Screenwriting

How to Write Sluglines: Scene Heading Format and Creative Uses

Screenplays are a unique and often challenging medium for storytelling because they are essentially stories on the page made for the screen. It can be difficult for screenwriters to communicate the visuals of a film through screenwriting, but one of the best tools they have to do this is the slug line. They are used… Continue reading How to Write Sluglines: Scene Heading Format and Creative Uses

Kyle DeGuzman

What is a Film Treatment? Examples From E.T. and The Shining

Whenever you read a full-length screenplay, it is important to understand all of the steps that led to the final draft of that script. Stories are often changed and workshopped long before they are written into a screenplay. The pre-writing phase of a screenplay is essential to many writers and a fundamental device used is… Continue reading What is a Film Treatment? Examples From E.T. and The Shining

Kyle DeGuzman

13 Best Screenwriting Contests You Need to Enter Now

I think we all can agree, screenwriting contests can be useful tools for both new writers and those with experience under their belts. They’re excellent ways to get noticed, but some of the contests out there can’t take you as far as some others. So what are the best screenwriting contests to enter? Continue reading 13… Continue reading 13 Best Screenwriting Contests You Need to Enter Now

Matt Rickett

19 Best Screenwriting Websites to Fast Track Your Career

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 get your information from the best screenwriting websites. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best twelve screenwriting websites so we can help you on… Continue reading 19 Best Screenwriting Websites to Fast Track Your Career

StudioBinder

How to Become a Script Reader — Duties, Salary, and Resources

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… Continue reading How to Become a Script Reader — Duties, Salary, and Resources

Theo Friedman

What is an Allusion? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters

Storytellers have been using literary allusion for thousands of years – Sophocles, for example, used Greek mythological allusion in Antigone way back in 441 BC. But while the device is a crucial element of literature and drama, it’s not always easy to recognize types of allusion or understand how they are used. Exactly what is… Continue reading What is an Allusion? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters

Michael Bodhi Green

What is a Protagonist? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters

What is a protagonist? Many refer to it as the lead character in a story but the true protagonist definition is slightly more complicated than that. To understand the protagonist meaning completely, we need to look at how different types are used in screenwriting. This will help you decide which type of hero (or villain… Continue reading What is a Protagonist? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters

Chris Heckmann

What is a Metaphor? Definition and Examples in Literature and Film

No matter what you write, it’s agreed that metaphors are an important literary device. But, what is a metaphor? What does metaphor mean? In this article, we’ll explore this question and answer how this literary device can enhance your screenwriting. We’ll cover this concept and catalog the ways in which you can use metaphors to… Continue reading What is a Metaphor? Definition and Examples in Literature and Film

Ken Severson

What is Understatement? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters

⌂ OverviewVerbal IronySituational IronyDramatic Irony Verbal irony can take many forms, each with its own characteristics and purpose. What is understatement? Understatement is a type of verbal irony that turns language into an opportunity to say a lot with a little. Mastering this type of verbal irony is a great tool for any writer looking… Continue reading What is Understatement? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters

Brent Dunham

The Godfather Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis

The Godfather is nothing short of a masterpiece. That’s because every single facet of the film’s production is layered with detail, emotion, and purpose. But everything that we see visually in the final cut was once just an idea in the minds of Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, initially transcribed onto the page as… Continue reading The Godfather Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis

Chris Heckmann

22 Screenwriting Tips for Better Movie Dialogue in Your Scripts

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

SC Lannom

What is Historical Irony? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters

⌂ OverviewVerbal IronySituational IronyDramatic Irony The future is unwritten — at least that’s what they say — but the past is very much written. From a present-day perspective, we can learn about what was done and whether or not it worked. In storytelling, historical irony gives your characters perspective. It is a very specific type… Continue reading What is Historical Irony? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters

Brent Dunham

3 Types of Irony Every Storyteller Should Know (with Examples)

⌂ OverviewVerbal IronySituational IronyDramatic Irony We encounter irony every day: in our favorite movies, TV shows, and in our own lives. Most people have a general understanding of irony but there are also a lot of misconceptions about it. For example, were you aware that there are 3 different types of irony? In this article, we’re… Continue reading 3 Types of Irony Every Storyteller Should Know (with Examples)

Brent Dunham

What Are The Stages of Dramatic Irony? Examples for Screenwriters

⌂ OverviewVerbal IronySituational IronyDramatic Irony Dramatic irony requires time to work effectively. And, in the best examples, dramatic irony unfolds over the course of minutes, an hour, or even the entire film. Similar to a three-act structure, there are stages to how it works. What are the stages of dramatic irony? We’ll answer that with… Continue reading What Are The Stages of Dramatic Irony? Examples for Screenwriters

Brent Dunham

What is a MacGuffin? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters

A briefcase full of money. A Persian rug. Important documents. Technically, all of these story elements answer the question: “What is a MacGuffin?” However, the term has been thrown around a lot these days and a lot of people continue to misuse it. Here, we’ll give you a primer on this age-old trope and consider… Continue reading What is a MacGuffin? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters

Mike Bedard

What is Socratic Irony? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters

⌂ OverviewVerbal IronySituational IronyDramatic Irony Socratic irony is one of the more manipulative types of irony. It’s a tricky way to get information out of someone that can be used against them later. This type of irony is perfect for courtroom scenes but can applied in any sort of verbal confrontation. Let’s define Socratic irony… Continue reading What is Socratic Irony? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters

Brent Dunham