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5 Reasons Your Spec TV Pilot Should Contain A Show-Stopping Central Character

The Problem With Spec TV Pilots One of the biggest issues I see in speculative (not commissioned) TV pilots is a lack of a show-stopping central character. But why is this an issue? Well, if we want our spec TV pilot to be read and/or commissioned by industry pros, a show-stopping central character is non-negotiable. It’s common sense our own TV pilots need to be storytelling catnip for that commissioner. One of the ways we can do this is by creating a show-stopping character. A character so interesting and compelling, big-name and talented actors will want to attach. All About Show-Stopping Central… Read More »5 Reasons Your Spec TV Pilot Should Contain A Show-Stopping Central Character

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How To Write An Interrogation Scene (And What Most Writers Get Wrong)

All About Interrogation Scenes Interrogation scenes can be exceptionally powerful in our stories. They can be tense, adding to cause and effect, escalating the story towards the showdown. They can also be the moment one character – on either side of the table! – can move from one state of being to another (whatever that means for the story). When writers hear the word “interrogation”, most of us immediately think of police procedurals. Detectives sitting under fluorescent lights trying to get a suspect to crack. Yet interrogation scenes crop up in virtually every genre and type of story imaginable! Such… Read More »How To Write An Interrogation Scene (And What Most Writers Get Wrong)

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Yes, Obviously You Can Kill Your Female Characters (Just Not Like THIS!)

NEWSFLASH: Don’t Use The ‘Fridged Woman’ Trope I predominantly write crime fiction and thriller, which means I kill a LOT of characters. Some of them, inevitably, will be female … because, *obviously* (shrugs). However, because female characters were *just* dead bodies and sidelined too long in novels, movies and TV, it matters how writers kill them. I’ll explain why. One of the most unpopular, toxic female character tropes is ‘fridged woman’. Every single time I post about the fridged woman trope on B2W’s social media, I get pushback. They’re always some variation of these two arguments … ‘B-B-But it’s not… Read More »Yes, Obviously You Can Kill Your Female Characters (Just Not Like THIS!)

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Why Characters’ Skills Are SO Important To Your Story

All About Skillsets Memorable characters often stand out because of their unique skills or talents … but these abilities must serve a purpose in the story. So, how can we tell if we’re crafting a character with a meaningful skill or just adding a random trait for the hell of it? It was International Women’s Day at the weekend. So, I thought I’d answer the question of skill and how it plays out with reference to female characters. You know the drill, Bangers: ready … let’s go! Why Skills Are Essential to Characterisation In the 2020s, nuanced and layered characterisation… Read More »Why Characters’ Skills Are SO Important To Your Story

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Ho! Ho! Ho! Top 10 Christmas Episodes of Favourite TV Sitcoms

Sitcom Christmas Episodes So I love sitcoms and I love Christmas … so it made sense to round up my favourite festive episodes for the holiday season. This time, I took them from my favourite 5 sitcoms of all time: New Girl, Modern Family, Brooklyn 99, Will & Grace and Friends. Be sure to share your faves in the comments! Ready? Let’s go … New Girl 1) LAXmas (s4, ep10) I think this might just be my favourite sitcom Christmas episode of all time! A storm causes chaos at the airport as Jess attempts to go to the UK to… Read More »Ho! Ho! Ho! Top 10 Christmas Episodes of Favourite TV Sitcoms

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FRIENDS at 30: What Lessons Can Writers Learn From This Classic Sitcom?

30 Years Of Friends For many of us, it’s hard to believe Friends is 30 years old … but for others, it’s all too obvious. Comedy dates and 30 year old humour can sink like the Titanic. But even 30 years on since its first broadcast on September 22nd, 1994, Friends seems to be as popular as ever in the social media age. There are countless accounts dedicated to the sitcom, some run by fans who weren’t even born when it started. (Hell, my youngest loves it and was born donkey’s years after it FINISHED!). When I started writing case… Read More »FRIENDS at 30: What Lessons Can Writers Learn From This Classic Sitcom?

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What Writers Can Learn From Jason Bateman: 6 Of His Top Roles

All About Jason Bateman Jason Bateman has long been a famous face in Hollywood, known for his various acting abilities and compelling performances. As a respected character actor, he is well-known for his versatility like his fellow A-Lister Ryan Gosling. I always recommend Bang2writers study their favourite actors’ work. This is because too many screenwriters forget actors are not just ‘meat puppets’. Actors choose stories that appeal to them, plus they work very hard at interpreting their roles. Actors also frequently have a very good eye for ‘the hook’ that will get viewers through the door of the cinema, or… Read More »What Writers Can Learn From Jason Bateman: 6 Of His Top Roles

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5 Steps To Better Sex Scenes, The Bridgerton Way

Intimate Scenes, The Bridgerton Way Anyone who’s seen Bridgerton – and who hasn’t? – can surely not have missed the intimate sex scenes the show is famous for. I was lucky enough to be in the audience at an exclusive screening of Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 with Shonda Rhimes (Creator, Showrunner, Executive Producer) and Jess Brownell (Showrunner). The Bridgerton team and Jessie gave us all a step-by-step guide to portraying intimate moments on screen. The step-by-step process Step 1: Talk to the actor! (OR for writers – think about the character and the specific intimacy that’s required for the… Read More »5 Steps To Better Sex Scenes, The Bridgerton Way

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NEW GIRL Case Study: How To Learn To Plot by Watching Sitcoms

All About New Girl New Girl was a sitcom that ran between 2011-2018. The show followed the fates of an offbeat young woman Jess (Zooey Deschanel), a teacher who is trying to get over her breakup with her boyfriend after he cheats on her. If you’re in the UK, you can find it on DisneyPlus in its entirety. Jess moves in with three young men: Nick, a Chicago-born university dropout who now works in a bar; Schmidt, an advertising executive who believes he is God’s gift to women; and Winston, a former pro basketball player who is trying to find… Read More »NEW GIRL Case Study: How To Learn To Plot by Watching Sitcoms

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Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make On Page 1 Of Their Screenplays

The Page 1 Test Page 1 is THE most important page in your entire screenplay. You have to start as you mean to go on. Most spec screenwriters know they have up to 10 pages to impress the script reader … but few realise it’s page 1 that really needs to rock FIRST. So, to make sure your first page doesn’t sink your chances, read on. Let’s go! 1) Starting with something DULL on page 1 Dull is in the eye of the beholder of course … but there’s plenty of pitfalls we can commit with the very first sentence… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make On Page 1 Of Their Screenplays

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Plotting 101: Top 10 Tips For Crafting Compelling Stories

Plotting Like a Pro One of the most searched-for terms on this blog is ‘help with plotting’. Plot – aka structure if you’re a screenwriter – can be a tricky beast. Despite it being fashionable to claim plotting is ‘easy’ to fix, this is utter BILGE … which is why it’s a good idea to try and ensure you don’t tie yourself up in knots at foundation level! So, whether you’re a novelist looking for help plotting your book, or a screenwriter who needs guidance on structuring your script, these quick tips should help. Ready? Let’s go … 1) It’s… Read More »Plotting 101: Top 10 Tips For Crafting Compelling Stories

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Top 10 Scream Queens from Movies and TV: Which Is Your Favourite?

What are Scream Queens? Typically, Scream Queens are the ultimate female character, especially in the horror or thriller genres. They are renowned for their iconic and memorable roles as the main protagonists, survivors and/or victims, or for their brave actions in the movie. Very often, they become the ‘Final Girl’ too. It’s time for another Top 10 list of fantastic female performances … So let’s break some of the most iconic Scream Queens in movie and TV history. Vote for your favourite Scream Queens in the comments — ready? Let’s go! 1) Cecilia, Immaculate Played By: Sydney Sweeny Immaculate is… Read More »Top 10 Scream Queens from Movies and TV: Which Is Your Favourite?

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