Mastering the Comedy Genre in Movies And TV
Filmmaker Jason Hellerman writes: Comedy is one of the most malleable genres in film and television. Comedy can brighten a scene,...
PRE-PRODUCTION
CLASSROOM: Screenwriting Lessons From ‘Madmen’
Film acquisition executive, Evan Littman writes: A behind-the-scenes storytelling breakdown from the creator of one of the most beloved television shows...
CLASSROOM: What A Script Theme Is and How To You Get It into Your Story
Filmmaker Jason Hellerman writes: The theme of your screenplay refers to the issue at the core of the story itself. This...
CLASSROOM: Writing TV and Film Genres
Filmmaker Jason Hellerman writes: Film and TV genres affect who watches your work, how it's classified, and even how it's reviewed....
CLASSROOM: 5 Key Ingredients to Wes Anderson’s Comedy
Wes Anderson films are loved by many. They’re engaging, quotable and artful. They’re also funny. Laugh out loud funny? Sometimes. Are they...
CLASSROOM: 3 Screenwriting Techniques That Turned ‘Minority Report’ Into a Classic
Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report is an underrated film in the director's body of work and often overlooked in favor of flashier or more...
CLASSROOM: 5 Awesome Tactics For New Filmmakers
Filmmaking expert Jason Brubaker writes: Making a short film is the rite of passage for many new filmmakers. If you have...
CLASSROOM: 10 Screenwriting Lessons from Fight Club
Producer and writer Jason Hellerman writes: Fight Club burst onto the scene in 1999 and the walls of both men and women's...
CLASSROOM: 12 Character Archetypes to Ignite Your Script’s Storytelling
Writer and producer, Jason Hellerman writes: Creating complex characters out of nothing can be hard, but using character archetypes to guide...
CLASSROOM: How to Choose a Style For Your Film
Decide on your project's tone Start with your script and decide on what atmosphere would best suit the story you want...
CLASSROOM: Tips for Rewriting Your Screenplay Without Starting Completely Over
Writing a screenplay is hard work. Not only is it time-consuming and labor-intensive, it’s also emotionally draining — pouring your heart...
CLASSROOM: Jordan Peele’s Advice to Thriller Writers Everywhere
Jordan Peele is a worker. The guy came up through the sketch comedy rankings, finally got recognition for Key and Peele, and now...