The length of your screenplay or TV pilot matters in more ways than one: Not only does it say a lot about you as a writer, it can also dictate your works’ priority for the person reading it…
No one wants to hear that their screenplay or television pilot is boring, or forgettable, or just plain Meh. But in today’s industry climate, there is one thing that is even worse.
We hear it often: As a writer, you have to grab them in the first 5, 7, 10 pages. But how do you really stand out in the first 10 pages of your screenplay or teleplay? The industry’s top experts weigh in.
Mistakes. We all make them. Once some perspective is gained, we tend to look back and shake our heads. If only we knew better. If only someone made us aware. Perhaps the most common mistake you hear about writers making is including typos and spelling errors in what is supposed… read more →
If there is one thing I’ve learned over my many years working with screenwriters, it is this: When it comes to making or breaking your screenwriting career, your body of work can make all the difference. Before we go into the “why,” let’s address the “what”: What should a screenwriter’s… read more →
When I interviewed Jewerl Ross, renowned literary manager (who is these days celebrating the immense success of his longtime client, MOONLIGHT writer/director Barry Jenkins), for my upcoming book, BREAKING IN: TALES FROM THE SCREENWRITING TRENCHES, he told me of the screenplays he reads and the content he sees: “If it’s… read more →
Disclaimer: I am writing this openly and unabashedly pissed off. Which means… This may come off harsher than I would usually want but… Fuck it. It needs to be said. So my apologies in advance if I offend. A few days ago, I sat down for a creative development session… read more →
Over the years, many of my colleagues in representation, development and productions have been kind enough to humor me and ask me for my two cents on material they are developing, producing or considering taking out into the marketplace. And equally, over the years, many have gotten in the habit… read more →
One fall, many years ago, I happened to visit my family in Israel right around the time of the European Basketball Championship. Israel made it all the way to the finals that year, and on the night of the big game, Tel-Aviv was a ghost town. My uncle, cousin and… read more →
When I was 9 years old, I was attacked by a group of 5 of my best friends. It was a perfectly ordinary day – a couple of my girlfriends came home with me from school, and were planning on meeting up with a boy who lived down the street… read more →
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