9 Lies About British Film
** I wrote this article in 2012 when BIFA and Raindance were a lot younger than they are now. I was going to do a ‘cheat’ and update this – but have decided to let this rant stand as it…
Tag scripts
5 Classic Movie Scripts Every Screenwriter Should Read
Want to be a good screenwriter, but do not know where to start? We will tell you how to take the first steps towards your dream. Read these classic movie scripts. Be attentive and keep the tips, they will definitely…
Do Basic Screenwriting Rules Always Matter?
“A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” It was Thomas Mann to say that, but every good writer knows exactly what he means. A writer’s aim is to create from scratch…
How To Develop Your Story When Writing A Script
We’ve all been there, when you’ve exhausted your ideas and hit writers block – or have a great brainwave for a screenplay but you’re not sure how to go about writing a script around it. Whether you’ve decided on your…
The 10 Key Rules of Writing for TV
“Quality drama, and the best screenwriters, are all to be found on TV these days.” Whether you agree with that statement or not, it’s certainly hard to argue that shows like Homeland, the Red Riding Trilogy, Breaking Bad and Downton…
Why Dialogue In Scripts Often Sucks (And How To Fix It)
In an article in Wired magazine, Dan Ariely mentions a study that shows online daters restrict themselves to safe topics, resulting in boring conversations. Hmm, that reminds me of a lot of movie dialogue, especially in scripts from newer writers.…
The 7 Mistakes Rookie Screenwriters Make
I taught myself how to read and analyse screenplays when I started out running the Raindance Film Festival. Between 1992 and 2003 I read and wrote critiques on over 2,500 screenplays including 51st State and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking…