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5 Screenwriting Takeaways: How ‘Spencer’ tells a fable based on a true tragedy

November 19, 2021

In December 1991, Princess Diana spent three days at the Sandringham estate to celebrate Christmas with her royal family. The film Spencer takes a look into this Christmas holiday, focusing on Diana’s mental state and how she navigates the traditions...

5 Screenwriting Takeaways: Netflix’s ‘On The Verge’ Gives Comedic Voice to Middle Age

November 9, 2021

Julie Delpy’s new Netflix show On The Verge is a tale of determination. In all of her recent press interviews, Delpy (who created and stars in the show) speaks of how hard it was to get off the ground. She told The New York Times that financiers and ...

5 Screenwriting Takeaways: 'Last Night in Soho' creates a nostalgic, Hitchcockian thriller

November 6, 2021

Last Night in Soho starts out innocently enough. Granted, Eloise struggles with some issues (it feels like a country girl heading into the big city to pursue her dreams) but things get a little strange. After renting a room on the top floor of an old...

5 Screenwriting Takeaways: HBO Max's 'Love Life' season two

November 2, 2021

Season two of Love Life opens with an omniscient voice-over that feels like the thesis statement for this season: “There is no destiny. There are no soulmates. There is no 'one.'” It may sound dark, but it’s also realistic. Particularly with a season...

5 Screenwriting Takeaways: ‘Dune’ creates thriller on new planet

October 29, 2021

Dune is not a re-make of a 1980s film; it’s the first part of what is expected to be a series of films based on the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. While there are some similarities to the Star Wars saga in terms of a young, reluctant w...

5 Screenwriting Takeaways: Signature Wes Anderson is back with 'The French Dispatch'

October 26, 2021

The French Dispatch is about as Wes Anderson as Anderson gets, and most fans will likely be pleased with this latest outing from the beloved director. The set design is off the charts, the characters are as quirky as ever, and the droll wit seems to ...

5 Screenwriting Takeaways: 'The Last Duel' is a true story of one woman's struggle in 14th century France

October 23, 2021

More than 650 years ago, the last officially recognized judicial duel was fought in France. Why this duel took place is the story behind Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel, which tells the narrative in three chapters from three characters’ points of view a...

5 Screenwriting Takeaways: The dramatic intersecting storylines in Hulu's 'Dopesick'

October 19, 2021

Dopesick is clearly out to hold Big Pharma accountable for the opioid crisis that still riddles America. It’s also an interesting piece of entertainment, cleverly interweaving unexpected storylines to express the personal toll the crisis has taken on...

5 Screenwriting Takeaways: How ‘No Time to Die’ keeps action fresh

October 15, 2021

For nearly 60 years, Agent 007 has been saving the world from some of the most villainous heels attempting to rule the world — or destroy it. This month marked the 25th outing for the super spy whose drink of choice and love life are both legendary. ...