Zen of Screenwriting

If you are not so much into reading (yeah, as if…), then be sure to check out these video tutorials:

Screenplay How To:
Bob Fritchey gives step by step insight into the process of developing a screenplay in short video clips
His website: http://www.screenplayhowto.com/
The Script Code:
Rick Barretto goes into elaborate detail on some central script issues
His website: http://thescriptcode.com/

I […]

I am convinced that it is equally important to create believable environments as it is to model 3-dimensional characters. While watching a rerun of Crimson Tide (imdb), I noticed the piece’s accuracy in terms of military hierarchy, speak, the submarine’s equipment and especially the realistic use of the 1MC, a ship’s intercom system. A bit […]

I think format is secondary - it’s the content!
But presenting things nicely is also a form of politeness, I think, and a form of respect when it means playing by the rules of a trade or group. In terms of screenwriting you can easily go insane when you try to track down the right format […]

As a personal reminder and sort of a motto, I bookmark Mur’s blog/podcast “I Should Be Writing” (latest post) today. I should really be working…
In order to further network with the online screenwriting community, I’d also like to hint at Paul’s “Process Diary” podcast/blog, who’s latest post on using the rules is a good motivation […]

In a past post I thought about my workflow, especially about how I could refine it by adding a tool of some sort to handle the versioning of my documents and texts.
In computer programming, this problem is a daily task. That’s why a look into this domain is very enlightening. Over decades, numerous people have […]

After browsing through Ronald B. Tobias’ 20 Master Plots: And How to Build Them 
I am tempted to finally give Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces
a chance. As it seems, Tobias has written a helpful guide, complete with checklists (!), about the major themes of literature. An enlightening read. It’s like putting on […]

Many of you might already own a copy of MS Word, write in LaTeX or Emacs. For writers looking for a free alternative, here’s a short list:

celtx which also includes capabilities for storyboarding, scheduling and such
The OpenOffice Suite in combination with the Script style template
Lyx (Linux) with the “Hollywood” template
SLang braintorming tool and ScriptMaker (see […]

A few days ago, I had the chance to watch Tony Gilroys’s Michael Clayton (Steven Soderbergh being Executive Producer).
Actually the plot is interesting, but nothing that makes you cling to your armrest. But, the impressive quality of the film is that you actually enjoy watching Michael Clayton go through all this ups and downs, twists […]

I am the write-annotate-research-annotate more-edit type of writer. I write zillions of short notes and scatter them all over the place and within my texts. For as long as I am forging words, I am looking for the perfect writing tool.
I had my stint with Word, then reverted to pen & paper, where I could […]

Just a quick note: if you need a fresh spark of inspiration, direct your browser to Random plot points. On every visit (or each time your refresh the page) it will spit out a new unexpected twist. Give it a try!
This one goes without detour onto the Blogroll.