What is something each and every story ever told has in common? If you guessed “a setting,” you’d be correct! When your narrative involves characters and motivation, a setting is almost always a given. Sometimes a setting is massive and expansive, while other times it’s small and intimate. So what is a setting, what does setting mean, and how can it be presented, identified, and crafted? We’ll go over a basic setting definition before embarking on an adventure full of helpful info and setting examples. Continue reading Setting Examples — How to Use Time and Place in Film & Lit.
Screenwriting books and instructors often warn aspiring writers against writing flashbacks in their scripts. They know that beginning and amateur writers often use them in a way that can bring a film to a dead stop. However, so many great films have used flashbacks with resounding success. So, let’s learn from some films that figured out how to write a flashback in a script the right way.Continue reading How to Write a Flashback in a Script — Techniques & Format
You’ve got a great idea for a montage. But what is a montage? Before we break it down, let’s quickly touch on what a montage is and why it matters on screen. Figuring out how to write a montage in a script the “right” way is a common concern, especially when there’s confusion around montage meaning and how it fits into visual storytelling. We’ll cover all of these in this post, along with a more efficient way to write your montage with an eye towards production so that your montage gets scheduled, budgeted, and shot.Continue reading How to Write a…
Have you read the Pulp Fiction script and been astonished at the writing? It can feel overwhelming when you sit down to write a screenplay, but the masters feel the same way. The Pulp Fiction script didn't come from thin air. There was hard work put into every page. Today, we're going to break all those rules as we go over the Pulp Fiction script. We even have a free Pulp Fiction script PDF for you. Continue reading Screenplay Examples: Pulp Fiction Script [FREE Script Download]
There’s no shortage of “How to Write a Spec Script” posts out there, and they tend to come in two forms. Articles about writing on spec either spotlight “business side” considerations — marketplace demand, how to get your material out there, which contests to enter — or they give guidance on the creative process: how to find inspiration, ways you can push your imagination, and spec script format. In truth, writing good scripts comes down to a balance.Continue reading How to Write a Spec Script — Tips and Techniques for TV and Film
You’ve finished the greatest story ever told. Now how do you protect your screenplay? It’s a good idea to learn how to copyright a script because, as a writer, the last thing you need is a legal battle. While Final Draft provides a link to WGA script registration, you might want to take it a step further to protect your work. Today, we’ll discuss the most ironclad way to protect your script. We'll tell you how to copyright a script to establish a record of ownership and give you recourse should you ever become a victim of theft. Hammering out the…
A production calendar is essential for keeping projects on track, whether you’re working on a feature film, a corporate video, or a social media campaign. Without a structured production schedule, deadlines can slip, budgets can spiral, and projects may suffer from inefficiencies.So, what is a production calendar? It’s a detailed roadmap that outlines every phase of production—from pre-production planning to final delivery. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to make a production calendar, covering essential steps for optimizing production scheduling and ensuring an efficient production workflow.Continue reading The Ultimate Guide to an Effective Production Calendar
In the age of YouTube, songs are meant to be seen, but producing a music video takes different skills and a different approach altogether. You may know a talented artist who needs a music video, and you might already have a pretty great idea for it. Creating a music video requires a blend of creativity and strategic planning to bring that vision to life. Now you want to back that creativity up with a smart production plan. Learning how to write a script for a music video ensures that your vision translates smoothly from concept to execution.Using a music video…
It’s always good to go into a creative endeavor with a plan. Whether it’s for a music video, ad campaign, or short film, a storyboard can be extremely useful. Storyboards help you outline your vision and understand how you’ll go about creating your project. Never used a storyboard before? Fear not. In this post, we’ll look at how to make a storyboard for video, why you should, and the elements you should include.Continue reading How to Make a Storyboard: Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
Planning a shoot can be scary. There are countless moving parts and decisions you have to make– and the same goes for being on set. So any way you can make your life easier during the process can be vital. This is where shot lists come in. In this post, we’ll look at how to make a shot list and why it’s important to have. Continue reading How to Make a Shot List in 8 Steps — Process Explained
