Controlling the tone in your screenwriting.
Tone concerns the audience's experience. It's about how they react to what they see, hear, and even feel. At its core, it is about the suspension of disbelief.
Emotion
It’s Not About The Plot
Too often, the new writer thinks MORE plot will save them. This is rarely, if ever, true. One of my biggest realizations from breaking down the structure of screenplays was seeing just how simple the plots actually were.
Audiences Care About Relationships
I was frustrated with the fourth season of Stranger Things. It felt like the season spent most of its time getting out of Russian corners it painted itself into the season before. But I kept watching. And watching. And while I wondered why I kept watching, I really shouldn’t have. I knew the answer.
The Passion Polish
The passion polish was introduced to me by my frequent writing partner Kristy Dobkin. She got it from her first professional mentor Frank South, who was the showrunner for MELROSE PLACE back in the day.
Don’t Worry About Being Subtle
Many young writers struggle to be decisive in the moments that populate their screenplays. They find it challenging to openly declare and dramatize what a single moment is about.
The New Mission of the Screenwriter
Our job is this:
To create the emotional experience of watching the movie on the screen.
It’s Not About The Plot
Too often, the new writer thinks MORE plot will save them. This is rarely, if ever, true. One of my biggest realizations from breaking down the structure of screenplays was seeing just how simple the plots actually are.