Stop making life harder for the reader. See the difference in clarity when you eliminate your clause openings.
Clarity is key. Watch me help a writer trim and clarify their opening scene, to make it easier for the reader to visualise.
Nobody wants to read an instruction manual screenplay. Ditch the boring directions.
Character names matter. Watch this short video to see how Sharon Stone reacted to the name of her character in Basic Instinct.
What does a “good” sentence look like? Watch this short video to find out why every word matters in a screenplay.
"Establishing shot" may tell the director and cinematographer what's going on, but it doesn't create any "visual dopamine" for the reader. Watch this short video to find out how to write a cinematic wide shot that will blow the reader away.
How many times have you gone to a party and been introduced to several people, only to have their names go in one ear and out the other?
Don't put the © symbol on your screenplay. It won't protect you.
Is a screenplay a piece of literature? A business blueprint? Shooting script? A lure for actors, execs, money? Watch this short and hear my take on why so many screenwriters fail to understand the true purpose of a spec screenplay.
How to add VOICE to your screenplay. Case Study - Alex Convery, AIR
Walks. Sits. Looks. Suboptimal verbs kill the impact of your scene description. Watch this short video to learn how to upgrade your language.
Next to, beside, in front of, across from... If you've written a sentence that contains more than one spatial preposition, the chances are you're OVERWRITING the scene.
Learn more in my free 1-hour masterclass.
The warden’s introduction in The Shawshank Redemption is a masterclass on character description.
How to write a camera pan in your script (without actually writing camera directions like “pan” or “tilt”).
What's in a name? Everything. Watch this 30-second video on how to name your characters like Dickens or Lucas.
Don’t let “ly” words weaken your description. Ditch the adverbs in your script in favour of a stronger verb.
Learn how to write camera shots in your screenplay without actually specifying close, medium, wide, etc.
This is a snippet from my cinematic screenwriting course The Scriptfella Program.
Learn how the costume decisions in Billions give important insight into the characters in this 1-minute snippet from The Scriptfella Program.
My inciting incident was a 2-ton truck bomb. No, I'm not talking about a scene from the action movies I grew up watching. This was real - and it changed my career forever.
I dish out my top tips for securing the services of Hollywood literary agent.
7 tactics you can use to ace your next Hollywood meetings and get hired by a producer.
I lift the lid on screenwriting money and the FOUR economic classes of screenwriters.
We look at the case study of a screenwriter who rewrote his script, scored 8/10 on The Black List - and attracted the attention of a powerful Hollywood manager.
I open up one of my contracts, share the numbers and explain what the legal terms mean, and what you need to shoot for.
I explore two very different negotiating styles that you can use to seal your next script deal.
What are the twelve PAGE ONE MISTAKES that could alienate the reader and kill off your chances of winning a screenwriting competition?
Sniper-turned-screenwriter Chuck Hustmyre reveals his secrets to writing a killer query letter and getting your script read in Hollywood.
We drill down into Freewrites, Prewrites, speccing WHOLE SCRIPTS for free and The $1 Dollar Option, which in my opinion, should never be an option.
We explore the pros and cons of using Screenwriting Consultants, Script Editors and Script Coverage Services.
Sniper-turned-screenwriter Chuck Hustmyre shares his top tips for selling a screenplay to Hollywood from the comfort of your own home.