Resources
SOFTWARE
Final Draft Version 11. The industry standard: powerful word processing, professional script formatting, and other tools.
FROM OUR INSTRUCTORS
Blacker, Ben. The Writer’s Panel PODCAST. This long-running series moderated by Ben covers the process and business of writing with professional writers from the worlds of TV, film, comic books, music, and novels.
Chitlik, Paul. Rewrite: A Step-by-Step Guide to Strengthen Structure, Characters, and Drama in your Screenplay (2nd Edition). Michael Wiese Productions (November 1, 2013). Writing is rewriting! Paul’s book walks you through the rewriting process; not many other books do.
Landau, Neil. TV Writing on Demand: Creating Great Content in the Digital Era. Focal Press (February 1, 2018). This book is a course in the creation of entertainment that does more than meet the standards of modern audiences―it challenges their expectations.
Landau, Neil. TV Outside the Box: Trailblazing in the Digital Television Revolution. Focal Press (December 24, 2015). Featuring in-depth conversations with game-changing content creators, industry mavericks, and cultural influencers.
Landau, Neil. The TV Showrunner’s Roadmap: 21 Navigational Tips for Screenwriters to Create and Sustain a Hit TV Series. Focal Press (December 20, 2013). Includes interviews with the showrunners for Breaking Bad, Modern Family, Homeland, and many more.
Landau, Neil. The Screenwriter’s Roadmap: 21 Ways to Jumpstart Your Story. Focal Press (October 4, 2012). Includes interviews with successful screenwriters like David Koepp, David S. Goyer, Tony Gilroy, and many more.
Landau, Neil. 101 Things I Learned in Film School. Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (May 20, 2010). Concise, valuable tips for screenwriting.
OTHER RESOURCES
ETB Screenwriting: website from author, teacher, and consultant Laurie Hutzler, creator of the Emotional Toolbox to help you create compelling characters to drive your story.
iPitch.TV offers a next generation platform for creators of original pitches for TV, film & digital to connect with Hollywood producers and executives and gives creators industry advice on how to pitch a television show or feature film.
No Budget Film School: Mark Stolaroff has designed a series of classes specifically for the no budget filmmaker, whether he or she is working with a budget of $200,000 or $2,000.
Sensitivity Reviews: Use this database to find Cultural Consultants and Sensitivity Readers in specific niches. Navigate to the home page if you’re interested in becoming one.
Writing the Other: Creating characters that reflect the diversity of the world is important for all creators of fictional narratives. Learn to write characters very different from you sensitively and convincingly.
OTHER RECOMMENDED READING
Ackerman, Hal. Write Screenplays That Sell… The Ackerman Way. Tallfellow Press (September 2003). Insights and coaching from the longtime Co-Chair of the UCLA screenwriting program.
Bennett, Xander. Screenwriting Tips, You Hack: 150 Practical Pointers for Becoming a Better Screenwriter. Focal Press; 1 edition (September 28, 2011). No nonsense yet thoughtful advice from an industry insider.
Egri, Lagos. The Art of Dramatic Writing. Merricat Publications (November 24, 2009). Written for playwrights, but the lessons apply to screenwriting, too.
Field, Syd. Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting (Revised Edition). Delta (November 29, 2005). Classic bestseller.
Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Anchor Books (September 1, 1995). Charming guidance and reflections to help writers find their voice and overcome their demons.
Russin, Robin & William Missouri Downs. Screenplay: Writing the Picture, 2nd edition. Silman-James Press (July 1, 2012). A complete screenwriting course in a book, covering research, plotting and structure, theme, character development, dialogue, writing and rewriting methods, formatting, marketing and pitching, and more.
Snyder, Blake. Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need. Michael Wiese Productions (May 25, 2005). An show biz insider’s secrets to help sell your script.
Stern, Leonard & Diane L. Robison. A Martian Wouldn’t Say That: Memos TV Execs Wish They Hadn’t Written. Tallfellow Press (September 1, 2000). On the lighter side, a pamphlet compiling some of the most absurd notes ever given by film and TV executives.
Note: We gain no financial benefit from the sale of items listed on this page.
