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Screenwriting Lessons from The End of Oak Street
“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

Outstanding Screenplays
12 hours ago7 min read


5 Screenwriting Lessons from Spider-Man: Brand New Day
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

Outstanding Screenplays
Aug 36 min read


How to Craft a TV Pilot That Hooks Readers
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

Outstanding Screenplays
Jul 277 min read


What Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Teaches You About Screenwriting
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

Outstanding Screenplays
Jul 237 min read
2025 Outstanding Screenplays Feature Competition: Quarter Finalists Announced
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

Outstanding Screenplays
Dec 10, 202521 min read


10 tips to craft a winning 30-min TV Pilot
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...

Outstanding Screenplays
Nov 28, 20234 min read


10 tips to craft a winning 1hr TV Pilot
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...

Outstanding Screenplays
Nov 25, 20234 min read


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

Outstanding Screenplays
Oct 26, 20234 min read


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

Outstanding Screenplays
Oct 20, 20235 min read


An interview with Emmy winning writer of Succession SUSAN SOON HE STANTON
Hi Susan, according to your bio on your website you’re a playwright, television writer, and screenwriter based between New York and...

Outstanding Screenplays
Feb 8, 202310 min read


An interview with Emmy winning writer of Band of Brothers ERIK BORK
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...

Outstanding Screenplays
Feb 6, 202311 min read


An Interview with the Founder and CEO of Slick Films CHRIS OVERTON
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...

Outstanding Screenplays
Jan 16, 20239 min read


An interview with Better Call Saul writer MARION DAYRE
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...

Outstanding Screenplays
Aug 28, 20217 min read


An Interview with an Oscar Winner TRAVON FREE
Hi Travon, first congratulations on your Oscar win for your short film Two Distant Strangers! How has your professional life changed...

Outstanding Screenplays
Jul 27, 20217 min read
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