Scriptmag Archives - Writer's Digest https://cms.writersdigest.com/tag/scriptmag Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 Adapting Wicked From Stage to Screen (From Script) https://www.writersdigest.com/adapting-wicked-from-stage-to-screen-from-script Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.writersdigest.com/api/preview?id=47014&secret=cM2XMtKpK3Lj&nonce=b53756fda5 In this week’s round up from Script magazine, dive into our wide-ranging interview with Wicked and Wicked: For Good co-screenwriter Dana Fox, and more.

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]]> In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, dive into our wide-ranging interview with Wicked and Wicked: For Good co-screenwriter Dana Fox. Plus, celebrate the movie-going experience with Writer’s Digest’s editor Michael Woodson, catch up on our latest film reviews, learn why the Horror genre is taking the box office by storm, and much more.

Interview with Wicked and Wicked: For Good Co-Writer and Executive Producer Dana Fox

In this wide-ranging interview, Dana Fox discusses collaboration, the challenges and joys of adapting from source material, and creating emotional authenticity and thematic depth. 

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SELLING YOUR SCREENPLAY: Ep. 539 – From Lawyer To Writer with Vincent Scarsella

Vincent Scarsella talks about his latest produced movie, topics include how aspects of his life feed into his writing, and more.

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Studio Executives are Failing Film Lovers

Making merger deals seems more important than celebrating the history of the cinematic experience and the community it creates.

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Dead Man’s Wire Review

When the System Screws You, Take It to Live TV with a Shotgun

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Tell Me about Yourself, but Make It Scary

If it scares you, chances are it just might scare us, too.

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Avatar: Fire and Ash Review

Avatar: Fire and Ash not only visually and narratively immerses us in the world of Pandora again, it fully services the fans expectations.

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The Secret Agent Review

A Memory That Refuses To Stay Quiet

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Sirāt Review

Hypnotic Descent Into Noise, Sand, and Moral Confusion

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Writing a Family Friendly Script Bundle

Eight OnDemand webinars that provide instruction and advice for screenwriters interested in crafting a screenplay for the whole family to enjoy.

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]]> From Book to Screen: Adapting Hamnet with Author and Co-Screenwriter Maggie O’Farrell (From Script) https://www.writersdigest.com/from-book-to-screen-adapting-hamnet-with-author-and-co-screenwriter-maggie-ofarrell-from-script Mon, 08 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.writersdigest.com/api/preview?id=46897&secret=cM2XMtKpK3Lj&nonce=ccb4887c00 In this week’s round up from Script magazine, Hamnet author and co-screenwriter Maggie O’Farrell discusses her inspiration for writing the story, and more.

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]]> In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, Hamnet author and co-screenwriter Maggie O’Farrell discusses her inspiration for writing the story, adapting her own book, and her collaboration with filmmaker Chloé Zhao. Plus, read up on our latest film and TV reviews, and interviews with Sorry, Baby filmmaker Eva Victor, The Secret Agent filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filhoand more!

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Review

A Holy Mystery Wrapped in Sin, Secrets, and Spectacle

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Script University December 2025 Courses and Live Events

Check out this month’s course offerings led by Script University’s industry experts!

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The Discernment of Filmmaking: Kleber Mendonça Filho Discusses The Secret Agent

Kleber Mendonça Filho discusses his writing process, how he went from film critic to filmmaker and his love for American cinema.

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The Story Tone and the Photographic Tone with Eternity Cinematographer Ruairí O’Brien

Eternity cinematographer Ruairí O’Brien discusses the importance of the script’s tone and visual style.

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From Book to Screen: Adapting Hamnet with Author and Co-Screenwriter Maggie O’Farrell

Maggie O’Farrell discusses her inspiration for writing ‘Hamnet,’ her collaborative process with co-writer and director Chloé Zhao, and the necessity of making interior emotions exterior.

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The Mastermind Review

A Portrait of a Thief Who Steals Everything but Purpose

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It’s All About the Emotionality: A Conversation with 31 Candles Filmmaker Jonah Feingold

Jonah Feingold discusses his film 31 Candles, highlighting the semi-autobiographical elements, the importance of vulnerability in storytelling, and the influence of his Instagram self-portraits on the film’s aesthetic.

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UNDERSTANDING SCREENWITING: Some Newbies, Both Movies and TV

The movies are Jay Kelly and Nouvelle Vague, and the TV stuff includes “The Rainmaker,” “9-1-1,” “9-1-1 Nashville,” and “I Love LA.”

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Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Review

There are so many nonsensical occurrences in the story that there are laughs where there should be scares.

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Blue Moon Review

When Wit and Melancholy Collide in a Bar in 1943

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Rebellion from the Tragedy: A Conversation with Sorry, Baby Filmmaker Eva Victor

Eva Victor discusses their non-linear writing process, rewriting process, and the emotional impact the film had on them creatively and personally.

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]]> Putting Your Stamp on an Adaptation (From Script) https://www.writersdigest.com/putting-your-stamp-on-an-adaptation-from-script Mon, 17 Nov 2025 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.writersdigest.com/api/preview?id=46417&secret=cM2XMtKpK3Lj&nonce=f99fce405d In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, The Running Man co-screenwriters Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall discuss adapting Stephen King’s dystopian novel, and more!

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]]> In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, The Running Man co-screenwriters Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall discuss adapting Stephen King’s dystopian novel. Plus, catch up on our latest film reviews, a look back at fifty years of the blockbuster masterpiece Jaws, and more!

Nuremberg Review

Gripping, flawed, and vital, Nuremberg makes you confront evil as human and accountability as urgent.

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Die My Love Review

When Desire and Despair Become the Mirror of Motherhood

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Love, Identity, and the Cinematic Courage of Sincerity: A Conversation with A Nice Indian Boy Director Roshan Sethi

Writer-director Roshan Sethi on finding universality in specificity, navigating representation, and why the Bollywood heart still beats strong.

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Jaws Through the Terrified Eyes of an 11-Year-Old 70s Kid

Jaws is 50, I was 11, and you can’t know what it was like. So, here’s a firsthand account.

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Putting Your Stamp on an Adaptation: Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall Discuss The Running Man

Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall discuss adapting Stephen King’s dystopian minefield from treatment to the final edit.

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Writing Based on a True Story

This bundle is ideal for the screenwriter who finds inspiration in real-life stories and experiences, and who wants to turn their idea into a working screenplay!

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]]> The Bloodsuckers that Shaped Us (From Script) https://www.writersdigest.com/the-bloodsuckers-that-shaped-us-from-script Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.writersdigest.com/api/preview?id=46088&secret=cM2XMtKpK3Lj&nonce=fadd647a36 In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, sink your teeth into the structure and style of some iconic vampire lore.

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]]> In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, sink your teeth into the structure and style of some iconic vampire lore, get a look behind-the-scenes on how author Charlie Huston adapted their own work, Shane Black returns and gives sage advice on writing, and so much more!

The Bloodsuckers that Shaped Us: Structure & Style in Vampire Lore

…and the Slayers who took them out, stole our hearts, and made us look in the mirror.

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Caught Stealing’s Charlie Huston on Adaptations That Catch Interest

Charlie Huston shares how they drew from their own life to coach Hank onto the page and into the spotlight roughly twenty years later.

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INDIE SPOTLIGHT: Interview with Sell Out Filmmakers and Brothers Josh Holden and Nick Holden

The Austin-based duo, discuss staying focused on authenticity and vulnerability, the challenges of balancing artistic integrity with commercial viability… or in this case… selling out.

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Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein Is The Ultimate Distillation of His Screenwriting Craft

For all of those influences floating around in Guillermo del Toro’s head, including the novel, this is a screenplay adaptation of Frankenstein that feels uniquely del Toro.

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Bugonia Sticking the Landing, and A Lesson For Screenwriters

The script through the film is beautifully rendered, sharpening the tension and releasing it between awkward laughs and increasing the stakes.

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Breaking & Entering: Shane Black on Writing and How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Brutal

A-Lister Shane Black on why screenwriting is so f*@king hard, how he started, the one must-read book, and conquering your worst fears to keep hitting the keys.

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]]> Read These 3 Things to Thrive as a Story Analyst (From Script) https://www.writersdigest.com/read-these-3-things-to-thrive-as-a-story-analyst-from-script Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.writersdigest.com/api/preview?id=45977&secret=cM2XMtKpK3Lj&nonce=9dc569aa80 In this week’s round up from Script magazine, gain insight on how to become an outstanding story analyst, dive into our latest film reviews, and more!

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]]> In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, gain insight on how to become an outstanding and in-the-know story analyst, dive into our latest film reviews on Roofman, Rental Family and A Nice Indian Boy, and read up on Tom Stempel’s appreciation post for the late industry staple Robert Redford.

Read These 3 Things to Thrive as a Story Analyst

These extra steps provide the reader with a wealth of insight that allows them to fulfill their responsibilities with greater ease and confidence.

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Rental Family Review

A Gentle Ode to Loneliness, Connection, and the Roles We Play

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Roofman Review

A Heartfelt, Ridiculous, and Surprisingly Moving Crime Drama About a Man Who Just Wanted to Be Good at Something

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UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Two Great Oldies and a Newbie

The films are Suddenly (1954), Honey Don’t (2025), and a Robert Redford appreciation-watching of All the President’s Men (1975).

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A Nice Indian Boy Review

A Love Letter to Family, Identity, and Bollywood Magic.

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Writing Mysteries & Thrillers That Sell

Learn how to add suspense to your screenplay and master adding the perfect twist at the end of your work to keep your viewers wanting more!

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]]> Tackling Primal Fear Through Writing (From Script) https://www.writersdigest.com/tackling-primal-fear-through-writing-from-script Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.writersdigest.com/?p=45636&preview=1 In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, Beast of War filmmaker discusses combining genres and making monster movies.

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]]> In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, Beast of War filmmaker discusses combining genres and making monster movies. Plus, screenwriter Luke Matheny gives us an inside look adapting Charlotte’s Web, The Woman in Cabin 10 filmmaker Simon Stone discusses adapting Ruth Ware’s novel, read our latest film reviews, and more!

Tackling Primal Fear Through Writing: Kiah Roache-Turner Talks Making Beast of War

Filmmaker Kiah Roache-Turner discusses being inspired by true events, building a life-like shark, making monster movies, and more.

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UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Music, Music, Music, Music

Get ready to hum along; this month’s tuneful films are Highest 2 Lowest, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, Freakier Friday.

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No Other Choice Review

Park Chan-wook Turns Unemployment Into a Blood Sport in No Other Choice

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Writer Luke Matheny on Tackling Intimidation and Timeless Themes in Weaving a New “Charlotte’s Web“

Luke Matheny untangles what it’s like to take on a beloved work and how writing for children provides the freedom to explore deeper themes.

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It Was Just an Accident Review

Some films rattle you with their artistry. Others shake you because of what they stand for. Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident somehow does both at once, delivering one of the most blistering, humane, and darkly funny films of the year.

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Showing the Full Range of Humanity: Q&A with Greg Cope White on Netflix’s “Boots“

Greg Cope White discusses adapting his book “The Pink Marine,” the collaborative spirit in the writers’ room, his mentorship under Norman Lear, and more!

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The Director of The Woman in Cabin 10 Talks Hitchcock and Finding Your North Star

The Woman in Cabin 10 filmmaker Simon Stone discusses adapting Ruth Ware’s novel, being inspired by Hitchcock, and finding your north star.

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]]> The Power of Consistency (From Script) https://www.writersdigest.com/the-power-of-consistency-from-script Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.writersdigest.com/?p=45500&preview=1 In this week’s round up from Script magazine, Jeanne Bowerman dives into the importance of consistency, and more.

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]]> In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, Jeanne Bowerman dives into the importance of consistency, meet indie filmmakers Katie Weinstein and Michael Feder on they’re building a filmmaking community outside of the box, listen to the latest Reckless Creatives podcast with special guests Jillian Smith and Reagan Yorke—two GenZ’ers taking the industry by storm, read our highlights from the 63rd New York Film Festival, and more!

Balls of Steel™: The Power of Consistency

The magical knock never comes. The pages remain blank. They wait for mythical inspiration. How long are you going to wait?

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TRUE INDIE: Interview with Filmmakers Katie Weinstein and Michael Feder of Raw Daisies on Connecting Directly with Audiences in an Age of AI

Raw Daisies connect directly with their audiences, sidestepping the traditional middlemen, while forming a close-knit film community in an age of distance and division.

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Script University October 2025 Courses and Live Events

Check out this month’s course offerings led by Script University’s industry experts!

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Highlights from the 2025 New York Film Festival

Behind the Scenes Writing of After the Hunt and Anemone

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Reckless Creatives Podcast: S&Q Films: You Don’t Get to Tell Me ‘No’

For all the filmmakers out there making excuses for not breaking in, jump into the minds of women who have a drive like none other.

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Write a Killer Horror Script Bundle

Create thrilling horror stories filled with suspense and unexpected plot twists. Dare to be the next horror master!

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]]> Highest 2 Lowest: A Kurosawa Remix (From Script) https://www.writersdigest.com/highest-2-lowest-a-kurosawa-remix-from-script Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.writersdigest.com/?p=45363&preview=1 In this week’s round up from Script magazine, Bryan Young dissects how Spike Lee put his own personal spin in adapting Kurosawa’s film High and Low.

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]]> In this week’s round up from Script magazine, Bryan Young dissects how Spike Lee put his own personal spin in adapting Kurosawa’s film High and Low. Plus, read interviews with Shane Black about his latest heist film Play Dirty, get insight to how Noah Hawley took big swings in bringing “Alien: Earth” to TV, and more!

INDIE SPOTLIGHT: Interview with Go On Filmmaker Landon Ashworth

Landon Ashworth discusses his filmmaking journey, making bold career decisions, his personal connection to his film, his writing process, and more.

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Highest 2 Lowest: A Kurosawa Remix

For screenwriters looking to adapt older source material, this might be a much more effective way to approach adaptations.

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“Alien: Earth”’s Noah Hawley on Big Swings in Elevated Sci-Fi

Noah Hawley shares the inspiration behind such swings and how to ground a story, even in an elevated universe.

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Breaking & Entering: Shane Black’s Play Dirty Spins the Classic Heist Movie to New Heights

Shane Black reveals his passion for adapting a famed antihero, secrets for stories and characters that captivate, and the films that sparked his love of movies.

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]]> Why Do I Want to Tell THIS Story? (From Script) https://www.writersdigest.com/why-do-i-want-to-tell-this-story-from-script Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.writersdigest.com/?p=45151&preview=1 In this week’s round up from Script magazine, learn how to make your script more impactful by knowing why you want to write your specific idea, and more.

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]]> In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, learn how to make your script more impactful by knowing why you want to write your specific idea, read interviews with Jordan Peele’s HIM director and co-writer Justin Tipping, Netflix’s Black Rabbit director Ben Semanoff, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey screenwriter Seth Reiss, and so much more.

SELLING YOUR SCREENPLAY: Ep. 537 – Gigi Levangie on Working with the Producers of SAW

Ashley Scott Meyers talks with screenwriter and author Gigi Levangie.

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Why Do I Want to Tell THIS Story?

If you can figure out WHY you want to write this specific idea right now, you go a long way to making your script more impactful and better.

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Focused on Sin and Redemption Before the Hays Code: The Screenwriting Career of Alice D.G. Miller

Dr. Rosanne Welch celebrates the female screenwriters who came before us with this month’s spotlight on trailblazer screenwriter Alice D.G. Miller.

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How Can I Step More Fully Into My Writer’s Identity?

Writing coach and Called to Write founder Jenna Avery responds to a reader about more fully inhabiting one’s identity as a writer.

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Interview with “Black Rabbit” Director Ben Semanoff

Director Ben Semanoff discusses being inspired by the shows themes, tonal consistency, how his previous jobs inspire his work as a director, and more.

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A Beautiful and Simplistic Idea: A Conversation with A Big Bold Beautiful Journey Screenwriter Seth Reiss

Seth Reiss highlights the inspiration from his personal heartbreak, his collaborative process with Kogonada, balancing drama and comedy, and emphasizes the importance of emotional depth and more.

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The Psychology of What It Takes to Be the Greatest: A Conversation with HIM Director and Co-writer Justin Tipping

Justin Tipping discusses his personal connection to the material, blending horror and sports drama, and working side-by-side with the GOAT that is Jordan Peele.

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]]> Outlines, Outlines, Outlines (From Script) https://www.writersdigest.com/outlines-outlines-outlines-from-script Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.writersdigest.com/?p=45019&preview=1 In this week’s round up from Script magazine, learn how to fast track your writing by creating a solid outline.

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]]> In this week’s round up brought to us by Script magazine, learn how to fast track your writing by creating a solid outline. Plus, dive into interviews with The Baltimorons filmmakers Jay Duplass and Michael Strassner, Chaperone writer-director Zoë Eisenberg, plug into the latest Reckless Creatives Podcast, and more.

Outlines, Outlines, Outlines

Outlines are your opportunity to have all the ideas, the good ones, the bad ones, the entirely stupid ones.

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Script University September 2025 Courses and Live Events

Check out this month’s course offerings led by Script University’s industry experts!

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Habitat for Humanity: Zoë Eisenberg Talks Island Community in Chaperone

Zoë Eisenberg discusses her writing process, creating a messy female protagonist, casting and more.

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INDIE SPOTLIGHT: Interview with The Baltimorons Filmmakers Jay Duplass and Michael Strassner

Jay Duplass and Michael Strassner discuss the challenges of making independent films, the importance of ‘Yes, and…’ in their creative process as filmmakers, and more.

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Reckless Creatives Podcast: Storytelling 360 Founder, Zack Gutin, on the Power of the Writing Community

Zack Gutin talks about the value of the writing community, his founding of the incredible new screenwriting event, Storytelling 360, and more!

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Build a Better Outline (And A Much Better Script)

This live webinar, led by Tim Schildberger, will explore why an outline matters so much, what risks you take by not diving into one, and offer helpful tips and advice.

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How-To Videos Limited Series Bundle

This limited series bundle contains hours of helpful how-to videos covering all aspects of screenwriting, from development to crafting standout loglines and foolproof query letters.

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