screenwriting

Pilot Writing #2: The Characters

Before, I had explored the first element of creating a great pilot script. And now, we’re moving right along to an element every bit as important: having amazing characters…

Pilot Writing #1: The World

Going from the golden age of television to the platinum stage isn’t exactly easy. With movie theaters on life support and binge watching still as popular as it was during the heights of the pandemic…

Become a Cideshow writer/showrunner

Are you an aspiring TV writer or showrunner?…

The Secret about Writer's Block

As both a writer and a teacher of writing, the topic of writer’s block has found its way into my thoughts and conversations many times.…

The continuum: How to give your audience a complete experience

What do The Godfather, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and Fantasia all have in common?.…

Starting with a stop: How theme is everything

This is probably the most important topic in all of storytelling, and go figure, it’s one of the things that gets the least attention. When we talk about what makes a story work...

Visiting crazy town: How to heighten your comedy

You’re watching a TV show. A young woman, Sonia, somewhere in her 20s, sits her parents down. She’s holding a Tickle-Me Elmo doll...

How to Use Improv in Your Film or Show

Your editor is probably a nice person. So maybe he doesn’t call his mom enough. Or she switches lanes without using a signal. Or he farts on a crowded subway...

Top Critics Share What Makes a Show Good vs. Great

I talked to top TV critics, bloggers, and podcasters--including Sean T Collins and Alyssa Rosenberg--asking them the question "what is the difference between a good show and a great one?"