flying wrestler
thoughts on screenwriting from writer-producer erik bork
The 8 Story Problems
There are only so many types of situations a human being can be in, that are big and relatable enough to base a movie on. As I see it, successful...
Series = Ensemble
When coming up with an idea for a television series, and writing a pilot script, writers often make the mistake of approaching it like a feature....
The 20 Script Must-Haves
The things that make screenwriting hard to succeed at are not mysterious. They're just not easy to achieve. Successful scripts differ from...
Degree of Difficulty
I often say that a good story idea focuses on one big problem that it takes the whole story to solve. What that means is that the problem has to...
What are the stakes?
It's a constant question producers, agents and executives will ask: What are the stakes? And it's maybe the most common thing that causes a script...
Keeping it Real
One of the most frequent and important types of notes I give on scripts is to question whether something seems REAL. Another way of saying it...
Chasing Success
We writers realize that the chances of any one thing we write being “successful” are slim. At least that’s true if we define “successful” as...
Perfect Counterparts
What makes an audience root for two people to be together? The Save the Cat books have a name for the type of story where the primary external...
Web of Conflict
What’s the key thing to focus on when developing a TV series idea? The answer is simple: the characters. Specifically, a web of...
Script coverage services
What exactly is script coverage? Is it a good thing to pay for, and how is it different from script consulting? I’m glad you asked. When someone...
8 Characters of Comedy
When I work with writers developing a half-hour pilot, whether as private clients or through my course, I often recommend Scott Sedita’s book The...
95% is Problem-Solving
Billy Ray, screenwriter of CAPTAIN PHILLIPS and THE HUNGER GAMES, was interviewed not long ago on the WGA’s podcast. Among other words of wisdom he...
