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I fell out of love with one of my all-time favourite movies, and this one took its place. Finally. Check out the YouTube channel (link in my Instagram profile) for the full video, in which I play a few clips from both films.I also explain why I believe every wannabe filmmaker should watch the classics. Three good reasons… #film #storytelling #screenwriting #indiefilm #filmmaking #story #structure #character #theme #orsonwelles #vincenteminelli #citizenkane #classicfilm #hollywood #rko #protagonist

Alex Garland can't do much wrong. I find him one of the most interesting filmmakers, even after Annihilation. It's a film that's kept me thinking, long after seeing it. Paramount didn't trust it and sold it to Netflix for international, instead of working on a proper theatrical run. I think that was a pretty stupid move, because it is a pure cinematic experience. If any country was NOT going to dig it, it was the US. Elsewhere people are way more open-minded.⠀Did you see it? What did you think?⠀⠀Here's a cool interview with Garland:⠀⠀bit.ly/alexgarland⠀⠀#annihilation #exmachina #alexgarland #scifi #genre #storytelling #screenwriting #netflix #filmmaking #arthouse

Last month I finally started posting regular videos on YouTube. They are short, from 3 – 12 minutes each. ⠀⠀In the future I will create longer videos, and discuss topics in greater detail. My favourite topics are POV, concept/loglines, inciting incident, mid point reversal and thresholds. I believe I can bring a new perspective to each of these.⠀⠀If you are following me on Instagram, I would love if you also subscribe to my YouTube channel, and give me some feedback to the videos. Despite some professional experience (even with live TV!), I'm still struggling with being natural and spontaneous in front of the camera. I do believe the videos have improved since I launched, but would love to hear your feedback. Did I ask you to subscribe!? :)⠀⠀http://bit.ly/tsd-channel⠀(Click the link in my profile) ⠀⠀#screenwriting #story #storytelling #screenplay #POV #midpoint #incitingincident #filmmaking #screenwritingcourse #writingcourse #indiefilm #creativewriting #australia #bluemountains #nsw

Second night in eerily balmy Welly. I don't remember ever walking the streets in a T-shirt in this city. Did I say that I could live here? Loving the food, the folks and the film biz. Great location for YouTube videos about screenwriting, too. (http://bit.ly/tsd-channel)⠀⠀The NZFC is the most wonderful host, and the projects have colour, truth and punch. (Do they really need me?)⠀I'm always honoured to be able to contribute something in the areas of POV, story catalyst, Mid Point Reversal, thresholds and … loglines (https://logline.it)⠀⠀One more workshopping session in the morning, before we head back West.⠀⠀#screenwriting #filmmaking #scriptwriting #screenplay #story #storytelling #screenstory #filmdevelopment #indiefilm #nzfc #wellington #newzealand #northisland

Time to revive the Instagram account, with this accidental photo. I thought I was filming on my iPhone for my brand new YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/tsd-channel), but had the phone set to pictures.⠀⠀This is amazing Wellington, where I just love coming back again and again. This time I'm spoiled with an eerily pleasant temperature. I might even live here. (Baxter would be totally OK with that) ⠀⠀Tomorrow, 2nd day of our workshop with kiwi teams at the gorgeous theatrette, and offices of the NZFC.⠀⠀#screenwriting #filmdevelopment #writing #screenplay #storytelling #filmmaking #creativewriting #storystructure #loglines #midpointreversal #character #wellington #wellywood #nz #nzfc #newzealand

Some of my best screenwriting students earn a living as a copywriter.⠀(This is not one of their jobs.) If I were to start out today, I would trace down the marketing company for this brand, and offer my services.⠀⠀While you aspire to become a screenwriter, there are tons of opportunities to earn a living while improving your craft as a writer.⠀⠀#screenwriting #writing #creativewriting #filmmaking #indiefilm #story #storytelling #freelancing #screenplay #tvwriting #art #scriptwriting #immersionscreenwriting #writingcourse #marketing #copywriting #amwriting

Many writers think they can write loglines. The truth is that only a very few understand this specific skill. If more did, there wouldn't be so many flawed concepts floating around.⠀⠀Join us this weekend, learn about loglines, and test your own. The event is free to all.⠀⠀#logline #synopsis #screenplay #screenwriting #writing #creativewriting #filmmaking #indiefilm #story #storytelling #freelancing #screenplay #tvwriting #art #scriptwriting #immersionscreenwriting #writingcourse

Keep it moving at all times.⠀⠀If your story is slow, you will be struggling to keep your readers and viewers. This doesn't mean you need unrelenting action. We need story points: characters confronted with choices, decisions, conflict and dilemmas.⠀⠀Move forward, constantly.⠀⠀#screenwriting #writing #creativewriting #filmmaking #indiefilm #story #storytelling #freelancing #screenplay #tvwriting #art #scriptwriting #immersionscreenwriting #writingcourse

You may have a scene, a line, a shot that you are particularly enamoured with. Why delete it? Park it. ⠀⠀A time will come when you need exactly this, in a different part of your script, in an entirely different story perhaps.⠀⠀Keep a file with your 'parked' scenes and shots. What may not work now, could be your saving grace in the future.⠀⠀#screenwriting #writing #creativewriting #filmmaking #indiefilm #story #storytelling #freelancing #screenplay #tvwriting #art #scriptwriting #immersionscreenwriting #writingcourse

Guardian Of The Hallway. #Australia #Sydney #wildlife #insect #mantid #mantis #prayingmantis The praying mantis is an amazing insect that can be kept as a pet. A praying mantis can catch other insects with its strong front legs. The front legs are lined with spikes and close in a certain way to have a firm grip on the prey. A mantis has a mobile head that can turn around like humans can, large eyes, large front legs to grab prey and four legs meant for walking. Praying mantids vary in adult length between 1 and 16 cm. Praying mantids exclusively eat other insects by catching them with their forelegs. They do not use poison but eat the prey alive while they hold it firmly.

How to write the greatest dialogue? Listen to the greatest conversations. I frequently give my students the task to record conversations, then transcribe them in screenplay format. The result is often astounding. It shows you what real dialogue looks like. Rarely can you cut and paste it right into a script, but it will always have a genuine flavour that is hard to achieve for the beginning dialogue writer.#screenwriting #writing #dialogue #story #storytelling #filmmaking #indiefilm #scriptwriting #scenes

It's finally happening. After nearly 8 years in this place, I'm moving on. I'll be missing the gorgeous Kuring-gai National Park with its gum trees and cockatoos. But I'm also relinquishing the toxic environment of Tony Abbott, entitled baby boomers, and a bitter bunch of drunken bogans.The new home will be cool. Back to a more cosmopolitan environment. You'll soon see pictures of a brand new Sydney. The face of the future of this city. Hint: the flavours will be all-Asian.#sydney #australia #forestville #chatswood #chinatown #moving #boxes #story #storytelling #filmmaking #indiefilm #screenwriting

Where is the catch? This boys trip is perfect so far! Our rental car is a FIAT (Baxter is in heaven.)Kiwi ATM's accept my Bendigo Eftpos card.We just watched TROLLHUNTER together.Tomorrow's meeting is CONFIRMED (though only last week our host was mentioned in about every article about Hollywood movies starting production in this town, this month). #baxterisms #wellywood #weta #wetaworkshop #lotr #hobbit #avatar #ghostintheshell #filmmaking #newzealand #wellington #storytelling #screenfx