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“You Are One Script from The Success You Want!” I’ve heard that line said many times in this Industry – sometimes by writers, managers, and even producers.  It sounds magical. But is it just wishful thinking? Yes and no. If you are writing without any direction, you’re going to need some serious magic.  But if

by Hal Croasmun This article is an excerpt from the “Master The Thriller Genre” class. Maybe you’ve had this experience: I was in a theater last week, watching a thriller with a large audience. There was this moment about half way through when the bad guy was revealed. The moment it happened, the audience gasped!

People love action and they love to laugh. Merge the two and you have a great scene — maybe even a great screenplay. Just so you know, I’m not talking about “slapstick” comedy. That’s one way action and comedy can be merged. But there’s another way that fits more “intelligent comedy.” If you are writing

“There’s nothing wrong with your script.  It just needs a rewrite…” I know, it hurts hearing something like that.  Just when you thought your script was ready, they are pointing to other improvements they want.  But doing the right rewrite can not only elevate your script, but your status as a professional screenwriter. If you

People often write "nice" characters, but many times, a nice character comes across as bland or superficial or even dull. For a nice character to be interesting, it has to have something going on beneath the surface. You want this character to be liked, but you need the character to be interesting, maybe even intriguing.

If you stand outside a theater as a movie lets out, you’ll see that one out of four people are on their phone.  They are either talking with a friend or texting or posting to Facebook/Twitter/Instagram.   What are they talking about?  The movie!   Depending upon the ending, they are either recommending their friend

It is the easiest mistake to make in screenplay dialogue — having your characters tell exactly what is going on in their emotions and thoughts.   The character says they hate a person because they do hate them.  The character tells you the reasons they are doing something…and they are the real reasons.  It is called

  2016 Award Season   Bridge of Spies(Matt Charman and Ethan Cohen and Joel Cohen) Carol (Phyllis Nagy) The Weinstein Company Danny Collins (Dan Fogelman) Bleecker Street Ex Machina (Alex Garland) A24 I'll See You In My Dreams (Brett Haley & Marc Basch) Bleecker Street Infinitely Polar Bear (Maya Forbes) Sony Pictures Classics Inside Out (Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve & Josh

If you ask most people about what the ending is supposed to do, you'll likely hear the words "wrap it up."  Without a doubt, that is a very basic requirement of an ending.  But let me add two more important goals of the ending:        1.  Sell your screenplay.        2.  Create buzz with audiences.  Think of it this way. 

How to write a screenplay — Is there a formula?  There's a quote I've heard around Hollywood many times — "Every writer is just one script away from a career." Translated, it means that with the right screenplay, you're in business. So, how do you write that one screenplay that sells?   For some people,