Weekend Read, our app for reading scripts on your phone, features a new curated collection of screenplays each week. This week, we look at the many blood-draining Vampire stories to see how a sub-genre can continually reinvent itself in order to stay immortal. Our collection includes: * Blade by David S.
In Episode 649 of Scriptnotes, John talks with Simon Rich (Miracle Workers, American Pickle) about what makes a strong comedic premise, and how the format changes the focus. Whatâs funny in a three-minute SNL sketch often doesn't translate to a 100-minute feature. This week, letâs go
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was at work writing a second volume of the stories of Don Quixote when a curious thing happened: A different author published a second volume. Cervantes then made the effort to use his own sequel to criticize the unauthorized volume, yet in doing so made some
Weekend Read, our app for reading scripts on your phone, features a new curated collection of screenplays each week. This week, we look at characters who fixate on others to the point of obsession, and how stalkers can illuminate the darker sides of human nature. Our collection includes: * Ingrid Goes
In an episode of Tim Harford's podcast Cautionary Tales, Tim narrates the biography of William McGonagall, aka The Worst Poet in the World. But the focus of the story isn't on the quality of his writing, but the ferocity with which he pursued it and promoted
Every two characters in a story have some kind of relationship. It doesnât mean theyâre best friends or arch rivals. Being a complete stranger to someone describes a relationship. But what if you could be a stranger to yourself? Severance has a core premise where the employees of
Comfort viewing wasn't invented during COVID lockdown, but since that moment it's become a larger talking point. What makes a comfort watch, and how do we talk about it? Kathryn VanArendonk looks at the relationship between prestige TV and comfort TV, pointing out how the latter
Weekend Read, our app for reading scripts on your phone, features a new curated collection of screenplays each week. This week, we cross into the spirit realm for some of our favorite cinematic ghost stories. Ghosts are a fixture of folklore across humanity, and stories about them are rarely one
Make the antagonistâs greatest strength the cause of their downfall Sometimes brute force isnât enough â thereâs no way to train longer, punch harder, or science faster. The hero faces an opponent who feels too strong to overcome. Is there a way to make the antagonistâs power
How many hyphens do you want in your title? We look at when actors write and writers act.
Weekend Read, our app for reading scripts on your phone, features a new curated collection of screenplays each week. This week, we look at TV comedies where the creators are also the stars. Building the right vehicle to showcase your talents is challenging, but that through-line of creative vision can
Let's take a look at some real events that made it to the screen more than once.
Highland
Anyone who is currently enrolled in, or teaching, writing courses is now able to access a Free One-Year Highland Pro License!
Featured Friday
Weekend Read, our app for reading scripts on your phone, features a new curated collection of screenplays each week. This week, we hasten the arrival of the spooky season by looking at some of our favorite cinematic witches. Our collection includes: * Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - âChapter One: October Countryâ
A well-executed twist leaves an audience feeling like a story makes more sense now that they know this new information. We'll unpack how Conclave's ending doesn't upend the story, but fulfills the promise of its premise.
Inneresting
Forget saving the cat. Show the reader your hero's inner dog.
Featured Friday
Weekend Read, our app for reading scripts on your phone, features a new curated collection of screenplays each week. This week, we celebrate Love Triangles, and how these messy relationships donât just give us the will-they/wonât-they drama that we crave, but cleverly drive its protagonists towards making
Inneresting
With scenes and sequences in a story, who has the power? Who's in control? And what will it take to change the character in the driver's seat?
Featured Friday
Weekend Read, our app for reading scripts on your phone, features a new curated collection of screenplays each week. This week, like every week, I woke up with a feeling I couldnât shake. Like a flame moving its way down a match, I could tell bad news was heading
Inneresting
or: How I Learned to Stop Trying to Turn Off the Feelings Marvin Gaye said, "Great artists suffer for the people." The First Noble Truth of the Buddha is The Truth of the Existence of Suffering. There are enough popular examples of the tortured artist stereotype to fill
Featured Friday
Weekend Read, our app for reading scripts on your phone, features a new curated collection of screenplays each week. This week, we look at TV shows set in hospitals to see how writers can make one of the most complicated and difficult professions accessible to an audience, and how the
Highland
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
How can a story show it has a strong, personal understanding of its audience? Should a story start from there, or find its way?
Featured Friday
Weekend Read, our app for reading scripts on your phone, features a new curated collection of screenplays each week. This week, we head back to school with stories that capture the excitement (and ease the pain) of starting another academic year. Our collection includes: * 10 Things I Hate About You