#screenwritingtips — Public Fediverse posts

“What if the real monster was… narrative insecurity?” My breakdown of M. Night Shyamalan’s Lady in the Water — a film that can’t decide if it’s a bedtime story or a sacred text. Lampshades, cereal boxes, and soggy metaphors included. #FilmCriticism #LadyInTheWater #MNightShyamalan #MovieAnalysis #FantasyFilms #CultCinema #FilmEssay #NarrativeFail #ScreenwritingTips
https://ninetypercentcrapmoviereviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/16/cereal-boxes-and-soggy-metaphors-m-night-shyamalans-lady-in-the-water-revisited/

Your script isn’t too ‘ambitious.’ You just haven’t figured out how to make it work with the resources you have.

#ScreenwritingTips #FilmmakingHustle #NoExcuses #IndieFilmBusiness #Filmmaking #Filmmaker #Cinematography #IndieFilm #ShortFilm #Director #FilmmakersLife #SetLife #IndieFilmmaker #FilmmakingLife #FilmProduction #FilmFestival #IndieFilmmaking #DirectorOfPhotography #FilmmakerCommunity #SupportIndieFilm #NoBudgetFilm

Your script isn’t too ‘ambitious.’ You just haven’t figured out how to make it work with the resources you have.

#ScreenwritingTips #FilmmakingHustle #NoExcuses #IndieFilmBusiness #Filmmaking #Filmmaker #Cinematography #IndieFilm #ShortFilm #Director #FilmmakersLife #SetLife #IndieFilmmaker #FilmmakingLife #FilmProduction #FilmFestival #IndieFilmmaking #DirectorOfPhotography #FilmmakerCommunity #SupportIndieFilm #NoBudgetFilm

Your script isn’t too ‘ambitious.’ You just haven’t figured out how to make it work with the resources you have.

#ScreenwritingTips #FilmmakingHustle #NoExcuses #IndieFilmBusiness #Filmmaking #Filmmaker #Cinematography #IndieFilm #ShortFilm #Director #FilmmakersLife #SetLife #IndieFilmmaker #FilmmakingLife #FilmProduction #FilmFestival #IndieFilmmaking #DirectorOfPhotography #FilmmakerCommunity #SupportIndieFilm #NoBudgetFilm

Your script isn’t too ‘ambitious.’ You just haven’t figured out how to make it work with the resources you have.

#ScreenwritingTips #FilmmakingHustle #NoExcuses #IndieFilmBusiness #Filmmaking #Filmmaker #Cinematography #IndieFilm #ShortFilm #Director #FilmmakersLife #SetLife #IndieFilmmaker #FilmmakingLife #FilmProduction #FilmFestival #IndieFilmmaking #DirectorOfPhotography #FilmmakerCommunity #SupportIndieFilm #NoBudgetFilm

First drafts aren’t meant to be perfect. They’re meant to exist.

#ScreenwritingTips #FilmmakingHustle #JustWriteIt #NoExcuses #Filmmaking #Filmmaker #Cinematography #IndieFilm #ShortFilm #Director #FilmmakersLife #SetLife #IndieFilmmaker #FilmmakingLife #FilmProduction #FilmFestival #IndieFilmmaking #DirectorOfPhotography #FilmmakerCommunity #SupportIndieFilm #NoBudgetFilm

First drafts aren’t meant to be perfect. They’re meant to exist.

#ScreenwritingTips #FilmmakingHustle #JustWriteIt #NoExcuses #Filmmaking #Filmmaker #Cinematography #IndieFilm #ShortFilm #Director #FilmmakersLife #SetLife #IndieFilmmaker #FilmmakingLife #FilmProduction #FilmFestival #IndieFilmmaking #DirectorOfPhotography #FilmmakerCommunity #SupportIndieFilm #NoBudgetFilm

In film, polite rejection is the norm. But unlike startups, Hollywood's culture of silence keeps filmmakers from leveling up.
.
#IndieFilm
#ScreenwritingTips
#filmsky
#HollywoodTruth
#FilmIndustryTalk
#FilmmakerLife
#RealTalkHollywood
#ScriptNotes
#HonestFeedback
#StartupVsHollywood
#Garvescope

https://garvescope.com/blog/too-nice-to-be-useful-how-hollywoods-polite-lies-are-hurting-filmmakers/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Screenwriter Harley Peyton, who wrote or co-wrote 13 of the original series' 30 episodes, looks back on everything he learned from the experience.

#screenwriting #screenwriter #screenwritingtips #writing #writingtips #writinglife #writingcommunity #twinpeaks

https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/in-the-writers-room-where-it-happened

‘Q&A: Filmmaker Brian Duffield Needs More Weird in His Life’

The 'No One Will Save You' writer-director lets me interrogate him about his journey from missionaries' son to Hollywood, screenwriting craft, and passion for offbeat original stories.

#screenwriting #screenwriter #screenwritingtips #filmmaking #filmmaker #directing #director #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #movies #cinema #film

https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-filmmaker-brian-duffield

‘2024 Award Season Screenplays to Download and Study’
 
As the Oscars approach, 5AM StoryTalk has collected links to dozens of the most celebrated films of the past year for you to read for free.

#screenwriting #screenplay #screenwritingtips #screenwriter #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #film #movies #cinema
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/2024s-award-season-screenplays-to

‘Welcome to the New Year (and a New 5AM StoryTalk)!’
 
A reintroduction to my arts newsletter and a preview of the exciting cha-cha-cha-changes coming its way in 2025.

#art #culture #film #movies #cinema #television #music #fineart #writing #writinglife #writingtips #writingcommunity #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #screenwriter
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-new-year-and-a-new-61f

‘We're All Trying to Escape a Dystopian Thriller Now’
 
That time I pitched 'Squid Game', Luigi Mangione, and why Hollywood and the media will do anything to protect the super-rich.

#screenwriting #screenwritingtips #culture #dystopian #squidgame #luigimangione #radicalideas #resistance #unitedhealthcare #billionaires
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/were-all-trying-to-escape-a-dystopian

“Q&A: Screenwriter Vanessa Taylor Embraces 'Terror and Discomfort' in Her Creative Process”
 
The Oscar-nominated scribe goes deep into her craft and how she continues to challenge herself as a storyteller.

#screenwriting #screenwriter #screenwritingtips #writing #writingtips #writinglife #writingcommunity #film #movies #cinema #television #TheShapeofWater
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-screenwriter-vanessa-taylor

‘Q&A: Filmmaker Tony Ayres on the Secret of His Success’
 
The screenwriter, director, and producer looks back on his career and how he became one of the leading voices in Australian TV by living up to his Chinese sign.

#screenwriting #screenwritingtips #screenwriter #australiantv #aussietv #australianfilmindustry #writing #writingtips #writinglife #writingcommunity
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-filmmaker-tony-ayres-knows

‘Q&A: Filmmaker Tony Ayres on the Secret of His Success’
 
The screenwriter, director, and producer looks back on his career and how he became one of the leading voices in Australian TV by living up to his Chinese sign.

#screenwriting #screenwritingtips #screenwriter #australiantv #aussietv #australianfilmindustry #writing #writingtips #writinglife #writingcommunity
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-filmmaker-tony-ayres-knows

‘Q&A: Filmmaker Tony Ayres on the Secret of His Success’
 
The screenwriter, director, and producer looks back on his career and how he became one of the leading voices in Australian TV by living up to his Chinese sign.

#screenwriting #screenwritingtips #screenwriter #australiantv #aussietv #australianfilmindustry #writing #writingtips #writinglife #writingcommunity
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-filmmaker-tony-ayres-knows

‘Q&A: Filmmaker Tony Ayres on the Secret of His Success’
 
The screenwriter, director, and producer looks back on his career and how he became one of the leading voices in Australian TV by living up to his Chinese sign.

#screenwriting #screenwritingtips #screenwriter #australiantv #aussietv #australianfilmindustry #writing #writingtips #writinglife #writingcommunity
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-filmmaker-tony-ayres-knows

‘Q&A: Filmmaker Tony Ayres on the Secret of His Success’
 
The screenwriter, director, and producer looks back on his career and how he became one of the leading voices in Australian TV by living up to his Chinese sign.

#screenwriting #screenwritingtips #screenwriter #australiantv #aussietv #australianfilmindustry #writing #writingtips #writinglife #writingcommunity
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-filmmaker-tony-ayres-knows

‘Shonda Rhimes on Her Regimented Approach to Writing’
 
Let's take a look at how the TV titan got to where she is.

#screenwritng #screenwritingtips #screenwriter #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #television #shondarhimes
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/shonda-rhimess-secret-to-her-success

“14 Perfect Minutes: Breaking Down the Opening of 'Jaws'”
 
From character introductions, to dialogue, to world-building, Steven Spielberg's third film is a master class in cinematic storytelling.

#screenwriting #screenplay #screenwritingtips #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #jaws #stevenspielberg #film #movies #cinema
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/14-perfect-minutes-breaking-down

‘5AM StoryTalk Reflections: Hundreds of Screenplays All in One Place’
 
A collection of personally curated script collections – covering numerous genres and sub-categories – to download and study. This is how you learn to write for film and TV more than any other method.

#screenwriting #screenwriter #screenwritingtips #screenplay #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #film #movies #television
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/5am-storytalk-reflections-100s-of

‘How to Become Better Storytellers by Studying Other Artists' Work’
 
A host of filmmakers, novelists, and comic book writers from around the globe deliver short lectures about seminal art works in their creative lives.

#screenwriting #screenwriter #screenwritingtips #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #film #movies #cinema #comicbooks #author #novels #television
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/how-to-become-better-storytellers

‘40 20th Century Science-Fiction Scripts to Download and Study’
 
5AM StoryTalk has curated a tour through five decades of great sci-fi films for you to learn from.

#screenwriting #screenwriter #screenplay #screenwritingtips #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #film #movies #cinema
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/40-20th-century-science-fiction-scripts

‘The Untold Horror Story of My First Screenplay Sale’
 
When I sold my first pitch, I celebrated...too soon.
 
#screenwriting #screenwriter #screenwritingtips #writing #writingtips #writnglife #writingcommunity #film #movies #cinema

https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/the-untold-horror-story-of-my-first

‘Q&A: Filmmaker Nicholas Stoller Thrives on Conflict’
 
The prolific comedy writer, director, and TV creator responsible for 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall', 'Neighbors', and, most recently, 'Platonic' discusses his authored approach to screen storytelling.

#film #movies #cinema #television #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #screenwriter #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-filmmaker-nicholas-stoller

‘35 Coming-of-Age Scripts to Download and Study’
 
5AM StoryTalk has curated a tour through growing up on-screen for you.

#screenwriting #screenwritingtips #screenplay #screenplays #film #movies #cinema #comingofage #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/35-coming-of-age-scripts-to-download

'100 Horror Screenplays to Download and Study for Free'
 
Yes, you read that correctly: 100! I take you on an epic journey
through six decades of cinematic terror to help in your screenwriting education.
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/100-horror-screenplays-to-download

#screenwriting #screenwriter #screenplay #screenwritingtips #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #film #movies #cinema #horror #horrormovies #horrormovie

Screenwriting Tales: Sometimes 'Not Losing' Is Your Best Hope As an Artist (Or: How I Survived Creating My First TV Series)

'DRACULA' (2013) was one of the most challenging and painful experiences of my life, but unconventional tactics often helped me outmaneuver superior adversaries.

https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/screenwriting-tales-sometimes-not

#Dracula #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #screenwriter #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #television #TV #filmmaking #film #movies #cinema

Let's break down what happened to my "DRACULA" (2013) pilot script after it earned a rare series order - because its journey from my laptop to screens is a MasterClass in how not to make good TV.

https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/every-screenwriter-dreams-of-creating

#Dracula #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #screenwriter #TVpilot #television #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity

'A Monthlong Celebration of the Complete and Utter Shitshow That was 'DRACULA' (2013) on Its 10th Anniversary'

What to expect from my Substack retrospective of a TV series I created that I also call the worst creative experience of my life (and there's a lot more than you've already heard)...

https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/a-monthlong-celebration-of-the-complete

#screenwriting #screenwritingtips #television #TV #dracula #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity

What's In the F@cking Box?! (Or: What Quantum Mechanics and Art Have in Common)
 
It's impossible to pretend away the fact that what we create changes once it interacts with the rest of the world...but what if we embrace that? In this article, I discuss how embracing that change can transform how you work and your projects.
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/whats-in-the-fcking-box-or-what-quantum

#art #screenwriting #writing #screenwritingtips #writingtips #filmmaking #writingcommunity #amwriting #quantumphysics #schrodingerscat #creativity

‘Jodie Foster's Big, Beautiful Idea’
 
The Oscar-winning actor and director has a litmus test for all projects she considers - words all storytellers should try to live by.
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/jodie-fosters-big-beautiful-idea

#writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #creativewriting #storytelling #creativity #inspiration

Q&A: THE CLEANING LADY Creator Miranda Kwok on the Transformative Power of Art (Part 1 of 2)

In addition to her personal journey, Miranda goes deep into the development process of her hit TV series. There's much to learn here for aspiring and emerging screenwriters.
 
Read here: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-the-cleaning-lady-creator

#TheCleaningLady #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #screenwriter #TV #television #storytelling #creativewriting #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity

Screenwriting Tales: Every Screenwriter Eventually Faces a Hollywood Version of the Kobayashi Maru
 
I failed the 'no win scenario' test; now learn from my mistakes
 
https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/screenwriting-tales-every-screenwriter

#screenwriting #screenwritingtips #filmmaking #film #movies #cinema #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #amwriting

'TV Showrunner and WGA Strike Captain Amy Berg Has a Lot of Fight Left in Her'

The "WARRIOR NUN" and "JACK RYAN" writer talks craft, her favorite kind of porn, and why the WGA is going to win this strike.

#WGAstrike #WGAStrong #wga #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #amwriting #television #TV #WarriorNun #jackryan

'60 Great Comedy Screenplays to Download and Study for Free'
 
I've curated a tour through six decades of comedy to help in your screenwriting education whether you're new to the craft, an emerging voice, or firmly established in the biz. From BLAZING SADDLES to THE HANGOVER, to SOME LIKE IT HOT to WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, they’re all here.
 
Read: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/60-great-comedy-screenplays-to-download

#screenwriting #screenwriter #screenplay #screenwritingtips #film #movies #cinema #comedymovie #comedyfilm #comedy

'On Screenwriting: There Are More Ways to Tell a Screen Story Than Hollywood Wants You to Believe'
 
World cinema provides a broad education in how to challenge, subvert, and innovate the narrative norms of the Hollywood studio system.
 
Read: https://open.substack.com/pub/colehaddon/p/on-screenwriting-there-are-more-ways?r=1mimd1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

#film #movies #cinema #worldcinema #internationalfilm #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #filmmaking #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #amwriting

'On Screenwriting: There Are More Ways to Tell a Screen Story Than Hollywood Wants You to Believe'
 
World cinema provides a broad education in how to challenge, subvert, and innovate the narrative norms of the Hollywood studio system.
 
Read: https://open.substack.com/pub/colehaddon/p/on-screenwriting-there-are-more-ways?r=1mimd1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

#film #movies #cinema #worldcinema #internationalfilm #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #filmmaking #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #amwriting

'On Screenwriting: There Are More Ways to Tell a Screen Story Than Hollywood Wants You to Believe'
 
World cinema provides a broad education in how to challenge, subvert, and innovate the narrative norms of the Hollywood studio system.
 
Read: https://open.substack.com/pub/colehaddon/p/on-screenwriting-there-are-more-ways?r=1mimd1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

#film #movies #cinema #worldcinema #internationalfilm #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #filmmaking #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #amwriting

'On Screenwriting: There Are More Ways to Tell a Screen Story Than Hollywood Wants You to Believe'
 
World cinema provides a broad education in how to challenge, subvert, and innovate the narrative norms of the Hollywood studio system.
 
Read: https://open.substack.com/pub/colehaddon/p/on-screenwriting-there-are-more-ways?r=1mimd1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

#film #movies #cinema #worldcinema #internationalfilm #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #filmmaking #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #amwriting

'On Screenwriting: There Are More Ways to Tell a Screen Story Than Hollywood Wants You to Believe'
 
World cinema provides a broad education in how to challenge, subvert, and innovate the narrative norms of the Hollywood studio system.
 
Read: https://open.substack.com/pub/colehaddon/p/on-screenwriting-there-are-more-ways?r=1mimd1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

#film #movies #cinema #worldcinema #internationalfilm #screenwriting #screenwritingtips #filmmaking #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #amwriting

'Screenwriting Tales: Why Pitching Projects Taken from the Public Domain Is Risky'
 
Let me tell you about the time an American mega-producer stole my project. Not behind my back, but to my face. Within the story is a lesson to bear in mind when discussing any ideas you have that are derived from the public domain.

Read: https://open.substack.com/pub/colehaddon/p/screenwriting-tales-why-pitching?r=1mimd1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

#screenwriting #screenwriter #screenwritingtips #film #movies #cinema #writing #writingtips #writingcommunity #amwriting

Q&A: Meg LeFauve, the Oscar-nominated scribe behind INSIDE OUT and other films, looks back at her “screenwriting life” with me.

This is easily one of the most epic and inspiring artist-on-artist interviews I’ve conducted. There's so much to learn from here.

Read: https://open.substack.com/pub/colehaddon/p/q-and-a-inside-outs-meg-lefauve-on?r=1mimd1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

#screenwriting #screenwritingtips #writing #writingcommunity #writinglife #writingtips #creativity #inspiration #InsideOut #amwriting #pixar