In this final instalment of my Scene Checklist series (see Part 1 and Part 2), I want to talk about goals, and the strategies and tactics characters use to achieve them in a scene. First, let's examine our terms. A better understanding of them will help your screenwriting in many ways, so it's worth taking the time. GOAL - that clear, concise, easily-recognisable finish line your character thinks they need to cross to achieve what they want. STRATEGY - the holistic plan, seen

Every screenwriter knows how hard it is to get attention for your own work, let alone finding someone willing to pay you to write for them. That's why I feel fortunate to have producers attached to the projects I've written or was hired to write, who are out there fighting the good fight to get them made. Here's a quick look at some of the exciting projects I've got cooking right now. FIVE PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT 1. THE THIRD BOMB This is my baby, my spec screenplay, THE THIR

I love that trailer for the Downton Abbey movie. The editing, the music, the choices of dialogue - it all combines to press the right emotional buttons for fans of the original show. Strangely enough, though, when I was making promos for TV shows like Downton Abbey at BBC Worldwide (now BBC Studios), I wasn't a huge fan. Perhaps that's because I was forced to watch it. I mean really watch it, and analyse it, so I could figure out how to best promote it on TV. Overcoming my ow

Since finishing the first draft of a paid writing assignment for a producer here in Australia, the feedback on the script has been tremendous. (phew!) "None to our surprise Phil delivered an incredible screenplay. Looking forward to our next collaboration!" - Elliott Yancey, Producer Feedback from The Black List We also got some tremendous feedback on the screenplay from an exclusive reader at The Black List: “These women are inspirational characters rarely seen on the big sc