Blog

Oh no, wait. That’s Henry Hill from Goodfellas.

What I meant to say is ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a writer. Probably like many of you, I’ve been writing all my life. From the moment I learned to read, I wanted to tell my own stories and have never stopped being in awe of the way words create pictures in the minds of other people.

It’s one thing…Read full article

Not that word, please not that word...

Admit it, when you saw the word you grimaced. Don’t worry, we’ll get through this together, just breathe into a paper bag. All good? Here we go:

When the word ’woke’ comes up in a conversation, you probably remember that thing you were supposed to do and dash off. Good for you.…Read full article

The state of the entertainment industry could drive even the most passionate writer to hang up the quill.

Of the tens of thousands of spec scripts written every year, only a handful are ever optioned or financed. Even fewer end up on the big screen. Of those, most are written by established writers, not unestablished or new writers.

So, why bother?
Well…Read full article

Many, many years ago, when I first got in touch with the enigma and wonder that is CJ Walley, we were both on a similar trajectory, except that man was about 20 miles (and half a decade) ahead of me. 

But I was just starting out in film. I had written a few scripts, made a…Read full article

One day, when I was around eight years old, my parents received a promotional postcard in the mail from a Chrysler dealership across town. It had a gray square scratch off – and the instructions said if it had the word “Winner” underneath, you won either a console color TV, $500 in cash…or a map of the United States.

All you had to do was go into the dealership to claim your prize.…Read full article

We all have our pet peeves in cinema & TV. See if you agree with these examples:

A guy in a movie goes to the fridge, grabs himself a beer, and… leaves the fridge door open!!!

What happens from here on makes no difference. He can save the world from nuclear disaster for all I care, but it doesn’t matter because the damn fridge door is still open!

Or:

A guy…Read full article

Back in 2023, I wrote a research paper tracing America’s obsession with superheroes back, long before the days of cinema to the country’s founding –

“European cinema has exploited significant historical and mythical figures as canvases onto which cultural and socio-political values have been projected, in order to benefit from association with the characters in question. American…Read full article

If there's one topic you'll often see me ranting about it's art, and how important it is for screenwriters to not only see their work as art, but themselves as artists, with strong artistic voices that have been actively developed over time. We have a terrible culture within various communities where art is treated like a dirty word. If you've been led into feeling that way, perhaps this article from Ville Nummenpää will help you see the light - CJRead full article

Those who've studied the reality of building a screenwriting career will know that it typically requires a lot of time, take it from this writer who's twelve years into chasing his dream. It requires a great deal of determination, or as Larry Postel calls it in this blog, 'tenacity'. The thing is, it's one thing talking about that and another to inspire it. The good news is Larry has provided a list of pointers, and even a poem, to help keep that motivation going - CJRead full article

Regardless of how far we are into our writing journey, getting read and soliciting valuable feedback can be tough, especially if you want things to move fast. Most screenwriters tend to rely on other writers via feedback swaps or resort to paying professional readers to provide their opinion. In this blog, Robert Bruinewoud offers an alternative worth considering, and he's provided a full guide on how to go about it - CJRead full article

The Gauntlet from ScriptHop has been one of the biggest things to happen in the break-in screenwriting world for some time and, like any service of its type, has sparked a degree of controversy from those who've already pre-decided if it does or doesn't work. Here's the opinion of Rockstar Script Revolution member Clark Ransom, who has been one of the first to try out what this service has to offer - CJRead full article

AI is the hottest and perhaps most contentious topic in the writing space right now, with strong opinions both for and against its involvement, if any, in various stages of the writing process. AI script analysis platforms are now out there, and Larry Postel, a writer familiar with both human and non-human sides of these services, has some comparisons to make - CJRead full article

A lot of metaphorical comparisons are made with building a screenwriting career, but few compare as well as going out and getting a job in a different field. In this blog, Rick Hansberry draws many parallels based on his own experiences. Be warned though, his advice here is brutal and to the point, so those waiting for the world to come to them need not apply - CJRead full article

If you are looking for something a little inspirational to get you kickstarted into the year, Rick Hansberry has put together this great little summary of his biggest lessons in 2024. Through this blog, you'll find both guidance and a reminder that there's plenty of light still there at the end of that long, dark tunnel - CJRead full article

Larry Postel returns once again with a poignant and easily digestible blog giving a few essential pointers for how to best approach the new year in the most empowering way. Don't give this one a miss and be sure to heed the advice given as it's one of the wisest roundups I've seen and comes from a writer who's making real progress in his career - CJRead full article

We need to talk more about what a screenwriting career realistically looks like for most, especially in those early years (or even decades of the journey). While the concept of writing specs and selling them for a sustainable income sounds wonderful, it's a position only a tiny few people find themselves in, and should in no way be considered the norm. In this blog, Ronika Merl, a writer-director who's seen a remarkable rise in a relatively short time, details how she fills in those gaps between sales and greenlights while still leaning heavily into the art form she loves - CJRead full article

Ask yourself this question; when was the last time you were in a room full of people laughing until you were crying? Was it at a comedy gig, with your friends at a bar, or in a movie theatre full of strangers? Chances are, unless you've been to see any kids animated features lately, it wasn't the latter. It seems the era of comedies having cinema goers in stitches is well and truly over. But why, and what can be done about it? Larry Postel has some thoughts on the matter - CJRead full article

Articles on AI are running thick and fast right now, so I forgive that little sigh you made when you saw the title for this one pop-up. If, as a screenwriter, you have time for one blog on the subject however, please make it this one, because I feel it’s time for a little balance and realism before many writers realise it’s too late to change their approach and find themselves rapidly left behind - CJRead full article

We've all been there, wanting opinions on our work that are hopefully positive and motivating while fearing the feedback that comes back is actually so negative it invalidates the dreams we are chasing. Anyone who's gone through the process of critical review should know how brutal it can be and how much tougher it gets when your work is out there in the public domain. We live in an age where people with no credentials put themselves on pedestals and tell the world how to go about its business, and in this article Ville Nummenpää gives some advice on how to survive it all - CJRead full article

With no end in sight for the WGA/SAG strike that's brought Hollywood to a halt, any aspiring writer would be forgiven for not knowing where to put the energy they had reserved for querying and pitching. Given that the industry is still so hungry for IP, the novelisation of screenplays might be a wise place to spend time. But how does one go about rewriting a script into the prose required for a book? Well thankfully, Rick Garrison is here to lay out the basics - CJRead full article

In 1981, the first installment of Indiana Jones concluded with the bad guys getting their hands on the Ark of the Covenant only to open it and find their arrogance met with spirits that melt their faces off. 42 years later, there's a certain irony in Lucasfilm crowbarring the franchise chest open again to a righteous wrath of disappointment, criticism, and red ink. Can there be eternal life in IP? Perhaps there is a Holy Grail out there after all, but Larry Postel is here to argue that Hollywood is, for now at least, very much drinking from the wrong cup - CJRead full article

As the WGA writers strike goes on, we find ourselves hyper-focused on the deal screenwriters are getting at the peak of the industry and prey they negotiate a deal that's fairer for them. However, winding back to the bigger picture, J.E. Clarke reminds us that there's some fundamental issues that need addressing that impact the full spectrum of filmmaking people often ignore - CJRead full article

The rapid rise of AI has become an unexpected hot topic within creative circles as the likes of Chat GTP and similar projects offer a way to generate text based on prompts. The concern is understandable, but ultimately, does the average screenwriter need to worry that their careers aspirations have been dashed? Four-times produced and credited writer, Larry Postel offers his take on the subject, along with a little hope, and an ironic twist ending - CJRead full article

Those of you who know me personally will know I'm a huge metal-head, and those of you that know me artistically will know I'm all about gritty filmmaking. Tone, genre, texture, voice, whatever you want to call it tends to be the one thing that ties all our writing together, but it's easy to lose track if you fall into the trap of trying to please the masses. In this article, Ville Nummenpää does a great job of explaining how some projects have a dark soul while others feel a bit too plastic - CJ Read full article

For a community obsessed with breaking in, you’d be forgiven for thinking the amateur screenwriting world talks about nothing but what it’s actually like to work in the industry. Sadly, that’s not the case, as very few of those giving advice have ever made it, and those that have tend to get ostracised for their heretic-like views that go against the grain. Here’s ten things I feel you need to know based on my own experiences - CJRead full article