flying wrestler
thoughts on screenwriting from writer-producer erik bork
Writing about yourself
They say "write what you know," right? So writing about yourself should be the ultimate version of that. But is it a really good idea to create a...
Fresh and Real
Scripts that get noticed and help writers find representation often explore some aspect of human experience in a strikingly fresh and real way,...
Looking At vs. Looking Through
Commercial films and TV series usually work very hard to get the audience emotionally invested in at least one specific character whose problems and...
The Ideal Writing Session
I’ve been writing five days a week for about thirty years. Whether it’s an 8-hour session or a quick thirty minutes just to keep things moving forward, I’ve seen the value of a daily block of time devoted to the writing “practice.” And really, it’s all practice. That’s a good attitude to have. In fact, the single most important thing I’ve discovered…
Story in Documentary
Cheer on Netflix is a great study of the elements that make for a compelling narrative. And it demonstrates how story in documentary is really no...
Writing a Dual Narrative
I found Marriage Story to be a devastatingly emotional portrait of a couple going through a divorce, where we like both of them, and can see both of...
Make Them Miserable
HBO's Succession won the Emmy for outstanding drama series in 2020. I am struck by how well it underscores the need to do one simple thing with a...
Writing Superhero Movies
Whether you're a diehard fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe or agree with Coppola and Scorsese that comic book superhero movies are the scourge of...
Feel What They Feel
What most draws audiences in is usually characters' emotions. What they want, why they want it, what they're trying to do get it, and most of all,...
THE IDEA is now an audiobook!
So much has happened in the year since my book The Idea was released. Screencraft listed it as #3 in their “Top 15 Screenwriting Books.” It’s been...
Why Series Stop Working
I'm only 3 episodes into GLOW's third season on Netflix, but I'm not motivated to watch more. And this was possibly my favorite new show when it...
My Short Film Premiere
Yesterday marked the online premiere of my short film I Got This, a 22-minute comedy I wrote, directed, and took around to film festivals for much...
