How does the character solve problems?
How a character solves their problems is a defining characteristic that we often forget.
The 3-Part Act 1 and the Inciting Incident.
Sometimes the needs of Act 1 do not lend themselves to an early inciting incident. For those unique stories, you have the 3-Part Act 1.
Write your Spec. But first, write your treatment.
I used to hate treatments. Now it's an immensely valuable part of my process.
A nepo baby's main advantage is something you can emulate.
The biggest advantage of nepotism isn't the connections; it's the immersion in the craft and the embedded belief that a career is possible.
Screenplay structure is fractal.
I approach each screenplay structure as a fractal and have found that the most satisfying screen stories follow this pattern.
How the monster movie structure can help you with any genre.
When structuring your story, you don't have to start from scratch. There are plenty of places to look for inspiration, and one of them is genre.
Keep a scene dynamic through character tactics.
The key to keeping a scene fresh and alive is characters making choices in reaction to what happens around them.
What motivates the characters in your screenplay?
Anxiety means well. Anxiety’s job is to protect us, after all. It’s just usually an incredibly unskilled and unproductive way to do it.
How to write a montage.
Don't let proper montage format sabotage your montage.
The two key elements to narrative momentum.
Narrative momentum is the force that keeps the audience compelled to continue watching. It's why a good 3-hour movie can go by so much faster than a bad 90 minute film.
The most important part of Act 3.
The moment when a character earns ownership of their change by surrendering something they once valued but is no longer aligned with their new value system.
How I learned screenplay structure.
Plots seem complicated when you're in the moment, but when you lay them out scene by scene it's clear how simple they really are.