They say all dialogue should further understanding of the character or further the story. It also needs to convey distinct character voice, be entertaining, and convey the impression that the writer is worthy of being hired. It’s a lot, and people often get lost trying to do everything at once. Here’s my trick: I like... Continue Reading →
Blog
Dimensional characters have a true nature, and a false face they present to the world.
Writing characters is a varied art form and there's a million ways to develop characters that are "great" "dimensional," "original." Here's a simple trick I like to use: Who is this character, really? How do they present themselves to the world? These are also good questions for life. If you want to know how someone wants... Continue Reading →
Don’t Write Generic Dialogue. Speak to the specific complaint.
I hate generic stuff, moments that show something basic: the kid loves his mom! The cop works at a precinct! The couple is fighting! Any hack could write that, and it's the screenplay's job to show off what's special about your writing style. You want to sell people on the idea of you. Here's a... Continue Reading →
Three act structure may be bullshit, but it’s useful bullshit.
Three act structure falls into a category I call “useful bullshit.” Typically arguments over three act structure become a tedious fight about whether it’s always the best or whether it even exists. It’s a mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain an idea without necessarily holding it to be true. Therefore, I... Continue Reading →
Justify: When you get a logic note, ask it in the screenplay and explain it away.
A big part of writing is justification: anticipating common sense logic notes, asking them yourself in the script, and creating a plausible explanation This maintains willing suspension of disbelief, and creates specifics of character that ends up paying off later. When people don't get things, they're not flawed or bad, they're "calling out" a logical issue... Continue Reading →
Exercise: If you’re stuck on a plot, write from character POV
Goldman once wrote that screenwriting is structure. A lot of people take that to mean that screenwriting is plot, which is it isn't. Screenwriting is about story, and story is about the immediate moments. Take James Bond. All the classic plots are pretty much the same (action scene, M tells Bond to kill a guy,... Continue Reading →
Most people picture language visually. Knowing this makes writing easier.
A screenplay is a de facto movie and anything presented will eventually have to be literally photographed (or said.) Understanding why this works lends insight into human beings, your target audience. I learned this when I was taking an acting class. The teacher was stressing a point on how we should invest words with meaning.... Continue Reading →
How to Write a one liner (or God’s Approval Hits Record Low )
If you ever listen to Simpsons DVD commentaries, you'll hear the recurring complaint that one liners, sign gags, and the like take the longest to write, even with a full team of really funny comedy writers. I agree with this. Most comedy is character based, characters are set up with traits, and we see them... Continue Reading →
