Tom Vaughan
I post about screenwriting. I teach it at http://storyandplot.com and my beloved alma mater The University of Houston 🐾 Writer of 8 films, including WINCHESTER and more to come.
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- The audience will almost always be less moved by a main story that helps resolve a subplot. It tends to feel like an afterthought. Look for the subplot to help resolve the main story in your screenwriting. It's far more satisfying and much more emotional bang for your buck. #screenwriting
- An audience can only experience a movie one moment at a time. I try to duplicate that in my screenwriting. One moment after another, in the order the audience experiences it. It is one of many ways to get the reader to feel like they've seen the movie just from the read. #screenwriting
- I have been writing screenplays professionally since 1996. I never heard the term ‘unfilmable” as a noun referencing action lines until last year on Twitter. I get what it means, but it's an academic concern, not a real one. Don't let it get in your head. #screenwriting
- Screenwriting and storytelling are all about the emotion. Make the reader feel something. But remember, "That's f**king cool!" is also an emotion. While it's a challenge to sustain a whole movie with that, there are moments where it's more than enough. #screenwriting
- Always remember: movies and TV are products because they evoke emotion. That's the deal with the audience. They pay money, and we make them feel something. Screenwriting is an early proof of concept. You need to evoke emotion from the reader because that's what you're selling. #screenwriting
- Every scene in your screenwriting should be worth watching. When in doubt, put it through The Late Night Talk Show test. Imagine an actor from your movie is on The Tonight Show plugging the film. This is the scene they show. Does the audience want to go see this movie? #screenwriting
- Honestly, you can do pretty much whatever you want in screenwriting if it's with intention. Format, structure, tone. Whatever. But the clarity of that intent is key. If you lose that, you lose the reader. #screenwriting