ALL ARTICLES
How to be Funny During a Pandemic
Mark Twain said that comedy is “tragedy plus time,” but where’s the comedy in the middle of the tragedy? And we’re all familiar with the concept of whistling past the graveyard. But how can you create comedy when you’re...
Shouting From the Rooftops - Another Week of Success
We continue to be astounded by our ISA writers and the successes they have achieved over the past year. It speaks volumes that they have continued to push forward even with the uncertainty and chaos of these last few months.
As always, we are...
“Vida” Enjoyed Three Glorious Seasons On Starz And Opened The Doors To More
“Vida” Enjoyed Three Glorious Seasons On Starz And Opened The Doors To More LatinX TV Series: Tanya Saracho is the showrunner behind the popular LatinX television series, Vida on Starz. Vida is more than a...
The Rise Of The Zoom Room. Will TV Writers’ Rooms Survive?
The pandemic has thrown the film and television industries for a loop; an all other industries for that matter. We are all united in our quest to carry on writing television in the age of social distancing. Many showrunners have chosen to go virtual...
7 Things You Need To Know About Adaptations
I’m sure there’ve been many times when you’ve read that book, graphic novel, or even listened to a song and thought… that would make a great movie or TV show. The popularity and success of such works have created an...
Improving Your Logline
Logline Breakdown ProcessHello from Max Timm, the ISA’s Director of Education, VP of Development with Creative Screenwriter Prods, and coach/consultant for The Story Farm! What you are about to consume is information, education, tips, and...
2 Shopping Agreements Signed + More Good News
In many places around the world, the leaves are changing colors, Halloween decorations are popping up on doorsteps, and the smell of fall is in the air. This year is finally starting to wind down. And what a year it has been!
Now that we're in the...
“Writing Impactful Jokes For Satire” Says Megan Ganz, TV Comedy Writer.
“Writing Impactful Jokes For Satire” Says Megan Ganz, TV Comedy Writer On ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ & ‘Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet’: Megan Ganz was introduced to comedy by her...
Characters Drive the Fast-Moving Story in “Ford v Ferrari”
Ostensibly, the new film Ford v Ferrari is all about the true story of how the Ford Motor Company set out to best Enzo Ferrari’s prowess at Le Mans in 1966 through the help of two racing professionals, but at the end of the day, the...
Video Streaming With Attitude – The Future Of The Film & TV Industry
The brave new world of video streaming is here to stay. Film and TV writers and content creators alike are adjusting to the new landscape of massive consumer choice. This ranges from traditional “appointment TV” to binge-watching and...
We Asked and You Delivered - Success Story RoundUp
We put a call out for your most recent success stories and wow, were we blown away!
Our ISA writers are making moves and we couldn't be more excited. Each time we read a new ISA success story, it just further fuels our mission and...
Writing The Perfect Hallmark Holiday Romantic Comedy Movie
Writing The Perfect Hallmark Holiday Romantic Comedy MovieHoliday films screened during major holidays are as sure as horror films screening at Halloween. Mark Sevi spoke with mega-producer Carol Baum about how screenwriters can best position...
“Find Your Ironic Hook of an Idea” How Screenwriter Matt Lieberman Sold 9+
“Find Your Ironic Hook of an Idea” How Screenwriter Matt Lieberman Sold 9+ Screenplays Between 2018 and 2021, Matt Liberman will have nine features in the works. We spoke with Matt about the “creepy” and...
We're Celebrating Emerging Screenwriters!
Wow! It's been a week, heck, a year. Needless to say, we could all use a little good news!
So today, we're throwing it back to past emerging screenwriters' success stories in anticipation of the next season of Shoot Your Short...
A History-Making Night + ISA Success RoundUp
Last weekend, we celebrated the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards and history was made! Schitt's Creek SWEPT the Comedy category with a seven-Emmy record (nine if you include the Daytime Emmy Awards)! The show...
ISA Success Story RoundUp - Dedicated to RBG
This weekend was hard. That's an understatement.
We lost one of the pioneering women for gender equality, we're still in the midst of a terrible fire season, the pandemic is raging on, and our country is more divided than ever.
To offer...
The Many Faces Of Supporting Characters
Supporting characters serve a lot of functions in films and TV, and, when approached properly, they enhance and burnish the overall impact of visual storytelling. Let’s take a look at some of the key functions of supporting characters in...
The Zenith of the Ass-Kicking Female Action Hero
At the Oscars this year, Brie Larson, Gal Gadot, and Sigourney Weaver presented the music awards while trumpeting the powerful women they played in, respectively, Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, and Alien. Weaver even cracked about how...
Film Producer Chris Goldberg Discusses What It Takes For Screenwriters
Film Producer Chris Goldberg Discusses What It Takes For Screenwriters To Make It In The Business: Chris Goldberg started his career as a literary scout for 20th Century Fox where he was involved in the rights deals for Gone Girl, The Martian,...
ISA Success Story RoundUp
Happy day! Is it too early to break out the bubbly? We're so excited to share some of our favorite success stories from this past week. We know that screenwriting is not an easy path and we continue to be amazed by these...
