Sam Kench is an internationally-awarded screenwriter, independent filmmaker, and film critic. Lover of foreign films; hater of American remakes.
What is a spec script? What does it mean to “write on spec” and is it something you should do? We’ll be answering all of these questions, breaking down the differences between a film spec and a TV spec, and looking at a couple of examples of successful scripts written on spec and the writers whose careers they launched.Continue reading What is a Spec Script — Definition, Examples and Writing Tips
What is body horror? Even hardcore horror fans might have trouble translating body horror movies into words. It’s a little bit of a “you know it when you see it” kind of thing. In this post, we’ll be providing a body horror definition, digging into the history of the genre, and examining its place in contemporary cinema. We'll also cover plenty of gory examples of the best body horror movies along the way.Continue reading Body Horror Explained — Inside the Best Body Horror Movies
Proper screenplay formatting is extremely particular and offers very little wiggle room. There are good reasons behind all of this specificity. A properly formatted script adheres to the current industry standards, meaning all professional screenplays, with very few exceptions, have a standardized appearance and format. In this article, we will explain why following industry-standard formatting is important, how to achieve it, and why these particular margin measurements are considered the standard.Continue reading Screenplay Margins Explained — A Guide for Screenwriters
What is a vignette? The term has the potential to be confusing because it means slightly different depending on which story-telling medium is the topic of discussion. Even within filmmaking, the term can also be used to describe two completely different things. We will sort through this confusion and break down each meaning of ‘vignette.’ We will also take a look at some vignette writing examples in literature and film. Learning this specific writing technique might be exactly what your next project needs. Continue reading What is a Vignette in Writing — Definition & Examples Explained
What are the different styles of writing? How many different types of writing styles and forms of writing are there? There is some disagreement of how many major forms of writing there are. Depending on which source you turn to, you might be told there are only four different styles of writing or you might be told there are as many as 12 forms of writing. There is no right or wrong answer to this question as the matter is subjective, but four is the most commonly accepted answer. In this post, we will be breaking down ‘the 4 types…
One of the best-known names in horror and one of the 10 highest-grossing American authors across all genres to ever live, Stephen King’s prolific body of work has been adapted numerous times with varying degrees of success. There are dozens upon dozens of books to his name, and his pen name Richard Bachman, and almost as many film and TV adaptations have been made of his writing, with more still in the works. Not every Stephen King movie adaptation has been good, but many of them have. Join us in counting down the top 20 Stephen King movie adaptations.Continue reading…
What is a haiku? What distinguishes a haiku from other forms of poetry? We will provide a definition for haiku, explore the history of the form in Japan and around the world, and take a look at some of the most well-known haiku examples. Let’s get started with the definition of a haiku poem.Continue reading What is a Haiku — Definition, Examples and Structure Explained
What is a palindrome? Actually, there are a few different types and we will dig into all of them. In this post, we’ll define palindrome, cover the rules that govern the different styles, and take a look at examples of each type. We will even take a look at a few examples of palindromes in pop culture. Let's get into it!Continue reading What is a Palindrome — Definition, Examples & How They Work
What is a red herring? We’re not talking about the smoked fish, we’re talking about the literary device designed to mislead and deceive the audience. We will explain the term's origins, look at how this technique evolved into storytelling, explore the red herring fallacy, and we will even take a look at some red herring examples in movies. While this device is commonly associated with murder-mysteries, its uses are endless. Let's investigate.Continue reading What is a Red Herring — Definition and Examples in Storytelling
What is Chekhov’s gun? What are setups and payoffs? The concepts are interconnected, and all three should be included in any and all screenwriting endeavors. We will provide working definitions, take a look at illustrative examples used in great films, and discuss how to best incorporate the practice into your own writing. Before we jump into the benefits of setups and payoffs, let’s start by defining Chekhov’s gun.Continue reading Chekhov’s Gun — How To Setup and Payoff in Screenwriting
