your script. Plotting. Crafting. Writing. Rewriting. Reading. Rewriting. Basically, you’ve done everything you can to make your script, YOUR STORY, the absolute best it can be. Now what? There are literally hundreds of screenwriting competitions, and while …
Of the ten winners from a Place Called Sacramento Screenwriting competition, half of them came from my recent screenwriting class. The winners were announced last week, and though I knew of two, I hadn’t heard about the rest. I was floored. Several students that I …
Ready to put your film maker and writer skills to use? Th 2018 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge is right around the corner. It’s a 3-day challenge, starting Friday, April 13. In order to participate, you’ll need to enter (minimal cost) and clear your calendar for …
A PLACE CALLED SACRAMENTO — Short Film Competition Access Sacramento hosts this awesome opportunity for film-makers. Each year, Access Sacramento accepts short screenplays (under 10 pages). The scripts are read by a panel of judges and after much consideration, ten finalists are selected to represent! …
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