Final Draft Blog

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What "Eddie the Eagle" Writers Teach Us About Perseverance

February 26, 2016

Eddie the Eagle, starring Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman, will no doubt be added to the list of best films about athletic underdogs. The film is inspired by Michael Edwards, who earned the nickname “Eddie the Eagle” when he competed in the 1988 Winte...

Brothers Adam and Aaron Nee on adapting Mark Twain for their comedy "Band of Robbers"

January 15, 2016

The books of Mark Twain, particularly Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, are woven into the fabric of filmmakers Aaron and Adam Nee’s childhood, so it’s no surprise the brothers took inspiration from Twain in their latest co...

Five Steps to Successful Pitching

January 14, 2016

Being able to write a decent script is just half the job of a professional screenwriter. Usually after breaking in with a spec script, an agent or manager will send you on a bunch of general meetings with production companies.

Selling the Big Pitch with Ice Cube

October 19, 2015

Humbug writers Todd R Jones and Earl Richey Jones discuss pitching, persistence and the people who ask: “So what have you worked on that we can see?”

How I Broke In: Douglas Soesbe

July 14, 2015

It’s been said that a new door opens into Hollywood every day, you just need to figure out how to be in front of the door that opens. There is no set path to success in the film industry. Writers break into Hollywood in countless different ways; cont...

Myth of the Likeable Lead

April 27, 2015

The one note you always get from producers is that your lead character - your protagonist - needs to be likeable. I swear, it’s as if it’s on the checklist. You have your first meeting on the script and they insist you make the protagonist more likea...

A Filmmaker’s “Positive” Thoughts on Stress - Part 2

April 22, 2015

This is the second part of our excerpt from Pen Densham's bestselling book Riding the Alligator (strategies for a career in screenwriting and not getting eaten), about how to manage stress as a creative artist. Read part one here.

A Filmmaker's "Positive" Thoughts on Stress - Part 1

April 22, 2015

Each of us reacts to our life paths in different ways. I have friends who seem totally oblivious to stress. Lucky devils. On the other hand, I’ve felt stress almost my whole adult life, especially when I am putting myself up for a challenge, taking a...

Size Does Matter: 5 Questions To Help You Choose The Best Screenwriting Conference For You

January 1, 1970

So you’ve decided to attend a conference. You put aside funds, saved up days off, and ordered a fresh pack of business cards. You’re ready to book your trip, but first you must face one of the most vexing questions for an aspiring screenwriting confe...