Screenwriting Blog

Writing a screenplay is only one part of the screenwriter's job. A screenwriter must be able to summarize and sell their work. Writing a compelling film treatment is an important skill for every screenwriter to develop. What is a film treatment, and how do you write one? Keep reading as I delve into the world of treatments and provide some film treatment examples! What Is a Treatment in Film? A film treatment can best be considered a blueprint for your film. A treatment is a document written in prose meant to summarize a screenplay. A film treatment should outline the storyline, break down the characters ... Continue reading

Internship Alert! There are SO many more remote opportunities for film industry internships than ever before. Are you looking for internships this fall? If you can earn college credit, there may be an opportunity here for you. SoCreate is not affiliated with the following internship opportunities. Please direct all questions to the email address provided for each internship listing. Do you want to list an internship opportunity? Comment below with your listing and we'll add it to our page with the next update! Continue reading

First impressions are important, and the same concept is true for the title page of your screenplay! The title page is the first thing readers see, so it's crucial to format it correctly and ensure that it includes all the necessary information. What should and shouldn't be included on a title page? Keep reading because today I'm talking about formatting dos and don'ts and providing examples of screenplay title pages! What is the Purpose of a Title Page? The purpose of the title page is to introduce the reader to your script! This is the first part of your script that the reader is seeing, so it needs to inform them of a few key things ... Continue reading

So, you want to work in story development? Development jobs range from script readers and editors to consultants, coaches, and production company executives. But everyone who works in story development has the same goal: to help other writers make their scripts better, more marketable, and ready for sale or production. Today, we’re talking specifically about development executives, the highest rung on the ladder of story development positions. A development executive usually works within a studio or production company to manage creative talent and help move stories from script ... Continue reading

For almost as long as screenwriting has existed, so has the job of providing script coverage. What exactly is script coverage? As a writer, do you need script coverage? What if someone asks you to provide script coverage? What should it look like? Today, I'm providing script coverage examples and breaking down how it works! What is Script Coverage? Script coverage is a written report made up of a reader's feedback on a screenplay. You might also hear coverage referred to as "notes," but those terms usually refer to the same thing. There's no standard way to write script coverage. Different production companies, screenplay contests ... Continue reading

Even with excellent counsel on your side, it’s hard to know exactly what to look for in a screenplay purchase agreement or option agreement; option length, script credits, rights, and bonuses are big ones. But there are two other things to watch for when optioning or selling your screenplay: low-money option fees and reversion clauses. We sat down with legal expert Sean Pope of Ramo Law, an entertainment attorney firm with offices in Beverly Hills and New York City. Besides pointing out two things to look out for when optioning or selling your screenplay, he explains why these items could spell trouble for you ... Continue reading

A script described as "in development" is probably a term you've heard before, but what does it mean? If a script is in development, it is working its way through pre-production and the rewriting process. A script could be rewritten any number of times for many reasons, including casting, location, and general story structure. Keep reading to find out about script development and how the story development process works! What Is Script Development? What does it mean for a movie to be in development? "Script development" is a pretty broad term that generally covers any film or television script in the time ... Continue reading

“What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.” Have you heard, or maybe even used, that famous quote? You have writers Donn Pearce and Frank Pierson to thank for “Cool Hand Luke,” a 1960s prison drama film that debuted on this day in history. The pair earned an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay since the film was based on Pearce’s novel, which he sold to Warner Bros. Pearce didn’t have any screenwriting experience, though, so Warner Bros. also brought on Pierson to help write the screenplay. The story is based on Pearce’s actual experience on a chain gang in Florida ... Continue reading

A first-time script sale or option is an exciting, momentous occasion for a screenwriter, but it’s also when most writers make their first big mistakes. Without knowing the right questions to ask or having the right people by your side, it’s easy for the dream of selling your screenplay to become a nightmare quickly. Do you want to know how to protect your work in a legal transaction with a producer? Attorney Sean Pope is here to help. Sean is an attorney with Ramo Law, an entertainment legal practice with offices in Beverly Hills and New York City. He specifically works with producers and production ... Continue reading

There are many different techniques and approaches to help writers tell their stories. Have you ever heard of a story grid? A story grid helps writers decipher how their story works – or doesn't – so they can figure out how to fix structural issues. Keep reading to find out what is a story grid and how to utilize it to write your next novel or screenplay! What is a Story Grid? A story grid is a tool created by author and editor Shawn Coyne to help writers and editors analyze a story. It helps writers figure out what structural parts of their story work and what parts don't. The Story Grid claims to hone in on exact points where ... Continue reading