Final Draft Blog

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Take 5: What ‘Avatar 2: Way of the Water’ Can Teach Screenwriters of Any Genre

January 4, 2023

Not everyone has $350+ million to spend on making a technological marvel like Avatar 2: Way of the Water, but at the end of the day, it’s a movie that requires compelling characters and a story that excites the audience in order to be successful. Ava...

What is a "Vomit draft" and do you need to write one?

December 16, 2022

Everyone hates the dreaded first draft. The thought of forming a single coherent sentence – let alone 90 pages – is enough to conjure so much anxiety that you’d rather not write anything at all. This is why many people recommend writers starting thei...

Connectivity in Storytelling and Flow Lines

December 5, 2022

When you watch a movie or TV show, you’ll notice that within the larger story there are various subplots.

Take 5: A hero must rise in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

November 16, 2022

In the latest Marvel Studios film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the citizens of Wakanda are mourning the loss of their king while facing the powerful forces of a new enemy from below the sea and the world powers interested in the Vibranium found w...

5 Tips to Writing a Great Third Act

November 9, 2022

A film industry professional continues reading a screenplay because it has a great first act, but it’s the third act that’s likely to stick with them afterwards. When you finish watching a film, isn’t it the ending that’s freshest in your mind? It’s ...

How To Avoid a Second Act Slump in Your Screenplay

October 4, 2022

Over the years, if it’s one thing I’ve heard screenwriters struggle with the most, it’s the second act of their script. Even if they think they have a great concept and strong first act, they suddenly get to the second act and they find their creativ...

How To Create an Emotional Through Line in Your Screenplay

September 12, 2022

Many aspiring screenwriters might not be aware of the term “through line” and how it’s frequently used in the development process. When I first broke into the film industry I wasn’t aware of the term myself, and I definitely wasn’t thinking of themat...

5 Tips to Writing a Great Opening

September 7, 2022

In my article 5 Clichés to Avoid in the Opening of Your Script, I stressed the importance of grabbing industry professionals in the first couple pages of your spec script. Whether it’s a feature screenplay or a television pilot, most managers, agents...

Five steps to writing your own superhero

April 25, 2022

Conventional wisdom might discourage a writer to pen a spec script about an original superhero. It’s all about established IPs and superheroes that audiences have a history with, right? But a spec script is about more than just selling a script; it’s...