Flashback is a term that we hear nearly every day in life — but what is a flashback in writing? A flashback is sometimes used to give context to the past, but there’s a lot more to the technique than that. We’re going to break down flashbacks by looking at how they’re used by writers, with examples from classical literature like The Odyssey and recent films like Manchester By The Sea. But before we jump into our examples let’s define flashback.Continue reading What is a Flashback? Definition and Examples in Literature and Film
While we may not understand how it happens, some characters connect so deeply with us we feel as though we know them. A big part of this, is relating to why they do things. While we may not agree with everything they do, we may understand why they do it. This is where character motivation comes into storytelling and character building. It’s the invisible force driving all their actions and decisions. Continue reading What is Character Motivation in Storytelling
It’s well documented that Hollywood is a tough industry to crack. Whether an aspiring writer, producer, or director... you’ll often start in a job that’s neither writing, producing, or directing. And as you spend countless hours on Linkedin or Indeed searching for jobs, you may see posts for script reader jobs, script coverage jobs, or even script analyst. But, what is a script reader? Is it different from script coverage? Script analyst? What do they do? How are they paid? Is it a good gateway into the industry? Enough questions, let’s find out.Continue reading How to Become a Script Reader —…
Before John McClane was the quintessential action hero, he was just part of someone’s imagination on the page. Die Hard set the template for a generation of action movies that followed. But what made this particular story so special? Let’s journey through the air ducts for a complete Die Hard script analysis complete with the quotes, characters, and ending that made it an instant classic.Continue reading Die Hard Script PDF Download: Quotes, Characters and Ending
From comedy to action to drama, slow motion can be found throughout every movie genre. As camera technology evolves, slow motion is being implemented in both big-budget blockbusters and low budget indie films. Heck, you can even shoot high frame rate slo-mo on your cell phone now. With the tool being more accessible to all filmmakers, it is important to know how to write slow motion in a script. Continue reading How to Write Slow Motion in a Script: Formatting and Examples
Emotions are subjective experiences that shape our daily lives. These experiences involve both physiological and psychological changes, influencing our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. They are fundamental to our daily experiences, shaping how we interact with the world and each other. Our relationships, jobs, hobbies, and fears are all influenced by the emotions that emerge from our experiences. That said, emotions are at the core of our experience of life itself. So how exactly do they arise within us?Continue reading What are the Theories of Emotion — 4 Theories Explained
Manchester By The Sea garnered a lot of critical acclaim upon release in 2016, including two Academy Awards: Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. There’s a lot we can learn from the Manchester By The Sea script, from its characters to its dialogue. We’re going to break down the Manchester By The Sea screenplay so that you can see how Kenneth Lonergan uniquely writes his scripts. But first, download a copy of the Manchester By the Sea movie script PDF and follow along as we review the story summary.Continue reading Manchester By The Sea Script PDF Download: Plot, Dialogue, and…
The Big Lebowski script is one of the most quoted screenplays ever to be produced. Lottas ins, lotta outs. It also created some of the most beloved movie characters ever to be crafted.Continue reading The Big Lebowski Script: Characters, Quotes, and Screenplay Download
Every story is broken up into sections: arcs, acts, scenes, and yes, beats. Of all the structural elements of a story, beats are the smallest. But what is a story beat in a screenplay and what's the difference between a story beat and a beat meant to signify a pause in action or dialogue? We’re going to answer these questions by looking at some examples from Marriage Story, and Die Hard, but first, let’s review how writing beats are used.Continue reading What is a Story Beat in a Screenplay? Definition and Story Beat Examples
Frozen reinvigorated interest in Disney’s animated films and introduced the world to a song that was destined to be sung by eight-year olds for the rest of eternity. But before the film was a global phenomenon, it all began with the Frozen script. From catchy songs to a heartwarming, subversive message about love, let’s look at what makes the script for Frozen work.Continue reading Frozen Script PDF Download: Songs, Quotes, and Ending
