Resources
V.O. vs O.S.: Voice‑Over & Off‑Screen Dialogue Explained
V.O. (voice over) and O.S. (off-screen) are similar terms, but they have slightly different applications.
John August
Resources
Beat Writer’s Block: Screenwriters’ Creative Reset
John talks about how to define those moments when the writing isn’t happening when you need it to.
Resources
Residuals for Screenwriters: What You Must Know
John looks back at the Writers Guild contract negotiations with the AMPTP, and explains an important part of how screenwriters are paid for their work.
Resources
Screenwriting Parentheticals: Rules & Best Practices
Parentheticals (also called “wrylies” or “actor’s direction”) are used to clear up confusion about a line that could be read multiple ways: They can also be used to indicate who a speaker is addressing: You will sometimes see them used to indicate action. This is acceptable if the action
Resources
Screenplay Title Page Format: A Complete Guide
First impressions matter. Discover how to format your screenplay’s title page like a pro.
Highland
Highland 2 vs Highland Pro: what changed, what stayed the same, and where to get it
Highland 2 has evolved into Highland Pro. It's the next generation of the app, now on Mac, iPad, and iPhone with one subscription and a 30-day free trial.
Inneresting
🏃 Short Answer Sprint
For this week's rebroadcast, we highlight some evergreen questions from readers in 2007.
Inneresting
Rebroadcast: Dick Jokes for Classy Producers
Back in 2010, John answered a question about second guessing yourself and deciding what sample to send to a producer if you think your work doesn't match their taste.
Inneresting
The Perils of Coincidence
In 2007, John came back from a screening of Spider-Man 3 and used his reactions to point to the hurdles a writer can throw in their story's path when relying too heavily on coincidence.
Highland
Creating Custom Themes in Highland Pro
In Highland Pro, you can change the colors of just about anything. Use one of our built-in themes, or create one exactly to your taste. In this short video, I explain how themes work, how to create a custom theme, and how to share your creation with others. Here&
Highland
The Design Philosophy Behind Highland Pro’s /Lookup Feature
Highland Pro’s /lookup provides short, inline answers. Building it required early design decisions.
Inneresting
Which Screenplay Should I Write?
In 2009, John answered a question about how to choose between the different stories competing for your attention, and gave an example of one time he didn’t need to choose just one. I know you have addressed this type of question to a certain extent, but I was left