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Unscripted: This Week in Screenwriting News (August 25, 2020)

August 27, 2020

Screenwriting career consultant Lee Jessup discusses this week's success stories, industry news, online events, and more.

Screenwriter Alison Peck On ‘Work It’ and Finding Your Niche

August 26, 2020

Screenwriter Alison Peck’s Work It on Netflix is this generation’s Pitch Perfect meets Bring It On> but set in the dance world. Which is exactly what she was going for when writing the musical comedy.

5 Screenwriting Takeaways: ‘The Kissing Booth 2’ and Tried-and-True RomCom Tropes

August 26, 2020

The original The Kissing Booth is rumored to be the most re-watched movie on Netflix—undeniably a huge success for the streaming giant’s first foray into romantic comedies. Old and new fans alike can now move on to The Kissing Booth 2, and while it’s...

Netflix ‘Unorthodox’ Creator Anna Winger Talks Self-Discovery

August 26, 2020

Netflix’s Unorthodox focuses on an unusual female protagonist, Esther “Esty” Shapiro, played by recent Emmy® nominee Shira Haas. Esty’s world is a place where women are still valued most for their ability to reproduce and are expected to treat their ...

Brett Goldstein on Ted Lasso and Putting Humor into Drama

August 25, 2020

If there’s a word to describe Brett Goldstein in 2020, it would be ubiquitous. First up for the British actor-writer-comic: Apple TV+'s new series Ted Lasso starring Jason Sudeikis as the new (American) head coach of a British soccer team in desperat...

Afro Horror: How To Write Black Characters

August 21, 2020

So, you want to write a horror film with Black characters but you’re not Black? How do you do that without making them flat and stereotypical, and above all, without being racist? It’s probably easier than you think. To figure out how to do it better...

5 Screenwriting Takeaways from Hulu's 'Normal People'

August 19, 2020

There is no doubt that American entertainment has long failed its audience in the intimacy department. Violence, no problem, you’ll probably get a PG-13 rating, but anything beyond a kiss and you’re looking at a hard R. This has often caused intimacy...

Fear the Pitch... and Do It Anyway

August 19, 2020

Most screenwriters will tell you that pitching is their least favorite part of the job. Sure, there may be one or two who claim to find the experience fun, but they are most definitely in the minority. What all screenwriters will agree on is that pit...

The Weekend Movie Takeaway: NBC’s Latest Move Reflects The Diminishing Role of Broadcast Television

August 18, 2020

As America heads into election season and the ramifications of COVID-19 on the film industry continue to be felt, larger trends in the business of screen narrative are making themselves known, showing 2020 to be a turning point for the industry in mo...