Final Draft Blog

All the tips, tricks and information you need to inspire your writing!
Read interviews with the pros, catch up with industry news, and listen to Write On: A Screenwriting Podcast by Final Draft.

The Bricks of Breaking In: Kung Fu Writer Richard Lowe On The Power of Persistence

September 19, 2023

Kung Fu’s Richard Lowe didn’t come from a family of storytellers. His parents had their own business and conversations around the dinner table rose out of newspaper articles that Lowe’s mom clipped from the local paper. Although Lowe didn’t really ma...

Write On: Apple's Physical showrunner Annie Weisman

August 8, 2023

The Apple TV+ series Physical, starring Rose Byrne, is set to launch its third and final season on August 2. Set in the idyllic but fragile beach paradise of sunny 1980s San Diego, Physical is a half-hour dark comedy following Sheila Rubin (Rose Byrn...

What is a Subplot?

July 21, 2023

You've almost certainly heard the term "A story." This self-evidently means the main plot of a movie or TV show. The one the logline is about. That protagonist who wants something and the major obstacles, etc. etc. etc.

Why You Should Write Dark Comedy

July 19, 2023

Dark comedy, also known as black comedy, is a style of comedy that finds humor in serious or taboo subjects. At its best, dark comedy can be cathartic, helping people confront the absurdities and injustices of existence while making them laugh.

Write On: Justified: City Primeval's Showrunner Michael Dinner

July 18, 2023

The world out there is a brutal place. If you have a hankering for some of the rough justice you remember from old-school lawman Raylan Givens – you’re in luck. Justified: City Primeval is about to drop on FX starring the same Raylan (Timothy Olyphan...

What Does "Breaking the Fourth Wall" Mean?

July 11, 2023

What is "breaking the fourth wall?" You may not know what it means or where the phrase originated — but you've definitely seen plenty of examples of it in movies and TV shows.

12 Villains That Every Screenwriter Should Study

July 7, 2023

Villains come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they are hidden behind masks and wielding knives, other times they are conniving and cause destruction. And then, sometimes they’re just mean.

Write On: Cruel Summer's Showrunner Elle Triedman

June 28, 2023

Spoiler Alert: This podcast interview may contain spoilers about Cruel Summer. With an excited fanbase and even more exciting plot twists, the drama/thriller series Cruel Summer is back for Season 2 on Freeform. Final Draft sat down with showrunner E...

The Bricks of Breaking In: Showrunners Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker On The Power of Teamwork

June 20, 2023

For showrunners Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker (Abbott Elementary, Harley Quinn), their interests in writing came in very different ways. With Halpern, it was a competition to write a Seinfeld spec when he was just 16 where the winner had the ...