Of all of the parts of a screenplay, the opening scene is perhaps the most important – not only because it has to establish the world of the story, but because it also has to grab the attention of the script-reader. We’re going to look at a few different ways you can start your screenplay… Continue reading Screenplay Opening Scene Examples — 6 Ways to Begin a Script
If you’re writing a movie or show, chances are you’ve also thought about the difficult road ahead that is selling or funding your idea. If you want to get producers excited, you’ll need a killer treatment. In this post, we’ll explain treatments and how you can use one to sell your own concept. Producers love a… Continue reading How to Write a Film Treatment like a Pro
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → Symbolism can create an indelible impression on an audience. Symbolism runs through literature, poetry, and screenwriting. But what is symbolism? In this article, we’ll define symbolism and… Continue reading What is Symbolism? Definition & Examples
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → Have you ever watched a movie with a plot twist that blew your mind and then watched that movie again and noticed signs leading to the twist?… Continue reading What is Foreshadowing — Definition, Examples in Film and Lit.
Have you ever watched a film that had some level of predictability, but despite this kept you engaged and entertained up until the credits rolled? Odds are the filmmaker behind the movie had a solid understanding of the genre. Most movie-goers have a basic understanding of popular movie genres such as comedy, romance, and dramas. But… Continue reading What is Genre — Definition and Examples of Genre Conventions
Screenplay Structure 101Open menu Three Act Structure Freytag’s Pyramid Story Mountain Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey Save the Cat Dan Harmon’s Story Circle 5 Stages of A StoryOpen menu Exposition Inciting Incident Rising Action Climax Falling Action Denouement Write Your Script For Free → The all-important plot. It’s a word you’ve likely heard… but what does… Continue reading What Is a Plot? Types of Plot, Definitions, and Examples
A great screenplay is worth millions (sometimes billions!) of dollars, so protect them through watermark PDFs! Are there simple steps to help increase the security of your script? YES! And they are readily available in StudioBinder. We’re going to show you how to create a watermark PDF of your script that also includes headers and footers.… Continue reading Watermark PDF: How to Protect Your Screenplays
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → What is subtext? The age-old adage says that subtext is what’s inferred by reading between the lines, but how do we know what to look for? In… Continue reading What is Subtext — How to Use Subtext in Screenwriting
Screenwriting ResourcesOpen menu Screenwriting Internships Screenwriting Classes Online Screenwriting Websites Screenwriting Programs Screenwriting Fellowships Screenwriting Books Free Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Write Your Script for Free W hen you’re starting out as a screenwriter, it can be hard to know how to forge a path. There are lots of “experts” out there, but you want to… Continue reading 19 Best Screenwriting Websites to Fast Track Your Career
Plot TropesOpen menu What is a Trope What is a Cliche Flashback MacGuffin Plot Twist Red Herring FREE Movie Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Write Your Script for Free What does deus ex machina mean? Writers work hard to put their characters into terrible situations to find new and creative ways to get them out. It’s… Continue reading Deus ex Machina — Meaning, Definition & Examples
Screenplay Structure 101Open menu Three Act Structure Freytag’s Pyramid Story Mountain Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey Save the Cat Dan Harmon’s Story Circle 5 Stages of A StoryOpen menu Exposition Inciting Incident Rising Action Climax Falling Action Denouement Write Your Script For Free → Exposition in film or screenwriting is one of the most difficult aspects… Continue reading 12 Secrets to Great Exposition in Screenwriting (w/ Examples)
The answer to the title question is pretty obvious: screenwriters write screenplays, right? Well, yeah, but there’s much more to the craft than the finished product. Every writer has their own process so let’s hear from some incredibly talented and iconic screenwriters to see how they approach their stories. Once we get the full picture… Continue reading What Does a Screenwriter Do? The Fundamentals of the Job
Screenplay Structure 101Open menu Three Act Structure Freytag’s Pyramid Story Mountain Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey Save the Cat Dan Harmon’s Story Circle 5 Stages of A StoryOpen menu Exposition Inciting Incident Rising Action Climax Falling Action Denouement Write Your Script For Free → Screenwriters have a tendency of defining the three act structure by either… Continue reading What is The Three Act Structure — And Why It Works
How to Format a ScreenplayOpen menu Scene Headings Sluglines Action / Description Dialogue Transitions TV Script Format 101 FREE Movie Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Write Your Script for Free A screenplay is an entirely different beast than a novel, essay, or poem. Instead of a finished work of art, a screenplay is a blueprint for… Continue reading What is a Screenplay — The Ultimate Guide for Screenwriters
Time going by in film is an amazing opportunity for writers of all levels to put their creativity to the test. Some films opt for simple titles, while others write the passing of time into the very structure of the screenplay. But what is the best way to write the passage of time in your… Continue reading How to Write the Passage of Time in Your Screenplay
Understanding how to introduce characters in a screenplay takes more than properly formatting character descriptions. You want to consider when, where, and how each decision will play out in the mind of the reader and then how it will translate onscreen. We’ll explian screenwriting character introductions so that you can build rich character descriptions that set… Continue reading How to Introduce Characters in a Screenplay: Character Descriptions Tips
Screenplay Structure 101Open menu Three Act Structure Freytag’s Pyramid Story Mountain Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey Save the Cat Dan Harmon’s Story Circle 5 Stages of A StoryOpen menu Exposition Inciting Incident Rising Action Climax Falling Action Denouement Write Your Script For Free → T he act of storytelling has always been with us. Anthropologist Joseph Campbell… Continue reading How the Dan Harmon Story Circle Can Make Your Story Better
Learning how to write dialogue is not easy. You’ve written a pretty good script, but you know it could be GREAT. Could writing better dialogue in your screenplay be that missing piece? Want screenwriting tips that teach you how to write dialogue in a script with writing examples from movies and TV to go with each… Continue reading 22 Screenwriting Tips for Better Movie Dialogue in Your Scripts
T he actual writing of your script is the fun part. But, just like any form of writing, you have to know where you’re going first. Organization is important. That’s where a script outline comes into play. Understanding your central character’s desire, and capturing the scenarios they attract for themselves, should guide that process. There is no… Continue reading How to Write a Script Outline for Film and TV (Free Template and Examples)
ProcessOpen menu How to Make a Short Film Short Film Schedule Tips Write a Short That Gets Noticed How to Storyboard a Short Film Phases of Short Film Pre-Production How Whiplash Went From a Short to a Feature ResourcesOpen menu Best Short Films of All Time Best Short Film Ideas Crowdfunding Movies The Ultimate Film… Continue reading How to Write a Short Film Script Without Dialogue
