Helpful tips, deep dives, and rumination on the art and craft of film, TV, and screenwriting.
Why Cozy Dramas Are Taking Over Our Screens (And Your Next Pilot Should Too)
Okay, confession time: I used to be obsessed with The Handmaid's Tale. But when the latest season dropped, I found myself... avoiding it. Not because it isn't brilliant, but because it hits too close to home. The world already feels dystopian...
The 10-Minute Sequence – Anyone But You
As we continue our journey into the 10-minute sequence structure, let’s focus on a genre that over the last decade has become the equivalent of cinematic comfort food: THE ROMCOM And what better film than the highest grossing romcom of 2023, ANYONE...
Conclave and the Ten Minute Sequence Structure
When I was a student in the MFA screenwriting program at UCLA our first assignment was to read two books: Lajos Egri’s THE ART OF DRAMATIC WRITING and Aristotle’s POETICS. Egri is all about character and theme; Poetics is all about structure. I...
Why Should I Write Another Script When the Industry is Imploding?
Let me just get right to the meat and potatoes of this topic. The shift to subscription and cable services has drastically changed the business dynamic of film and TV. The old rules no longer apply. Seasoned and professional writers with...
Embrace The “…isms”
by Linda Voorhees Labels are part of life. It’s a quick way to make a judgment and give consideration to the people you decide might be part of your acquaintanceship—or not. We all do it. We make quick assessment of the people in line at Starbucks,...
Two Minutes & Fifty-Nine Seconds Is All You Need
Two Minutes & Fifty-Nine Seconds Is All You Need We all understand what it means to say that the beginning of a movie is the promise of the end. JAWS opens with a shark eating a woman swimming in the ocean. It ends with our heroes killing the...
Writer Spotlight: Laurie Rivlin Heller
We’re excited to kick off 2024 by shining a light on the success of ProPath writer Laurie Rivlin Heller. Laurie closed out a very successful 2023 of writing by placing in the TOP FIVE of the Final Draft Big Break 2023 TV Drama category with her...
Transformational Arc — What It Is and Why It Matters
In the simplest terms, the transformational arc is your protagonist’s journey to becoming a true hero. Your hero begins as an unfulfilled and restless character. The hero is usually predisposed to rejecting any opportunity to grow, mobilize or...
From Christmas-centric to Year-Round Fun: How the Hallmark Channel Has Evolved
The Hallmark Channel has been a popular destination for feel-good movies and heartwarming TV shows for many years. However, in recent years, the network has undergone some significant changes that have caught the attention of both fans and critics...
Deck the Halls: Exploring the Key Differences Between Hallmark Movies and Hallmark Christmas Movies
While Hallmark movies and Hallmark Christmas movies may share some similarities, there are several key differences that set them apart. Here are some of the main differences: Setting Hallmark movies can take place in a variety of settings, from...
Lights, Camera, Love: Why Writing a Hallmark Movie Is Good For Your Soul & Audience
Hallmark movies have become a cultural phenomenon, beloved by audiences of all ages. These movies are known for their feel-good storylines, relatable characters, and heartwarming themes, and have become a staple of the holiday season. Here are some...
From Script to Screen: Marketing Your RomCom and Building Your Writing Community
As a writer, finishing your romcom is a huge accomplishment. But now what? How do you get your story out there and sell it to the right people? Fortunately, there are many ways to sell a romcom movie you have written, and building your community...
Unwrap the Secrets of Hallmark Movie Success: 5 Tips to Write a RomCom
Romantic comedies, or RomComs for short, are a beloved genre of movies that are known for their feel-good storylines, charming characters, and happy endings. And one of the most famous purveyors of RomComs is the Hallmark Channel, which is famous...
A Writer’s Checklist for Workshop Notes
When participating in a workshop, one of the critical elements is receiving notes from the instructor and from your fellow writers. Once the workshop concludes, students often form writing groups to continue the work of critique. Nothing is more...
Unearthing the Importance of Sub-Characters
When plotting and writing a movie, the focus is understandably on the protagonist/hero, but it's important to consider sub-characters as part of the overall structure of your film. Sub-characters are the primary means of creating obstacles and...
A Quick Intro to Inciting Incidents
An inciting incident is key to the creation of a well-structured movie. Nailing yours can help lock your story into a crackerjack narrative trajectory. Let’s take a look at a few inciting incidents. THE LOST CITY THE LOST CITY is a vibrant, lively,...
Beyond the Heart-Shaped Box: How Hallmark Movies Stand Out in the RomCom Genre
When it comes to the world of romantic comedies, there are a lot of options to choose from. From classic films like "When Harry Met Sally" to modern favorites like "Crazy Rich Asians," the genre has a lot of variety to offer. However, there is a...
6 Ways to Sell Your RomCom and Launch Your Writing Career
If you have written a romcom and are looking to sell it, there are a variety of networks and platforms you can pitch to. Here are some of the most popular options: Major Broadcast Networks The major broadcast networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, and...
How to Level Up Your Writing (for Free!)
Screenwriting is a craft. It's time to start treating it that way. A great place to start is by reading produced scripts. Reading scripts is a crucial part of the screenwriting process. Not only does it teach you the ins and outs of the craft, but...
Pain is the Writer’s Tool
Pain. The thing we avoid. It's not just for the purpose of survival that we avoid pain, but simply out of an instinct of good horse sense. Who wants to be hurt? Who wants to deal with the aftermath? In fact, the aftermath is often the worst...
6 Ways to Rekindle Your Screenwriting Fire
The beginning of a new year is full of hope. No matter what last year looked like, we are always hopeful that the next year will be even better. As writers, we are always living in hope. We put words on paper hoping that someone will be so...
Why Horror Works
Horror films entertain. They thrill by titillating. They punish transgressors--but of course give the audience the full view of the illicit activity first. Sex, drugs, predation, sloppy inebriation are all elements of horror films. They are all...
Write Bad To Write Good: Advice on Getting Started
We all know how terrifying that first blank page can be. Whether it’s in Final Draft, Highland 2, Fade In, or even Word, when you find yourself staring at all that white space, it can feel impossible to get going. Fortunately, our very own Linda...
Taking the Leap: How Writers Overcome Fear to Embrace Truth
We donʼt ask much from our ProPath writers, we only ask that at the end of each workshop they complete a script, that is well-structured with characters that are fully dimensional. Make it funny if it is a comedy and make it dramatic if it is a...
Meet Rick Garman
Christmas is coming in July! We're thrilled to introduce you to our newest romcom instructor! Rick Garman is a writer who specializes in holiday romcom movies, and he'll be teaching a class on writing your very own romantic comedy holiday movie....
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