Cinema fans love the genre, going back to the early 1930s when stars like James Cagney (The Public Enemy) and Edward G. Robinson (Little Caesar) made films about the underworld into big (ahem) hits. Since then, almost every movie year has seen a...

Entrepreneurship will make you cry and hope for a happy ending. Just like a good movie.   Many excellent movies have been made about entrepreneurs and the pioneering spirit they embody. These movies can encourage, exhilarate and, of course,...

Another successful Virtual Pitch Challenge has come and gone, and this season has been one of our best yet! This time around we focused on TV pilots, and set out to discover intriguing and unique show concepts through our TV Pilot Pitch Challenge....

The other day, I met a new writer, who sent me his pilot to read ahead of our session. He was a talented writer, for sure; the world of his show was rich, and his plot well thought out. But it also left a number of questions for me, the sort of...

This was posted on Redit by a studio reader after doing coverage analysis on 300 scripts:

WritePeople with writer’s block don’t have a problem typing. They have a problem living with bad writing, imperfect writing, writing that might expose something that they fear.The best way to address this isn’t to wait to be...

This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series Narrative Tricks:1) MontagesA montage basically compresses time. That’s why it exists and that’s the only reason it should be put into any script.A character needs to learn a skill like...

This entry is part 1 of 2 in the series Narrative Tricks:I don’t like storytelling “tricks.” By that I mean voice over, fantasy sequences, flashbacks, dreams, montages, or unnecessary or arbitrary non-linear structure. Sure,...

The creative life of a screenwriter is often filled with potholes, periods of drought and decisions largely out of your control. So how can a screenwriter plan their career? Focus on the creative process more than the outcome. Visualize signing your...

James Cameron’s screenplay Avatar is an outstanding example of using many structural tools and devices successfully in one script.In addition to the overall structure of your screenplay – the three acts, the five key turning...

Resilience is an amazing skill that helps us recover quickly from difficulties. If you are resilient, you have an innate ability to keep getting up when life knocks you down. You have learned how to bounce back and keep going.We build our...

The quest for a great story involves chewing through hundreds of ideas trying to find one with that magic something. And not only do you have to find an idea, but you have to evaluate its power because the ability to tell gold from fool’s gold...

(Repost) Produced By Conference at Warner Bros. Studios to discuss the state of our industry. A comprehensive panel discussed with some senior industry executives on the future of producing film and TV shows. The panel...

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  — John 8:32“The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off.”– Gloria SteinhemWhen I was a student in film school, I joined a...

(REPOST) I figured I’d write a bit about what I learned from the most unexpected business partner I’d ever have: Stan Lee.Now, I’m not claiming that I worked closely with or was personally close to, the great Stan Lee. As CEO of...

Sarah Connor. Ethan Hunt. James Bond. There’s a deep bench of iconic characters that have helped define and exemplify action cinema for decades. Between preventing nuclear annihilation, rescuing hostages and restoring balance to the universe,...

Write something..Then improve it.Then write something else.Repeat this process until you have a post.Then post it.Then repeat this process.There’s no such thing as writer’s block. There’s simply a fear of bad writing. Do enough bad...

“Own What You Write. Stand By Your Taste.” Advice From Zach Cox, Manager At Circle Of Confusion:Zach Cox has been at Circle Of Confusion for over 12 years. He started as an intern in the Fall of 2006 and became a manager by the fall of...

Ms. Ameri is a Los Angeles-based entertainment attorney who represents independent film producers, production companies, writers, actors, and directors in a variety of transactions ranging from acquisition of intellectual property and life story...

Pitching is a delicate dance between screenwriter and executive. A mating ritual of words and story ideas. A seduction. Much of it is rehearsed, but there is a certain amount of winging it involved, especially if screenwriters need to pivot to...