Seeking Scripts set in Newfoundland, Canada
We are looking for completed, feature-length scripts that are set in Newfoundland, Canada. Our budget is yet to be determined. Both WGA and non-WGA writers may submit. To find out about this company AND submit to this lead: 1) Go to https://www.inktip.com/leads/ 2) Copy/Paste this code: hsht18m2we
ScreenCraft, The Script Lab, and WeScreenplay Closing
In a shocking move, ScreenCraft, The Script Lab, and WeScreenplay have announced that they will end operation by the beginning of March. In separate posts, the three mainstays of the screenwriting competition and coverage world announced their immediate departure, as all three have discontinued coverage and will cease competitions within the next week. The three […]
How Script Summit Boosted Moody & The Ghost’s: A Hollywood Journey
In 2021 I submitted my only pilot script, a One Hour Drama to Script Summit in the Golden Agecategory even though I didn’t want that Hollywood Ageist thing to brand me if I won. The chance ofwinning was slim, but because I liked contests that gave me the best chance of getting into thefinals, I […]
Having the write attitude…like the Terminator
We all know how tough yet rewarding this craft is. Screenwriting. It is the oasis in a desert, even though at times it feels like the…
In the Spotlight: Valerie Schwartfigure
Valerie has the heart of a writer. She has been dedicated to the literarty arts since she was a child. Slowly over time she improved and…
In the Spotlight: James Moorer
Photo by Kris Garfield James Moorer made his dream a reality. Success comes from sacrifice. James knows this. Many writers aren’t willing…
In the Spotlight: Laura Cor
Laura is a fantastic and driven artist who has found herself dipping into several of the creative arts including screenwriting. Laura has…
In the Spotlight: Christopher J. O’Bryant
I admire Christopher. He is a man who has mastered balance in his life. By doing so he is setting himself up for major success. All too…
In the Spotlight: Jeff L. Burke
Jeff has tasted life. Both the sweetness and the sour of it. He isn’t afraid to reach out for his dream. Having done so, he’s learned…
In the Spotlight: Jeff Bower
Being a screenwriter is an exceptionally difficult path. Often fighting our way through adversity while over coming our own inner demons….
In the Spotlight: CJ Knapp
CJ Is truly a devoted screenwriter with a passion for the craft. Her focused commitment to perfecting what she loves has led her to…
In the Spotlight: Jeff Naparstek
Jeff is a natural storyteller and entertainer. Like the proclaimers of old, he will regale you with awe and spectacle as you engage in…
Best New Screenwriting Book!
James Fox is living proof that an independent filmmaker and screenwriter can become successful in the industry. He has put in the time…
In the Spotlight: James Fox
James Fox is living proof that an independent filmmaker and screenwriter can become successful in the industry. He has put in the time…
In the Spotlight: Derek Nicoletto
Derek had the humility and wisdom to realize that becoming a screenwriter required a particular mindset. He could have easily attempted…
In the Spotlight: Dale Griffiths Stamos
Dale is an incredible artist of the rarest kind. She is a renaissance woman. A polymath of the truest form. Many believe that someone…
In the Spotlight: Nina Hanssen
Nina is a Norwegian Viking with a heart for writing. Already a successful journalist and author, she has sought out new lands for…
In the Spotlight: Connor Etter
Connor dreamed of being a screenwriter since he was a young boy. Having that type of desire in our youth is part of the magic of…
In the Spotlight: Steve MacLaren
Steve has struck the balance. He has been on both sides of the aisle as a filmmaker. He’s done mainstream commercial work, and has rolled…
In the Spotlight: Grant Lane Oberhansli
Grant has found his calling. Many of us don’t discover ours until late in life. But Grant, has been telling stories and writing since he…
In the Spotlight: Tim Bennett-Huxtable
Tim is an exceptional individual. A bold statement I know. But for Tim, it’s the only way I can describe him. He presents himself and his…
In the Spotlight: Daniel Miller
When it comes to writing a screenplay, Daniel has developed a unique voice. Being a professional VFX artist has allowed him to bring a…
In the Spotlight: Jeffrey Howe
The indie film scene is a small close nit community. You wouldn’t think so at first but once you hit the festival circuit it becomes…
In the Spotlight: Melissa Rundle
Melissa has already left her mark as a screenwriter but even she knows there is still more to come on her own personal writer’s journey….
In the Spotlight: Ted E Dee
In order to find success and improve your craft, you need to design your life around screenwriting. That’s not saying you can’t have a…
In the Spotlight: Katie Presto
As a screenwriter, one of the best ways to inform your writing is to taste life itself. To truly live and experience as many diverse…
As An Old School Twister Fan, I Want this New movie to succeed
Twister is more important than you realize, and here’s why you should be on the film’s side.
NOTE: A lot of this will be the author rambling on, but there is a point here that is more than a movie.
Twisters: A love letter to 90s action films
28 years after the original, Twisters picked up where the original left off.
Twisters, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell, is an interesting film to say the least.
How to Grab Attention from the First Page
Craft compelling opening scenes that captivate from the first page. Learn why the first 10 pages matter and tips for engaging your audience effectively.
10 Essential Techniques for Mastering Dialogue
Master dialogue with 10 essential techniques for screenwriters. Learn to reveal character, advance plot, and bring your story to life with authentic dialogue.
Crafting Iconic TV Pilots with Showrunner Marc Guggenheim
Arrow Showrunner, Marc Guggenheim’s screenwriting tips for crafting iconic TV pilots, Learn how to create unforgettable TV series.
How To Write The Perfect Query For Your Screenplay
Learn how to write an engaging query letter for your screenplay with tips, examples, and logline strategies. Get your script noticed by industry professionals today!
Top 10 Films That Broke Story Structure: Read Their Scripts Here!
Explore 10 films that break story structure. Scripts included: “Arrival” (flash forwards), “Annihilation” (unreliable narrator), “Pulp Fiction” and more!
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” and Its Skar King Issue
A Showa Era Throwback Had Fun, But A Major Flaw Stands Out Before I start, let me make something absolutely clear: I AM NOT COMPARING THIS FILM TO GODZILLA MINUS ONE! Don’t even ask. Also, SPOILER ALERT. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a polarizing film. Fans and critics are split because though the […]
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Get exclusive talent manager contacts and expert query tips and template.
Top 10 Screenwriting Podcasts in 2024: recommended by A.I.
Discover AI’s top screenwriting podcasts for exclusive tips, industry secrets, and expert advice. Elevate your scriptwriting journey now!
Script Page Economy: A Resource Management Approach to Screenwriting
Learn the art of screenplay page management: How to craft deeper characters and more engaging stories by wisely using limited pages for maximum impact.
10 Unconventional Strategies to Make Your Screenwriting Dreams Happen—No Hollywood Address Needed!
Breaking into the screenwriting industry doesn’t require a zip code in Los Angeles. Armed with passion, persistence, and a bit of insider knowledge, you can make significant strides from wherever you are. Having interviewed over 200 filmmakers for The Successful Screenwriter Podcast who have made it in the film industry I have compiled their advice […]
Ep 32 – Guerilla Filmmaking with Maureen O’Connell
Explore guerrilla filmmaking in Ireland with Maureen O’Connell on The Successful Screenwriter Podcast. Dive into the world of indie film, creative challenges, and industry insights.
Godzilla Minus One: A Plus for the franchise
Godzilla Minus One Enters A New Age For Godzilla As a diehard Godzilla fan, I went into Godzilla Minus One as excited as I’ve been for every single film I’ve ever watched. From the initial film which talks about the dread and panic following WWII, the campy superhero he became during the Showa Era Godzilla […]
Writing For A Living Requires A Hard Lesson
Things That I Wish I Learned Sooner Whether as a screenwriter, novelist, content creator, musician… The reason you’re all here is because you want to be a career writer. The goal is to leave the day job, move into a more comfortable reality, and create our passions for a living. There is absolutely nothing wrong […]
WGA New MBA Released
These are the new details of the Agreed Upon MBA On September 26th, 2023, the WGA voted to terminate the strike at 12:01 AM Pacific Time. With the strike ending, the WGA also released their new contract to the public to see exactly what’s been agreed upon before they vote as a union to accept […]
WRITER’S STRIKE ENDS AS WGA AND AMPTP REACH AN AGREEMENT
The Writers and Studios agreed to end the nearly 5-month strike. 146 days. Television and movie productions lost out on almost 5 months of development. Pencils were down. Signs were up. They marched day and night by the big cooling tower. They had the plant, but we had the power. 146 days. The AMPTP released […]
WGA vs. AMPTP: The Comedy of Straw Men
How the AMPTP uses partial knowledge to increase public pressure and why it’s failing. 108 days in total so far. The WGA and the AMPTP are still apart on a deal, but negotiations are ongoing. That said, the AMPTP has indeed brought new contracts to the table, and the WGA said no. So what did […]
Scriptapalooza, It’s Not About The Apology. It’s about the Optics.
The damage the competition announcement did is already done. “The AI screenplay competition stands apart by showcasing the innovative potential of artificial intelligence, merging human creativity with machine intelligence.” This was a call to action from Scriptapalooza’s now deleted Artifical Intelligence Screenwriting Competition. In the amount of time it took to say that line aloud, […]
21 days later: there is a silver lining
Writers are having a hard time, but there is something you can hold on to. It’s easy to see why writers feel down right now. In fact, it’s completely understandable. We work hard and pay our dues, and some of us work day jobs to support our dreams of becoming great original writers or getting […]
Dear Hollywood, Stop Selling Writers the Dream. We’re not Buying It
One week into the strike, and there’s a looming shadow. One week into the 2023 WGA strike, there have been many major moments. Late-night shows are canceled. Shows like Stranger Things and The Hedge Knight are frozen in development until further notice. Finished products are still being released, although this writer is boycotting any new […]
WGA Srike/Unfair List
The WGA is Picketing, and there are rules. As the strike plays out, there are numerous companies and individuals who are currently on the Unfair list. The list was created by the Writer’s Guild board of directors to advise writers that these individuals or companies who have been accused of unfair practices, including: A list […]
WGA Strike Opinion: Empire Vs. Movement
There is a silver lining to the strike. The strike is in effect. Writers have walked off of sets. Late-night shows are canceled. Live variety shows are postponed. Many pre-productions have stopped, but this is only the beginning. Writers are picketing for their futures, their pay, and a sustainable life. Regardless of what is reported, […]
WGA strike: List of Proposals & Counteroffers 5/2/23
WGA SET TO STRIKE
There are many questions: Here are a few things you should know. On May 1, 2023, the Writer’s Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to agree on a new contract. Immediately following, the WGA unanimously voted in favor of a strike, set to begin on Tuesday, May 2, […]
WGA 2023, Stand UP: This Is What’s on the Line
Writers Are The Backbone of Film. Support Writer’s Rights Yesterday, April 17, 2023, the Writer’s Guild of America overwhelmingly approved a strike, marking the first potential strike since 2007-2008. If it indeed happens, understand as filmmakers, writers, and even as movie and television viewers that there is more on the line in this strike than […]
SXSW Filmmakers Proves A Major Point: Success Is Measured By Effort
The Writers and Filmmakers Present Faced Setbacks, But Made No Excuses With SXSW officially in the books, there are a lot of talking points. Great experiences? Check. Great films like “I Used To Be Funny” and “Late Night With The Devil”? Check. Music and networking? Check. SXSW was an experience like no other in terms […]
A Surprise Moment At SXSW From Robert Rodriguez
Meeting Someone Is Film Is One Thing, Meeting An Icon Is Another I will admit, I didn’t know what I was getting into when I was approached to do press for SXSW. I’ve written for sports, done movie reviews, and have interviews under my belt, but SXSW was something that I needed to experience firsthand […]
SXSW Review: “Americana” Pop Icon Halsey Crushes In This Western Thriller Starring Sydney Sweeney & Paul Walter Hauser
Writer/Director Tony Tost is no novice when it comes to writing in the western genre. Having cut his chops on the well-received Longmire and show-running Damnation he knows exactly what the ins and outs of the genre are. This is important to note because, in his latest film Americana, he destroys the known cliches and […]
Comedian Chelsea Handler Discusses Humor, Political Environment and Women’s Rights At SXSW Discussion Panel
On the opening day of SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX, stand-up comedian and best-selling author Chelsea Handler delivered a powerful and hilarious statement on women’s rights and the nature of comedy in today’s political and social climate. Hosted with MSNBC host and former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, Handler opened up about the […]
SXSW Review: “If You Were The Last” Anthony Mackie & Zoe Chao Bring The Charm Back to Rom/Coms
Director Kristian Mercado’s latest film If You Were The Last starring Anthony Mackie and Zoe Chao harkens back to the old-school approach of Romantic Comedies. The trend lately in this genre has typically been more com than rom typically pushing cheap laughs with opposites who attract over a more realistic approach. If You Were The […]
Going to SXSW? Here’s 10 Things You’ll Need To Do
Going to SXSW is as exciting as it is nerve-wracking. There is so much to do there from networking, film premieres, exclusive experiences, and of course the after-party. So here is a quick list of what to do to take advantage of your time at SXSW. Seriously, I cannot stress this enough. Everyone begins with […]
February 2023 Contest Winners!
Jan 2023 Monthly Contest Winners
The Successful Screenwriter Monthly Contest Winners for January 2023 Screenwriting Competition.
October 2022 Winners
The winners are announced for The Successful Screenwriter: Monthly Contest (October 2022)
A Screenwriters Fear is their Fuel
It was 5 pm and I just got off a long flight and barely had enough time to change into my “nice” clothes. I rush to the first big film festival I was ever nominated for an award in. That’s when the Fest Director runs up to me and says, “they are waiting to interview […]
We Need to Talk About Mental Health & Breaking into Screenwriting
If you listened to to my recent interview with Geoffrey on Ep22 of The Successful Screenwriter Podcast, you’ll see that we had an absolute blast. It was one of the most fun interviews I’ve recorded where I blew off a lot of steam and got a lot off my chest and when listening back to […]
Stanley Kubrick – Downloadable Screenplays
Kubrick is truly a mastermind of cinema. He shared screenwriting credits on most of his films and is known as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. His films and screenplays tended toward book adaptations which covered a wide range of genres from scifi to drama. He is known for his gritty realism, dark […]
Christopher Nolan – Downloadable Screenplays
Christopher Nolan is a groundbreaking filmmaker. He has been known to write screenplays with his brother Jonathan. He explores such themes in his films as morality, personal identity, and even time itself. He has used nontraditional narrative structure in his films such as with Memento and Inception. He has been listed as one of the […]
Quentin Tarantino – Downloadable Screenplays
Quentin Tarantino has a distinct style which has lead him to become one of the defining filmmakers of his generation. He has been known to use a mix of graphic violence paired with dark humor which takes his audience on an emotional rollercoaster. He has been listed as one of the top 10o most influential […]
David S. Goyer – Downloadable Screenplays
David S. Goyer can be accredited with kicking off the superhero film craze with his screenplay for Blade in 1998 which became hugely successful. He didn’t stop there though. He further went on to craft the screenplays for Godzilla, The Unborn, and The Dark Knight Trilogy, He has branched out into television with such hits […]
Establishing Characters: It’s a Wonderful Life
‘Tis the season to kick up your feet and watch a classic Christmas movie. One staple of the season is It’s a Wonderful Life. As I started watching the Jimmy Stewart perennial, I noticed how much the screenwriters fully used the first 12 minutes of the movie to establish characters that continually feedback into the […]
Film vs. Video Games – How Writing Their Scripts Can Be Similar (and Different)
Storytelling is as old as fire, perhaps older. No matter the medium, there is always a way to weave drama, suspense, comedy, and character into it. As screenwriters, we’re accustomed to weaving these elements into our features, pilots, and shorts. There is one storytelling medium that’s been on the rise in past decades. Video Games […]
The Falcon & the Winter Soldier – A Tale of Two Villains
I’ll just preface this by saying I’m really enjoying “The Falcon & the Winter Soldier”, even more so than “Wandavision”, which started off slowly, built up really well, and then crapped the bed in its finale. I love the chemistry between Sam and Bucky, and Zemo has been a welcome addition (shades of Supernatural, with […]
Diverse Screenwriting
by Alainna MacPherson Numbers and statistics aren’t necessary to feel the lack of diversity in the film and television industry. The world has been woke over the last 365 days on how much movies and shows are whitewashed or misrepresented. I was one of those people who brushed off the problem when it first was […]
The Falcon & the Winter Soldier –What makes a hero?
*SPOILERS* The latest episode is called “Truth”, and it effectively sheds light on many of the main and supporting characters and their personal histories, while weaving in the themes of heroism and its cost on both the hero and those who look up to them. Starting with John Walker, we see a man hailed as […]
How to Avoid a Pass on Your Script
BECOME A MEMBER & GET ACCESS TO: Screenwriting Courses Free Hollywood Screenplays to download Free Instructional Videos Uncut interviews with Industry Screenwriters Sponsors The Guide For Ever Screenwriter – (Paperback) (Free Ebook) We Fix Your Script – (Free Consultation) Script Summit Screenplay Contest – (Early Bird Submission) Keep in touch with The Successful Screenwriter Facebook […]
The Future of the “Zoom Writers Room”
Will the Zoom writers rooms continue after the world returns to “normal?” With the vaccine nearly in full swing and studios returning to filming with a plethora of safety measures, the next biggest question in the film industry is whether or not writers rooms will return to in-person once things go back to “normal?” The […]
How to Land a Screenwriting Gig on UpWork
Writing isn’t an easy field to break into. Anyone with a keyboard can throw words on a page and call it writing. Those of us who went to school for our craft may have found some success. However, most of us are still looking for that big break into the field. You aren’t going to […]
Clubhouse for Screenwriters: Opportunities & Scams
The first time I heard about Clubhouse, I had a hard time understanding the concept of what it was. An app that was by invite only, exclusively for iPhone users, that allowed you to talk to other people like zoom, but without video. If that doesn’t confuse you, then you must not be as old […]
N.E.T. – A Unique Solution to Writer’s Block
Writer’s block, some believe it exists and some don’t. No matter your side of the page, for the next few minutes of reading this, suspend all disbelief you may have about it and just stay open. Welcome to the neuroscience of screenwriting, where you’ll learn a simple and effective stress relief approach that clears the […]
How 2 Kids Found Film Distribution
Jake & Jack barely had a budget. Only $600. That’s it. There are fewer than 20 people as credited crew members (the average film list of credits on a feature film averages about 600). And they spent every weekend over the course of five months shooting their first feature film. With passion and determination though, […]
Harley Wallen: Detroit Filmmaker lands Streaming deal with Tale of Tails
Harley Wallen didn’t always want to be in the movie and TV business. Growing up in Sweden, he found martial arts to be his first passion. “That was my original art,” Wallen says adding that he was also a breakdancer on a TV show in Sweden similar to a cabaret/Donny Osmond-type show. From there, he […]
Erin Rodman: Process and Perspective on Screenwriting
Erin Rodman has 2 movies coming out in the next 3 months, here’s her process & perspective on screenwriting Erin Rodman’s story is the epitome of what happens when hard work and passion pays off. Her new movie Advice to Love By premieres on October 16th, and the sequel to last year’s The Christmas House […]
David Winning: Storytelling and why getting pigeonholed into a specific genre is great
Every year, millions of households turn their television to the Hallmark Channel and watch the saccharine, sentimental films that are as predictable as they are romantic. It’s comfort food. It’s family fair. It’s a tradition. For the filmmakers who churned out the 41 Hallmark Christmas films premiering this year, it’s a challenge to create a […]