Screentakes

Character and Theme-focused Screenplay Analysis

THE

CRAFT

What the good films tend to have in common

In order to engage with art, one must first know a few things about craft. Some articles and videos to establish basic principles and offer new ideas on old problems.

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My Take on Craft

The purpose of this website is to go beyond craft. But so as not to diminish its importance, as well as to make sure we’re all on the same page starting out, I describe here what I consider a minimum level of necessary understanding. (Read more.)

The Road Warrior thumbnail brightLesson One: Visuals and Action

Back when I taught Beginning Screenwriting, this is where I would always begin. The opening sequence from The Road Warrior is a rich demonstration of the large amount of information that can be communicated through action and visuals. (View video.) (15 mins.)

winter's bone thumbnailDialogue as Action

Question: How do you make dialogue enhance a medium based in visuals and action rather than distract from it and drag it down? Answer: You learn to think of dialogue as doing. (View video.) (8 mins.)

CP Mona Lisa squareWho Has the Power?

In a scene of psychological conflict, someone has the power and someone else is trying to get it. Track the underlying power balance between characters and make the power shift on action. (View Video.) (10 mins.)

100x100-stand-in-imgSympathetic Doesn’t Have to Mean Likable

The beauty of the concept of sympathetic character is that once you have your viewer invested in your main character, you can then have him go off and do all kinds of maladapted things without losing your viewer’s engagement in the story. (View Video.) (7 mins.)

Glossary