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The Imitation Game: How to Write Flashbacks
I often get asked about writing flashbacks in screenplays. I know that, for some people, writing flashbacks can be seen as the lazy way...
The Truman Show: Understanding Active Questions
Active Questions are perhaps one of the most important aspects of your script and yet they are the often something that screenwriters...
Building Your Own Story Map
Introduction Story structure is such a huge part of screenwriting. There is a resistance to such an emphasis on structure in some...
Inception: Keeping it Simple
A blog title called Inception: Keeping it Simple, might sound like an oxymoron given the incredible complexity of Christopher Nolan's...
How to Write Effective Action Sequences in a Screenplay
| by John Finnegan Crafting action sequences in a screenplay is a common challenge for screenwriters. While it may seem straightforward...
Alien 3 Explained: A Case for Ellen Ripley’s Greatest Journey
| By John Finnegan “I’m sort of stunned that it is an influential character but I’m delighted, and I can kind of understand it because I...
Writing Relatable Characters: From Final Girls to Norman Bates
Films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Psycho illustrate how identification is a fluid, powerful tool in storytelling.
How to Write a Third Act Climax for Your Movie: Lessons from The Dark Knight
Let’s dive into why third acts are tricky, explore techniques to make them unforgettable, and study The Dark Knight.
How to Write Dialogue: Rethinking your Approach
| By John Finnegan Students frequently ask me, "How do you write good dialogue?" My response is typically, "What does good dialogue...
How to Write a Subplot in a Screenplay: Lessons from The Lord of the Rings
| by John Finnegan For fans of Peter Jackson’s original LOTR trilogy, it’s hard not to reminisce about what made those films so...
Tomb Raider: Knowing Your Audience
by John Finnegan | Tomb Raider will be released on Blu Ray shortly, and I'm looking forward to watching it again. When I saw it in the...
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