How to Write a Script Treatment: The Key Elements
Writing a script treatment is an essential step in the development process of any screenplay or TV show. It serves as a blueprint, presenting the creative vision and detailed story …
Film
Articles focussing heavily on Film.
10 Great Dark Comedy Movies and What Writers Can Learn from Them
Dark comedy movies hold a unique place in cinematic history, blending humor with serious or uncomfortable themes. This genre is known for its ability to challenge societal norms and explore …
Plot vs Story: Understanding The Crucial Differences in Screenwriting
In the realm of screenwriting, two distinct elements serve as the foundation for every compelling narrative: plot and story. At first glance, these terms might seem interchangeable, but their roles …
Crafting The Perfect Denouement In A Story
The denouement in a story is the final part where all the loose ends are tied, bringing resolution to the central conflict. While many mistake the denouement for the climax, …
Writing A Compelling True Story Movie Script
The allure of a true story movie lies in its unique ability to connect with audiences on a deeply emotional level. Knowing that a film is based on real events …
How To Assert Complete Control Over Your Character’s Perspective In Screenwriting
Creating a compelling screenplay demands mastery over your character’s perspective. Controlling this viewpoint is essential for the writer for deep storytelling. Character perspective refers to the unique viewpoint or lens …
Is Three Act Structure Still Very Important To Screenwriters?
The three-act structure has long been considered the bedrock of narrative structure for most stories, specifically in screenwriting. This framework, rooted in classical drama, has shaped countless films and continues …
How A Film Lookbook Can Help Your Screenwriting
When it comes to screenwriting, the visual elements of a story are just as crucial as the dialogue and plot structure. While words on a page can convey emotion, action, …
How To Write A Superb Sci-Fi Horror Movie
Sci-Fi Horror is an exciting and potentially powerful sub-genre sandpit that combines the speculative elements of science fiction with the fear-inducing qualities of horror. Sci-fi horror movies create a unique …
How To Write A Superb Survival Film
Survival films captivate audiences by pushing characters to their absolute limits. They tap into primal fears and showcase the raw, unfiltered struggle for life against the odds. From the harrowing …
How To Write A Masterful Femme Fatale Character
The femme fatale, a seductive, dangerous and ‘fatal’ woman, has captivated audiences for centuries. From literary classics to silver screen icons, this archetype continues to intrigue. Beyond her alluring exterior …
Lovecraftian Horror: How to Write Great Screenplays about the Unknown
Lovecraftian horror captivates with its unique blend of cosmic unknowns, instilling a deep sense of dread and fascination. It’s not just about monsters or the supernatural but the unsettling realization …
What are Character Foils in Screenwriting?
Character foils are the secret ingredients that add flavour and depth to a story. These contrasting characters, often paired with the protagonist, highlight key traits and qualities, enriching our understanding …
50 Character Flaws to Use In Your Next Screenplay
Master the subtleties of writing character flaws to sculpt stories that resonate with audiences. Our list of fifty character flaws will help you understand how these faults and failings define …
The Inciting Incident and Its Vital Importance in Screenwriting
In the realm of screenwriting, the inciting incident is a pivotal moment that sets the story in motion. It is the catalyst that propels the protagonist into the main conflict …
Eleanor Young – Truly ORIGINAL Characters Series: Part 25
Welcome to Original Characters, an ongoing series of Industrial Scripts’ articles examining the most original characters to appear in both TV and film. This article will focus on Eleanor Young from Crazy Rich Asians (2018). …
Crafting the Perfect Ending Scene for your Movie or TV Show
In the realm of storytelling, the ending scene holds immense power. It’s the climax of characters’ journeys, the resolution of conflicts, and the final impression left on the audience. As …
How to Avoid Writing One Dimensional Characters
In the realm of storytelling, characters are the heartbeat of any narrative. They drive the plot forward, elicit emotional responses, and ultimately connect the audience to the story. However, one …
How to Create Plot Twist Ideas for Screenplays
Screenwriting is a delicate dance between storytelling and audience engagement, and one of the most exciting moves a screenwriter can make is creating compelling plot twist ideas. Also, a well-crafted …
The Top 9 Highest-Grossing Christopher Nolan Movies – In Order
Christopher Nolan is a name synonymous with cinematic excellence, known for his mind-bending narratives, mazelike storytelling, and visually stunning films. Over the years, Nolan has carved a niche for himself …
The Joker – Truly ORIGINAL Characters Series: Part 23
Welcome to Original Characters, an ongoing series of Industrial Scripts’ articles examining the most original characters to appear in both TV and film. This article will focus on The Joker from Joker (2019). What is …
Famous Screenwriters in Horror
Cinema’s horror legacy weaves spine-chilling tales, engaging audiences with lasting frights that linger far beyond the credits’ conclusion. Behind many of these terrifying tales are masterful horror screenwriters who craft …
Tips For Writing Horror: 6 KEY Lessons From Genre Masters
Tales of evil spirits and witches existed long before the invention of the written word, let alone the invention of cinema. Horror is a well-tread genre, with strong antecedents in …
The One-Page Pitch: 14 ESSENTIAL Elements and a Template
What will make your one-page pitch standout from the gazillion other pitches out there? And how do you blend a screenwriter’s creative talents into a technically sound pitch, especially when …
15 Kelly Reichardt Quotes to INSPIRE Writers and Filmmakers
Kelly Reichardt almost always works as a writer, director AND editor on her films. As a result, few people in American cinema understand storytelling as intimately as Kelly Reichardt. She’s …
What Are the Key Screenplay Transitions? An ESSENTIAL Guide
A blank page. A blinking cursor. Text: right-aligned. Font: courier new. FADE IN: Every movie, and therefore every screenplay, has transitions. Every change in time is a transition; every scene …
Suspenseful Movies: QUICK Tricks for Writing Suspense
No film technique elicits the fear of the unknown more effectively than writing suspense. As humans, we’d rather know something bad is coming, than be in the unknown. This is …
Why Does Your Screenplay Page Count REALLY Matter?
Trying to hit a certain page count is probably one of the least exciting elements of writing and polishing a screenplay. But for those sitting down to read it, a …
15 Adam McKay Quotes for Screenwriters and Filmmakers
He’s one of the biggest directors in Hollywood and a giant of the comedy world. So we take a look at 15 Adam McKay quotes in order to get an …
How Do You CREATE and MAINTAIN Empathetic Characters?
There are many important aspects to writing a great screenplay; good dialogue, interesting settings, unique stories, and good characterisation. However, little is arguably more important than creating and maintaining empathetic …
The Eternal Sunshine Ending: How to Write a GREAT Conclusion
In this article, we take a look at the ending of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in order to learn what makes it so powerful and effective. What lessons …
Existential Cinema: How Do You Write an Existential Film?
For the most part, cinema is a form of entertainment. But this is not to say that films cannot and should not concern themselves with some of the more serious …
The 101 BEST Screenplays EVER Written and WHY They Rank
What does it take to write one of the best screenplays ever written? You’re probably already familiar with the key elements that constitute a cohesive and compelling screenplay. A basic …
The KEY Elements to Workplace Dystopias in Film and TV
Over the last few years, there has been a rise in the number of workplace dystopias in film and TV. But what are the essential elements of these stories? And …
The Insider Interviews – with ex-Amazon Head Georgia Brown
This latest iteration of our Insider Interviews Series is with former Amazon Studios Europe Head Georgia Brown, one of the three judges of the third year of Industrial Scripts’ screenwriting contest, The TITAN …
How to Use Public Domain Properties to Create a Screenplay
In many ways, public domain properties are the film and TV industry’s lifeblood. They’re at least a substantial piece of how stories are created, adapted and marketed. But what are …
20 Illuminating Noah Baumbach Quotes for Writers and Directors
He’s an idiosyncratic writer-director known for his searing portrayals of family dynamics, witty dialogue and brilliant characters. And such an insightful writer with a vast array of directing experience inevitably …
How Do You Write GOOD Parody in Film and TV?
Parodies can contain a multitude of differences across a multitude of genres. So how do you even approach writing a tricky and difficult-to-define subgenre? In short, you must try to …
70 ESSENTIAL Literary Devices to Aid Your Screenwriting
Are you trying to write your first screenplay but don’t know how to give your screenplay flair? Or perhaps, you’re a budding screenwriter looking for some new techniques to elevate your …
20 of the Most Common Screenwriting Mistakes You MUST Avoid
What are the most common screenwriting mistakes that a screenwriter will likely make? What mistakes will be all too familiar to screenplay readers and development executives? Some mistakes are forgivable …
What is Personification and Why is it Useful in Screenwriting?
Personification is a popular literary device that uses figurative language and can be a powerful tool in creating memorable characters and settings. However, it is not just used in poems …
15 Baz Luhrmann Quotes to INSPIRE Writers & Filmmakers
A distinctive filmmaker that has little parallel in contemporary cinema, Baz Luhrmann has been wowing audiences since the early 1990s. The Australian filmmaker is known for his distinctive style. And …
What is Indirect Characterization in Screenwriting? 12 KEY Steps
Indirect characterization is an essential part of constructing a convincing and compelling fictional character. Whether your character is a hero, a villain or a sidekick, they are always more interesting and …
15 INSPIRING Damien Chazelle Quotes for Writers & Filmmakers
He’s a modern-day Hollywood heavyweight. But it’s easy to forget that it’s not long ago at all that Damien Chazelle was the industry’s hottest new thing. He’s a director who …
How Do You Write a GREAT Sidekick Character?
Writing a sidekick character can come with a lot of creative freedom. Where your protagonist or hero may have a rigid characterisation, a sidekick can complement them in many different …
How Do You Write a Convincing and Powerful Death Scene?
How to write a good death scene? This is a question writers may well have been pondering since stories were told on the walls of caves. From Shakespeare to Spielberg, …
How Do You REALLY Analyze Films? The Keys to Film Analysis
Everyone who has an interest in movies has probably tried to analyze a film at least once. Maybe you analyzed films for your own pleasure or maybe you needed to …
Patrick Bateman – Truly ORIGINAL Characters Series: Part 21
Welcome to Original Characters, an ongoing series of Industrial Scripts’ articles examining the most original characters to appear in both TV and film. This article will focus on Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. What …
The KEY Building Blocks to Writing a GOOD Romantic Comedy
The romantic comedy goes all the way back to Shakespeare, with plays such as Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream being full of love triangles and comic …
What is the But and Therefore Rule in Screenwriting?
In every screenwriting class, you are going to learn about many rules. However, the most important one is always the same: give the story energy to keep the viewers engaged. …