Things are getting messy at the WGAW over internal issues, a Deadline story is reporting. Back in 2023 the WGW went on a strike overlabor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). 

Stephen King obviously isn't known as a screenwriter, yet as a writer he can still offer us lessons that will apply to screenwriting, regardless. There are a ton of "Tips from Stephen King" articles on the Internet. I wanted to avoid that take here as they all cover the same things. I wanted to go a little deeper into his book ON WRITING;  a wonderful read about the craft and one I highly recommend to all writers. 

You know looking at the Script Sales data released recently; I have never really studied it before. It was always, “yeah, that’s cool,” and I’d move on after reading that a few writers were lucky enough to option or sell their work to a major production company or studio. This morning I did something I haven’t done before: I studied the data. I can’t say it made me feel better about the odds of making a major sale.

The gate keepers to Hollywood are Readers.  Few Producers or Executives will read the script until it has been vetted; and some don't read at all if you can believe that.  So Readers hold a lot of power unfortunately.  If you get a cranky one because they have a 100 scripts to read, they are just looking for a reason to deleted your script and move on. Your job as the writer is to not give them a reason.  Please keep the following in mind:

Dr. Linda Seger is the original script consultant having literally inventing the job in 1981; before her it didn't exist.  Since then she has consulted on over 2000 scripts and presented screenwriting seminars in over thirty countries around the world. Seger has written nine books on screenwriting making her the most prolific screenwriting author we have.   Seger consulted for Peter Jackson’s break-through film, BRAIN DEAD and Roland Emmerich’s breakthrough film, UNIVERSAL SOLDIER. She also has given seminars for studios, networks including ABC, NBC, CBS, production companies, television series (MacGyver, The Mary Show), film commissions, universities and film schools. 

This is an interview I was really happy to get back in 2004, it was a pleasure to interview such a screenwriting legend as John Michael Hayes.  We have also added a neat short interview with him where he discusses characters and Hitchcock.

Rear Window is considered to be Hitchcock's most "cinematic" picture. At times it had to communicate a lot to the audience without a word ever being spoken. This isn't surprising as Hitchcock started directing in 1922, during the silent era, making several silent films. By 1954, the year Rear Window was released he had clearly mastered the art of directing. However, before he could unleash his visual brilliance there had to be a great script from which to allow such a great movie to be made.

Twenty-two years ago Christopher Wehner wrote his first screenplay.   Like most writers he dreamed of seeing his work make it to the big screen.  After many struggles, rejections, and disappointments he is on the verge of his dream.   When you go to his IMDB page it shows EL CAMINO CHRISTMAS as his sole writing credit.   From that perspective you might considered him an overnight success; only its been a twenty-two year in the making one.   And like almost all of these kinds of success stories it took chance encounters, some luck, and a lot of perseverance. 

First let me stop writing the script I am currently working on so I can pound out this short editorial. Though I should say allow me to stop bleeding at the keyboard as I struggle with the current scene I am writing. I have to admit that I am my own worst enemy as a writer.  I procrastinate, often, and it can sometimes be so debilitating that I never finish some screenplays. Why?

The Oscar nominated movie NEBRASKA, with an award winning screenplay by Bob Nelson, is in my opinion one of the better scripts recently produced for screenwriters to learn a little something about the craft. Why? It’s the epitome of efficient and dramatic storytelling. The script is pithy, direct, yet it has depth and emotion (theme) that is so subtle in its presentation.