Technically, nothing. Except they’re decorative AF and you lose narrative momentum. Let’s explore! What’s an Adverb? As a recap, an adverb modifies (or describes) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb; it answers the question of “how.” In the case of an adverb modifying a verb, “he ran well” –…
Self-Development Sundays
‘Do the Work’: Seven Principles and Two Tests
As I continue to move through the self-improvement work of Steven Pressfield, I’m covering “Do the Work” this week. This book covers a lot of the same ground as The War of Art, Turning Pro, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t and Put Your A** Where Your Heart Wants to…
Loglines
Loglines & Blurbs of the WGA’s 101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century So Far (Post 1 of 4)
Because these last few posts about loglines have been wildly popular, I’m coming back again with loglines and blurbs of the WGA’s 101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (*So Far). Having scoured The Annual Black Lists, IMDB, and Amazon, I’m presenting the below loglines and blurbs, and I’m dividing…
Formatting Fridays
Q. What are the Do’s and Don’ts of a Title Page?
Because I spent so much time this week on Jojo Rabbit, I’m going to keep today’s Formatting Friday post short and sweet. A screenplay’s title page exists to, well, give the title of a script and attach your name. (For all of the do’s and don’ts below, we’re going to…
Black Comedies
The 49 Subversive Choices of ‘Jojo Rabbit’
Watching Jojo Rabbit (and then re-watching it) gives a formidable lesson in the difference between good and outstanding storytelling. Let me explain… Good storytelling provides a beginning, middle, and end with a protagonist who endures conflict/antagonism (both internal and external) in every scene, a rising line of action within three…
Loglines
Loglines of Recent Academy Nicholl Fellowship Winners
As it’s contest season, I thought it would be interesting to see what the loglines have been of recent Nicholl winners. (For the uninitiated, The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting is perhaps the most prestigious competition for emerging writers in the medium. Founded in 1986, the Nicholl attracts thousands of…
Formatting Fridays
Q. What If I Don’t Have Final Draft?
As someone who has used Final Draft forever, I first want to say that it’s an incredible program, and one that has made the sometimes-painful act of screenwriting much easier. I highly, highly, highly recommend that you make the investment to get it – you will not regret it. But…
Loglines
Q. How Do the Annual Black List Loglines Appear on Amazon and IMDB?
Last week, I presented loglines from the WGA’s 101 Greatest Screenplays (collected from the internet) and, whoa did I got a positive response. I also got criticism. In using IMDB and Amazon as sources, I was reminded that we don’t know for sure if the loglines posted were actually the…
Formatting Fridays
Q. How Do You Format for Sign Language?
Formatting for sign language doesn’t have to be hard, and there are a few variations. First, let’s consult The Bible: The Screenwriter’s Bible, that is. On page 309 of Dave Trottier’s Seventh Edition, he mentions, What if you have a character who is deaf and communicates by signing? Signing is not…
Self-Development Sundays
‘The War of Art’: How to Turn Pro
Last week, in “The War of Art,” we identified the enemy. This week, we talk about how to overcome it. Which, in Steven Pressfield’s parlance, means “turning pro.” From what I gather, “turning pro” isn’t necessarily about remuneration (though that may be the conventional definition). Instead, it seems to mean…