Jane Schoenbrun has become one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary American filmmaking. Over the last few years, they have built a body of work defined by emotional truth, personal experiences and a deep fascination with how media shape identity. Their films blend genres like drama, horror and comedy while exploring character confusion and vulnerability, adding in some popculture nostalgia and a coming-of-age element. Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is their l

What makes a story worthy of telling more than once? In the case of Cape Fear, which has been adapted from a novel into two feature films and a 10-episode Apple TV series, the answer stems from a vicious and cunning villain, a compelling premise and an overall story that is adaptable with the times. For almost 70 years, people have been captivated with malicious Max Cady and the family he chooses to torment. The Executioners (1957): Written by pulp novelist John D. Macdonald,

“It was an unexpected, bonkers script to read,” Ewan McGregor said in a SciFiNow interview. The star of The End of Oak Street was pulled into the story for two reasons: it showed that the idyllic life of a 1980s suburban family was not as cheerful as it seemed and then there were dinosaurs. The film feels familiar and pushes nostalgia of simpler times before the internet, smartphones and information overload while creating something completely original and fresh. Writer/direc

In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Spider-Man (Tom Holland) has been busy. He spends his days – and most nights - fighting crime in New York City, trapping bad guys and leaving a trail of destroyed streets, flipped cars, shattered windows and chunks of buildings in his wake. But the police forgive him because he’s helping the NYPD nab the notorious villains that they’re simply not equipped to handle. Everyone loves Spider-Man. That’s Spider-Man’s life, not Peter Parker’s. But some

How Should You Structure a TV Pilot? Writing a television pilot is one of the biggest challenges a screenwriter can take on. Unlike a feature film, a pilot has a much larger job to accomplish. It needs to introduce viewers to a new world, establish memorable characters, create an engaging conflict, and convince the audience there's enough story to continue for multiple episodes—or even multiple seasons. Although there isn't one universal formula for writing a successful pilot

Christopher Nolan has achieved a status rarely seen in today’s audiences: people will see his movies no matter what. That means he has proven himself to be such a reliable filmmaker that massive audiences will flock to the theaters to experience his stories on-screen regardless of what it’s about. In the documentary, The Comedian, there’s a scene between Jerry Seinfeld and another comic where Seinfeld admits he’s nervous. “What are you nervous about? You're Jerry Seinfeld!” T

We’re excited to announce the quarterfinalists of the Outstanding Screenplays Feature Competition! This year brought in an incredible wave of submissions from writers all over the world, showcasing fresh ideas, bold voices, and unforgettable stories. Narrowing down the list was no easy task, and we’re thrilled to celebrate the talented writers whose scripts have advanced to the next round. #notmetoo by Michele Merens 100 Lifetimes by Kevin J. Howard 1066 by Ben Mansbridge 14

Outwardly, you wouldn’t think that there was much difference between writing an hour- long TV pilot and a half-hour one, but you’d be...

If you want to break into TV writing, having an outstanding original 1hr TV pilot in your portfolio is an absolute must have. It not only...

Be Original: This is fundamentally the most important element to a winning short script. There are hundreds and thousands of short...

10 Tips to Make Your Short Script Competition-Ready Whoop whoop! You’ve finished writing your short screenplay. You’re excited. We’re...

Hi Susan, according to your bio on your website you’re a playwright, television writer, and screenwriter based between New York and...

Hi, Erik, you’re best known for your work on the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers which is the highest-rated TV Show on IMDb! You’ve also...

Hi Chris, let’s start at the beginning, how, why and when did you start your career in film? Looking back, I think film intrigued me from...

Hi, Marion, let’s start with a brief background and how you got into writing. From LA? Move to LA? Did you study writing? Did you always...

Hi Travon, first congratulations on your Oscar win for your short film Two Distant Strangers! How has your professional life changed...