flying wrestler
thoughts on screenwriting from writer-producer erik bork
What makes a good series idea
In my work pitching series ideas and writing pilots (and on good days, selling them to networks such as NBC and Fox), I’ve learned a few things about what they’re looking for, and what makes an idea sellable – as well as what a successful pilot script tends to include…
Writing from a subjective POV
The single most devastating note I could ever hear on one of my scripts (if readers were brutally honest enough to say it), would be, “I didn’t...
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
As I watched this very enjoyable movie recently, I found myself trying to identify the main character, central story problem, and possible Save the...
SAVE THE CAT genres
Ever since an established producer recommended I read Blake Snyder's Save the Cat, I've found it to be an essential tool, both for my own writing,...
MODERN FAMILY: 4 stories in 3 acts
I found this week's MODERN FAMILY ("Strangers on a Treadmill") to be a good example of how bare bones a "story" can be, and still have a beginning,...
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
To me, this is a great example of taking appealing source material that doesn't specifically meet the usual story structure guidelines that books...
WGA guide to Television Writing
In my coaching and script consulting, I help a lot of writers with original series ideas: evaluating concepts, reading pilots, and sharing my...
Passion. Openness. Persistence.
I guess I've become a fan of acronyms. First, it was "CURE": what I think we as writers should aim for with every concept, every story, ever scene...
Blake Snyder’s “5-Step Finale”
For those of you who use the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet (which I highly recommend, and use in my script consulting), and struggle with the "Finale"...
“The Blind Side”
I loved the book, as well as Michael Lewis' other book MONEYBALL, and was surprised and interested to see that a movie version had been made. It's...
Main characters and DRAMATICA
One issue I commonly find in scripts I read is a lack of clarity on whose emotional point-of-view the story is being told through. I think that we...
Loglines and SAVE THE CAT
Most story (and series) ideas fail at the level of concept. Sad, but true. I've learned this the hard way. Of course, "fail" is a harsh word. What...
