# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In 15 episodes, Lily Gladstone will teach you about film production! This course is based on an introductory college level curriculum and introduces practica…

# data[].attributes.body
Focuses on the 5 minute time limit.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Make Your First Short Film: A Crash Course

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Designing the World of Film: Crash Course Film Production with Lily Gladstone #9

# data[].attributes.body
Introduces the tool Celtx that is not used for this project.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How To Format A Screenplay - 5 Basic Elements : FRIDAY 101

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
HOW TO PITCH YOUR FILM! Making a Pitch-Deck for My Film Projects!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Special Effects: Crash Course Film Production with Lily Gladstone #11

# data[].attributes.headline
Character Development: A Guide for Screenwriters

# data[].attributes.subject
Character Development: A Guide for Screenwriters

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In 15 episodes, Michael Aranda will teach you about film criticism! This course is based on an introductory college level curriculum and will teach by analyz…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
MLA Formatting and Style Guide - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (9th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Designed by educators. Powered by technology. Tested by time.

For individual inquiry and collaborative research, NoodleTools:

Paves the way for original, high-quality work

NoodleTools gives students a systematic but flexible framework for navigating the tangled web of research. Students develop expert critical-thinking skills, gain confidence, and replace patchwriting and plagiarism with synthesis.

Grows with students, novice to expert

From a novice's research question to a graduate student's thesis, the three levels of NoodleTools provide a mental model for research and a common language across faculty and disciplines.

Supports teaching in the moment

NoodleTools pulls back the curtain so that you can offer early, in-context feedback on students' work at predictable bottlenecks and ahead of the writing space.

Gives you access to experts

We are educators, citation specialists, primary source authorities, and academic researchers. That expertise is baked into our platform design and services.

Smart Tools. Smart Teaching. Smart Research.

Effective & proactive teaching

Set up and start teaching in minutes.

Track students' progress, provide in-context feedback.

No advertising. Student-friendly privacy policy.

Teach responsively

A student's research companion

Cite your sources and organize your notes.

Get help with MLA, APA and Chicago-style citations.

Collaborate in real-time from anywhere.

Discover a better way

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
NoodleTools: Student research platform with MLA, APA and Chicago/Turabian bibliographies, notecards, outlining.

# data[].attributes.body
Please note that this is using MLA 8 which is not the most recent version of MLA.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
You can add citations and a bibliography to your Google Doc with these styles:

Important: The citations tool is available in all languages, but the elements the tool generates in your document only appear in English at this time.
For example:

A book title you enter in the citations tool appears in the language you entered it.

The "Bibliography" heading, "edited by," and other elements generated by the citations tool appear in English regardless of your language in Google Docs.

You can translate auto-generated elements to another language after you insert them in your document.

To add citations and a bibliography:

1. Open a document in Google Docs and click Tools Citations.

2. In the sidebar, select your formatting style from MLA, APA, or Chicago Author-Date.

Add a citation source and related details

1. In the Citations sidebar, under your selected style, click + Add citation source.

2. Select your source type.

3. Select how you accessed your source.
You can use a URL to search for websites or online newspapers, or use an ISBN number to search for books.

4. Enter or edit any source information in the fields.

Recommended fields include a blue asterisk.

To add multiple contributors, click + Contributor.

You can indicate if a contributor is an organization, such as a company.

5. Click Add citation source.

Learn more about how to add and edit sources.

Insert an in-text citation

1. In the text of your document, place your cursor where you want the citation to appear.
In the Citations sidebar, hover over the source you want to cite.

2. A Cite button appears on the side of the citation source.

3. Click Cite.
The source appears in your selected style within the text of your document.

4. If a "#" appears in the text of your document, delete it or replace it with the page number(s) for your citation.

Edit a citation source

1. In the Citations sidebar, hover over the source you want to edit.
A Menu button appears on the side of the citation source.

2. Click Menu Edit.

3. Edit your source information in the fields.
Recommended fields include a blue asterisk.

4. At the bottom of the sidebar, click Save source.

Delete a citation source

1. In the Citations sidebar, hover over the source you want to delete.
A Menu button appears on the side of the citation source.

2. Click Menu Delete.

Insert a bibliography

1. In your document, place your cursor where you want the bibliography to appear.

2. In the Citations sidebar at the bottom, click Insert bibliography.
A bibliography appears in your selected style.

Related articles

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You can add citations and a bibliography to your Google Doc with these styles: Important: The citations tool is available in all languages, but the elements the tool generates in your document only appear in English at this time. For example: A book title you enter in the citations tool appears in the language you entered it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Want to learn how to make a film? Here’s our simple filmmaking process for new filmmakers! Click to read more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Film - Design, Production, Technology | Britannica

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Film - Design, Production, Technology: Under the heading of design, all the elements of a picture’s setting may be included—art direction, scenic composition, set design, costume, and makeup. At its simplest and most naturalistic, the camera can choose and frame ordinary people in a real location. At its most elaborate, motion-picture production may involve the expenditure of vast sums to put up gigantic sets that require building houses, ships, churches, and monuments or re-creating lost cities, bygone landscapes, or ancient battles and dressing thousands of extras in period costumes. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, snowstorms, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tidal waves may be simulated, or monsters, spaceships, and

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Building a Successful Film Production Team: Roles and Responsibilities on a Film Set | C&I Studios

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In the world of filmmaking, the magic on screen is the result of meticulous planning and collaboration behind the scenes. A well-coordinated film production team is the backbone of any successful movie, ensuring that every aspect of the filmmaking process runs smoothly and efficiently. From pre-production to post-production, each team member plays a crucial role in bringing the director’s vision to life.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Collaborative Filmmaking: Building a Strong Team for Feature Film Production | C&I Studios

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Filmmaking is a deeply collaborative art form that brings together a diverse group of talented individuals working toward a common goal: transforming a story into a visual experience.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
How to Write a Script: A Complete Guide | Grammarly

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Every award-winning play, unputdownable novel, or must-see movie begins the same way: with a blank page. Though this stark-white page may look daunting initially, it’s…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An effective video script identifies its target audience, has a goal, and is formatted properly. Learn how to write your own video script.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Have a cool idea for a film? Overwhelmed by the scriptwriting process? Want to learn what a slug line is? We've got answers to these questions and some pro tactics to get you on your way to writing a great story.

This article focuses on scriptwriting essentials for writing a stellar screenplay. However, these script basics can be applied to any medium for telling a narrative or story.

We'll cover all the information you need to know, including:

What is scriptwriting?

Scriptwriting essentials

Screenplay formatting basics

Tips on what makes a strong script, and more!

Ready? Here we go...

What is scriptwriting?

One thing to point out before we start is that a script is the initial outline of a film , and a screenplay is the more specific and complete version of a script. However, these two terms may be used interchangeably. Before we launch into the bones of scriptwriting, let's discuss the screenplay's origin story.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, silent movies (look up Charlie Chaplin and "The Kid") were all the rage, and moviemakers used basic written outlines, called "screenplays," to guide their productions. By the Roaring Twenties, screenwriting had fully developed as a standalone art. Why? The world was introduced to sound.

Still frame from Chaplin's "The Kid"

For the first time in history, films included full-blown dialogue and sound effects, which needed to be cited in scripts. Over several decades, screenwriting became formalized, allowing for greater creative collaboration between directors, writers, and actors.

It also paved the way for the world of scriptwriting. Today, scriptwriting has evolved into the process of writing stories for various mediums, including film, television, digital stories, video tutorials, and more.

This article focuses on scriptwriting and the screenplay format used in films. However, you can apply much of the information to other script forms and different types of video creation in school, for your business , social media, and more.

Why do you need a script?

What's the purpose of a script? Seamless storytelling. In film, screenplays function as the blueprint of any visual narrative. Not only do they outline character interactions, but they also feature detailed descriptions of scenes, settings, and visual elements. The script's job is to manage the seamless integration of these parts, ensuring that they work together to tell a story.

However, a script can be applied to any medium telling a narrative. For example, say you're creating a product explainer video . This may not be a traditional "story," but at the heart of it, you're still telling a narrative with conflict (I need help with...) and a resolution (This product will help me do this...). The obvious difference is that an explainer video aims to simplify a complex concept, so the script should follow a clear, step-by-step structure.

To help gain a better understanding of how a script can help tell a story in film, let's break down scriptwriting, starting with the basics.

Scriptwriting 101: the essentials

Scriptwriting can seem overwhelming, but it's manageable if you break it down into steps. Here's a guide to the essentials of writing a script.

Write your logline

A logline is a one-sentence summary or description of your film. Loglines clarify the essential elements of your screenplay, the main character, setup, central conflict, plot, and antagonist, into a concise synopsis. Creating it is also a great way to learn how to elevator pitch your script!

Create an outline and three-act structure

Create a storyboard in an outline format over one or two pages, or write sentences on index cards and post them on a wall to make it easier to view and reorganize the parts.

Writing an outline will flesh out your story and break up your scenes into sections. As you begin your outline, keep in mind that a film story typically follows a three-act structure:

1. The first act or setup introduces the main characters, the protagonist's stakes, and the inciting incident that sets them on their journey.

2. The second act includes the highs and lows the protagonist encounters as they move closer to or further away from their destiny or outcome.

3. The third act has the protagonist confront their most significant conflict, leading to the climax and the final outcome.

And remember, even if your script is for a video tutorial or other type of digital story, this scriptwriting structure can also apply to them. You can find tools to help create different kinds of video content from video learning platforms like WeVideo. Sign up for free to access easy-to-use online video editing tools .

Go further - build a treatment

Consider your treatment a beefed-up prose version of your outline, which reads more like a short story. Writing a treatment is a great exercise to see if the story works how you hope it does in your head.

Once you've written your logline, outline, and treatment, get ready to write your screenplay!

Writing the screenplay

Develop riveting characters

Audiences want to cheer for heroes like Rocky Balboa, Norma Rae, and Indiana Jones and hate villains like Freddie Kruger, Nurse Ratched, and Darth Vader. Sometimes, we love to do both: Hannibal Lecter anyone?

In a nutshell, every great story needs interesting and dynamic characters. When writing a character, think long and hard about their personality and backstory. Are they sassy? Are they sullen? Where are they from? What was their favorite book as a child? Keep fleshing these parts out until you develop a well-rounded character - someone you feel you've known for years.

Forge a compelling plot

What's the story that will be told? Think of exciting and unexpected ways to connect your scenes. Remember, the character is either closer to or farther from the objective at each plot point. Creating the relationships between your scenes makes your story points more potent and telling.

Get into the action!

Dialogue is a critical part of a screenplay, but you won't have a compelling film if you just have the characters sitting around and talking. Include plenty of action. Since the audience typically cannot 'hear' what the characters are thinking (unless employing a voice over), the writer must find a way to externalize their thoughts and feelings effectively.

The reader of your screenplay must be able to visualize your film, and action scenes are essential in this process. This is a chance to really show your craft.

Build compelling dialogue

Dialogue is one of the most critical aspects of a good screenplay and one of the most difficult aspects to explain. Why? Dialogue relies entirely on the nature of the character speaking it. So, how do you develop captivating lines?

Remember this guideline: less is more. Each time you write some dialogue, refine it and then refine it again and maybe - even one more time.

Also, try to avoid on-the-nose dialogue . This is when a character's lines state the obvious or communicate exactly what the characters think with little to no subtext.

Create conflict and end with a resolution

It's easy to fall in love with your characters. After all, you'll likely be spending weeks or months with them. But...it's time to shake things up and make life difficult for them. They need obstacles, and they need to fail. Big time.

That's what makes the resolution so satisfying for audiences.

Screenplay formatting basics

Formatting a screenplay is easier than ever today. Many script templates are free and easy to find online. There's also plenty of screenwriting software, like Final Draft and Arc Studio , that will automatically arrange your writing into a screenplay format.

However, the industry standard for a script format is 12-pt Courier font, with a 1-inch right margin, 1.5-inch left margin, and 1-inch margins at the top and bottom.

Here are five essential screenplay formatting elements to get you started.

1. Create a scene heading

Before anything is typed, it's important to understand that screenplays are broken into scenes. And every screenplay needs the scene heading, or the slug line. This heading is a brief description that sets the upcoming scene. It includes:

Interior or Exterior (written in all caps INT. or EXT.)

Location

Time: day or night?

Example:

INT. - COFFEE SHOP - MORNING

2. Add character names

When citing characters, write their names in all caps. A script reader can get easily confused by characters with similar names, like Laura and Lauren, so when selecting names, aim for variety.

Example:

VICKY

Ready to become the best scriptwriter ever?

JOSE

I already am!

3. Develop action lines and dialogue

Action lines go under the scene heading and are broken up by dialogue. Any screenplay book or seminar will emphasize that when writing any action scene , you should never forget to "show, don't tell."

Here's a great example from "Wonder Woman 1984" of how an action sequence is written:

Image via Patty Jenkins, Geoff Johns, and Dave Callaham

4. Add parentheticals and subheaders

Parentheticals are typically used to help inform how a character speaks a line (dialogue). While parentheticals can be useful, they should be used sparingly and with intention.

A subheading is a shorter version of a scene heading, without the INT. or EXT., and with a dash at the beginning. When a scene moves from one location to another within the same setting, use a subheading to indicate the shift.

Image via CareersinFilm.com

5. Edit your script

Errors can sometimes sidestep detection when writing your screenplay. To remedy this, once you've wrapped up your initial draft, set aside enough time for tons of edits and revisions.

Consider either reading your script aloud or having someone read it to you. If something seems unnatural or awkward, it's a good bet that it won't resonate well in the final draft.

BONUS tips to start your scriptwriting journey

Read professional film scripts to get an idea of what a screenplay should look like. Here are some places to find them for free:

Download, buy, or check out screenplay books from your local library. Here are a few that are highly recommended:

And...FADE TO BLACK

In the film world, the script is your "North Star," guiding your content from a cool idea you had one day, to the big screen. Each word you choose and scene you describe contribute to the magic that unfolds on film. These scriptwriting essentials are necessary to start your film journey and can help you stay on track to writing a great story.

But also remember this: everyone will have an opinion on your script, and everyone will tell you what they think you should and should not write. Always remember the words of famed screenwriter William Goldman:

"The single most important fact, perhaps, of the entire movie industry: NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING."

Good luck!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Scriptwriting Basics: Write Your First Script - Film School - WeVideo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scriptwriting basics? Learn them all here so that you can write your first script! Easily turn your ideas into videos with WeVideo. Try free today!

# data[].attributes.headline
5 Tips for Writing Better Characters into Your Screenplay

# data[].attributes.subject
5 Tips for Writing Better Characters into Your Screenplay

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Screenwriting 101: 5 Tips for Writing Better Characters into Your Screenplay

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Screenwriting 101: 5 Tips for Writing Better Characters into Your Screenplay

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
For any work of fiction to resemble real life, it has to portray real character development with a convincing character arc. Additionally, those characters need to have believable character traits, which evolve as the character grows.

Stories are about people-even if your main character is a cat, a tree, or some other nonhuman entity. Great storytellers will capitalize on great character development, because a story's humanness is what any reader will relate to. Great character traits and an enjoyable character arc bring a story to life, creating windows for the reader to watch through.

So, what is character development? And for that matter, what are character traits, and what are some good character arc examples? In this article, we'll look at each of these items and more. Creating real, flesh-and-blood people is essential to great storytelling, so let's explore the alchemy of turning words into real people-creating characters from characters.

Character Development Definition: What is Character Development?

What is character development? It's not so different from real life: the goal is to showcase a character's growth in the face of adversity, much like real people grow and adapt to their own real situations.

Character development is the process of creating fictional characters with the same depth and complexity as real-life human beings.

Character development is the process of creating fictional characters with the same depth and complexity as real-life human beings.

Throughout the story writing process, the author will develop any number of character traits to fully flesh out the people that populate their stories. Good character development often includes the following elements:

Backstory: Backstory refers to events that occurred prior to the story's plot, but which nonetheless affect the plot itself. For example, a common trope for character backstories is having a traumatic childhood.

Flaws: Every character has personality flaws, because every person has flaws. Traits like hubris, pride, laziness, or impulsivity can encourage someone to make bad decisions, prolonging the story's conflicts.

Goals: A central component of character development is that character's goals. What do they want, need, or desire? What's standing in the way of those goals? These questions often drive the bulk of the story's plot and character arcs.

Personality: At its simplest, personality is a pattern of thoughts, actions, and beliefs that form a human being. What character traits does each person in your story have? These traits will coalesce into a complex personality.

Philosophy/Worldview: A key aspect of personality and character development is that character's worldview. By worldview, we mean the constellation of religious, philosophical, and political beliefs that shape how someone interacts with the world. For example, one character might believe in the inherent goodness of humankind, while another will believe all people are selfish and irresponsible; each philosophy will affect how each character perceives others and lives in the world.

Physical Character Traits: What do your characters look like? How do those traits impact how other characters view them? In the real world, our physical appearances affect how other people treat us (for better or for worse). It's the same in fiction, so give some thought to each character's physical traits.

Morals/Values: What morals guide your characters? What do they value the most? Remember, morals aren't inherently good: the idea that one gender is better than another is a moral belief, too, though not a very good one.

Spiritual Beliefs: Finally, what religious or spiritual beliefs drive your characters? This can be a major world religion, but it can also be beliefs about the universe at large. Does your character believe that life has a meaning, that humans exist for a purpose, and that we're compelled to act in certain ways?

When these character traits are combined with the story's overall conflict, a character arc develops.

Check Out Our Fiction Writing Courses!

Character Arc Definition

Before we look more at character development, it's equally important to understand character arcs. A character arc is the trajectory of your character's inner journey and emotional growth, charted from the beginning to the end of the story. In other words, it's your character's personal growth and adaptation to the story's particular conflicts.

A character arc is a character's personal growth and adaptation to the story's particular conflicts.

Take a look at any number of character arc examples, and you'll find that no two character arcs are the same. In Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, for example, Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes a major shift in personality, foregoing his stinginess and embracing a life of charity and generosity. But to achieve this character arc, he first has to realize what a lonely, miserable existence life can be when one spends it solely concerned about money.

That said, if someone in your story has negative character traits, they can certainly undergo a negative character arc. Consider the tragedy of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. The titular Hamlet begins the play as a bright, charming heir, whose indecisiveness haunts him alongside his father's ghost. By the end of the play, Hamlet's indecisiveness has turned to impulsivity, resulting in his self-isolation, the erroneous death of Polonius, and his continued reluctance to kill Claudius. Hamlet does not embrace the character development he needs to prevent the play's many preventable deaths.

To summarize: A story's character arc is the evolution of certain character traits alongside that character's inner journey, which impacts whether or not they overcome the story's conflict.

In order for a story to push a character through a character arc, it needs to propose certain challenges without clear solutions, resulting in that character's moral development and making a statement about the human condition. You can learn more about this in our article " Stories vs. Situations: How to Know Your Story Will Work in Any Genre."

Now, let's see character arc in action through the following character development examples.

5 Character Development Examples

Let's look at some character development examples in popular works of literature. Chances are, you haven't read all 5 of the books we're referencing below, so we've mapped out each character's journey and the conflicts that shape their development.

1. Jane Eyre in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

How She Starts: Jane Eyre is a coming-of-age story (also called a bildungsroman) that charts the life of its eponymous character from childhood to adulthood. We are introduced to Jane as someone who is strong-willed and independent, but also impulsive and unloved.

Main Goals: Jane struggles to find love, acceptance, and a place she can truly call home.

Main Conflicts: Jane Eyre is populated with many different antagonists, including her adopted family, her headmasters, and occasionally her own love interests.

Key Dilemma: Jane's situation is never wonderful, but to overcome her poor situations, she must learn to be self-sufficient -a fantastic proposition, given this was published in Victorian England. This includes acquiring work and entering adulthood, but most important to Jane's character development, she must learn to maintain her own self-worth and independence, even in the face of true, altruistic, two-as-one love.

How She Ends: One Jane is truly self-sufficient, everything else falls into place, including her financial situation and her marriage to Rochester. With self-sufficiency comes the love and acceptance she desires, and the safe home she has always been without.

2. Janie Crawford in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

How She Starts: Janie Crawford has much in common with Jane Eyre: she is strong-headed, independent, rebellious, and has a complex inner world that no one can see. Janie is of mixed race, and constantly encounters an inability to fit in with both white and black communities, but she is very defiant of any labels assigned to her and constantly chalks up the prejudice she encounters as a lack of perspective among others.

Main Goals: Janie's primary desire is a marriage of equal partnership: a love that's not unbalanced because of wealth or gender or position.

Main Conflicts: Most of Janie's relationships are, in fact, unbalanced. First her marriage is arranged to a man who doesn't love her, then she marries a man who excludes her from her community's social life. Though Janie desires an equal marriage, she may have to accept that her independent spirit is incompatible in the long-term with another man, especially given the gender roles of 1920s America. This forms the core of her character development.

Key Dilemma: Janie is often treated as either a trophy wife or a domestic worker, but never as an equal, always feeling disconnected both from the people she loves and the communities around her. When she meets and falls in love with Vergible "Tea Cake" Woods, she moves to the Everglades with him, only to lose him in the aftermath of a deadly hurricane.

How She Ends: Janie returns to one of her previous homes, still the object of other people's gossip and disapproval, but satisfied, if weary, having once known real love.

3. Ethan Allan Hawley in The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck

How He Starts: Ethan Allan Hawley is a grocery store clerk in New Baytown, a fictional city on Long Island, NY. His family used to be a member of the local aristocratic class, before Ethan's father lost all of the family's money; despite this, Ethan values honesty and integrity above all else.

Main Goals: Ethan wants to live a life of virtue and integrity, garnering respect from others simply by being a kind and honest person. He has no problem with his position as a grocery clerk, and wants only to provide a good life to his family.

Main Conflicts: Ethan's family, however, is not satisfied with their life: money always seems to be a problem. In addition to his family's continued dissatisfaction, members of Ethan's local community frequently mention his family's lost wealth and what Ethan should do to reclaim it.

Key Dilemma: Ethan's character arc centers around his commitment to virtue and his conflicting desire for wealth. If he wants to reclaim his family's fortunes, he must sacrifice his integrity and honesty, which he does-he turns his boss into the INS, he acquires his best friend's land by (essentially) killing him, and he almost robs a bank. Ethan's inner dialectic between his virtues and his actions prompts him to consider suicide, as a result of sacrificing integrity for money.

How He Ends: The novel ends ambiguously. Ethan commits to killing himself, but then finds that his daughter replaced his weapon of choice with a family talisman, prompting him to reconsider his decision and choose life, if only for his family.

4. Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

How He Starts: Holden Caulfield is a depressed 17 year old who is about to fail out of private school. He frequently feels alienated from his classmates, family, and society at large, and while he refuses to plan for the future, he dreams of escaping somewhere that no one he knows will ever find him.

Main Goals: Holden is desperate for connection, feeling alienated from every person he talks to. While he puts on a show of being superior to the many "phony" individuals around him, he also hopes that one of those phonies might actually connect with him on a deeper level.

Main Conflicts: It seems that everyone in The Catcher in the Rye is a source of conflict for Holden. He is not on speaking terms with his parents, he frequently gets in fights with his peers, and his attempts at relationships are always spurned, which only leads to more fighting.

Key Dilemma: To put it simply, Holden is not a likable person. He is a collection of mostly negative character traits. He's rash, annoying, and often comes off as both immature and pretentious. At the same time, he's deeply aware of society's superficiality, which he tries to push past by talking to people about deep, meaningful subjects. Holden's character arc is defined by this conflict between self, others, and society; in order for him to connect with people, he must find a way to hold both his love and criticism for people side-by-side, and also learn how to talk to people properly.

How He Ends: The Catcher in the Rye is a story in which the main character rejects his character arc. In other words, Holden ends the same way he begins, because he has not committed to the growth he has to undergo in order to find meaningful connections. He has not accepted that he is part of the problem. Nonetheless, the novel ends on a somewhat optimistic note, and Holden forgoes running away from society and enrolls to finish school.

5. Macon "Milkman" Dead III in Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

How He Starts: From childhood, Milkman feels alienated and disinterested in his family, as well as most of society. He feels disconnected from his father, estranged from his aunt and sisters, and has a complicated relationship with his mother, who loves Milkman but uses him as an escape from her monotonous, loveless life. In adolescence, he strikes up a brief but fleeting sexual interest in one of his cousins.

Main Goals: Milkman is sent on a quest to find a bag of gold coins from his father's young adulthood. Perhaps by finding this bag of coins, he can also find his father's approval, something he secretly yearns for yet openly detests.

Main Conflicts: Milkman's search for those gold coins raises many of the novel's central conflicts. At one point, he breaks into his aunt's house in search of the money; at another, he is hunted by Guitar, a former friend who believes that Milkman has found and stolen the gold. Milkman's life is also threatened once a month by Hagar, the cousin he had a fleeting relationship with. But the most important conflict is Milkman's relationship to himself and his family, both of which have been marred by his father's wealth and negligence.

Key Dilemma: Milkman's character development stems from his search for his father's gold. While searching for clues as to where this gold might have ended up, he comes to learn more about his family history, learning to appreciate and even love the complex foundation his life rests upon.

How He Ends: Milkman eventually gives up on the gold to bury the remains of his grandfather whom Milkman discovered by accident, unburdening himself from the weight of his familial hatred. Guitar, still in pursuit of the gold, kills Milkman's aunt and attacks Milkman, perhaps suggesting the enduring wickedness of greed. The novel ends ambiguously regarding Milkman's life.

Character Development Examples: Summing Up

Each protagonist in the above character development examples endures their own set of conflicts. Those conflicts force the protagonist to grow and change in certain ways, adopting new outlooks on life or making difficult moral decisions. It is through loss, hope, sacrifice, change, and a commitment to one's own beliefs that each character rises to their challenge.

It is through loss, hope, sacrifice, change, and a commitment to one's own beliefs that each character rises to their challenge.

As you learn to write and develop characters, pay attention to the character arcs in the novels you read, and how certain challenges are paired directly against certain character traits. For example, Jane Eyre and Janie Crawford are both strong-willed and independent, which are undoubtedly positive character traits, yet these traits also expose them to their senses of alienation, and they must resolve the conflict between their selves, their desires, and society at large. This resolution forms the arc of the character's journey, which also lays the foundation for a compelling plot.

Tips for Nuanced, 3-Dimensional Character Development

Every writer approaches character development a different way. While there's no singular formula for crafting believable characters, all writers have tools at their disposal to get in the minds of their characters. Above all, remember to give each character depth, relatability, and flaws, and to provide specific details and backstories that bring those characters to life.

Remember to give each character depth, relatability, and flaws, and to provide specific details and backstories that bring those characters to life.

Have your characters take personality tests. No, personality tests aren't comprehensive, and most aren't scientifically accurate, but the practice of answering questions like your character will help you get into their mindset, potentially generating new ideas for plots and conflicts. Here's a free directory of personality tests you can use.

Consider regionality. Where someone is from influences the way they speak and think, so language should directly reflect character traits.

Do some sketches. You don't need to be a good artist, just do your best to pen down how you envision them. How tall are they? What is the size and shape of their eyes, lips, nose, and ears? What style of hair do they have? How do they like to dress, and where do they buy their clothes from?

Think about point of view. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person points of view each have their strengths and weaknesses, and each affects how your character is written. Spend some time considering POV, and build the story's setting and sensory details based on your character's observations. Remember, how your character observes the world reflects their personality, making this a key component of character development.

Create interiority. Show us your character's thoughts, flashbacks, inner conflicts, and deep desires. Tell us what your character does and doesn't know about themselves. We are all messy, imperfect, and constantly growing. Your characters are, too!

Another method is to ask yourself certain character development questions, like the ones we've listed below.

Character Development Questions

Good characters have depth, experience growth, have flaws-they're real people. Asking yourself a defined set of character development questions is one way to develop these kinds of characters, who jump off the page with realistic and compelling personalities.

Use the below character development questions to plan, write, or edit your story. Read on for some interesting character development questions to ask yourself, and do this exercise person by person for anyone in your story that you'd like to know better.

10 Character Development Questions to Ask Each of Your Characters

Ask your character...

1. Who are you?

Think of the "who" of your character as the firm foundation with which you will bring your character to life. This "who" might take the form of one or two honest sentences that really tap the essence of the character. Starting with a strong "who" can help you add depth to your character throughout your story, as well as inform their primary character traits.

2. What are your strongest motivations?

What, fundamentally, drives your character? To be accepted by their peers? To create something new and beautiful? To protect their loved ones from a dangerous world? To find perspective on mortality? What are the core, underlying drives that shape this character and the actions he or she takes? This will form the core of the story's conflict and provoke its character arcs.

3. What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

What world does your character hope to see? What would fulfillment look like for your character? What is your character doing to reach toward these hopes-or do they seem too far out of reach?

4. What are your biggest fears and/or regrets?

Your character certainly has a future he or she doesn't want to end up in. What is it, and why? What are the darkest secrets and the biggest failures from your character's past? What haunts him or her?

5. What are your greatest strengths?

What comes easily to this character? What makes this character strong, and why? Your answer can simply be a positive character traits list, but try to go more in depth, fleshing out what informs this character's morals.

6. What are your greatest weaknesses?

Every good character has weaknesses. What puts your character out of place, out of their comfort zone, vulnerable? Why? Your answer can simply be a negative character traits list, but try to go more in depth, fleshing out what informs this character's flaws and achille's heel.

7. What are you like socially?

How does your character view other people? Are they very social and extroverted, or a little more on the quiet, shy, introverted side? Thinking about how your character acts in social situations can help you "beef" up your character and add depth.

8. What is your role in the story?

Consider your character's role in the development of the story. Why does your character exist in your story? Is the character a protagonist, antagonist, or secondary character? How does your character change the story? And how is the character changed by the story-what is their character arc?

9. What is your connection to the overall storyline?

This is the important link between your character and your overall storyline. What specific impact will your character have on the overall progression of your story?

10. What sort of dynamic exists between you and the other characters?

Consider the relationships your character will have with other main or supporting characters. How do they interact? How do their personalities and motivations bounce off one another? How do they come away feeling upon interacting with each other?

Create Your Own Character Development Questions list

Creating your own questionnaire can be extremely useful in the writing process and enhance your understanding of your characters, prompting you to develop new, unique elements of their personalities. It's a great tool for figuring out what makes your characters tick, and it can help align your storyline and plot with your character's overall personality.

As you work to create your own questionnaire for characters, you can search for existing examples. The ten questions above are one example, and here are a few others:

Lastly, as you look for questions to ask your character, it may be useful to take a hint from the "self-help" section of your bookstore. The same sort of self-inquiry that is important in our own lives can be applied to the development of your characters.

Character Traits

Lastly, let's examine character development from the lens of character traits, as this will help you define and refine your characters as you start and finish your stories. First, what are character traits?

What Are Character Traits?

Character traits are recurring features of a character's personality that shape how that character responds to their world. Those traits will show themselves whenever someone reacts to their surroundings, engages in conversation, has private thoughts, takes action, or makes a decision.

Character traits definition: recurring features of a character's personality that shape how that character responds to their world.

Many great novelists have studied human psychology so intently that every of their character's actions is defined by one of their traits. Even the minutest actions, such as making dinner or brushing one's teeth, can in some way reflect a set of character traits. Many of Fyodor Dostoevsky's characters, for example, reflect an intimate understanding of human psychology, and his work greatly informed Freud's theories of psychoanalysis which, though scientifically outdated, continue to impact modern literary analysis.

As you develop your characters, you can remember their personality by boiling them down into a character traits list. Because these traits are often detrimental in face of the story's conflict, they're an essential component of your story's character arcs, and your characters will often have to push back against certain traits to undergo necessary character development.

Without further ado, let's look at common character traits in literature.

Character Traits List

Take note that many positive character traits can also be negative character traits, and vice versa. For example, while a strong sense of independence is generally considered positive, it can also lead to a character's sociopathy, hatred of society, and disinterest in family.

Many positive character traits can also be negative character traits, and vice versa.

Alternatively, while "disobedient" is generally seen as negative, disobedience can also bring about positive changes in society. Terms like "positive" and "negative" relate to society's perception of those traits, but in actuality, most traits can be both positive or negative depending on that character's circumstances.

Lastly, remember that a protagonist does have negative traits, and an antagonist does have positive traits.

Positive Character Traits List

In the below character traits chart, we've listed positive character traits and characters with those traits in literature.

Character Traits

Definition

Examples in Literature

Curious

Inquisitive; prone to asking many questions and investigating everything.

Hercule Poirot in many of Agatha Christie's murder mystery novels.

Negative Character Traits List

In the below character traits chart, we've listed negative character traits and characters with those traits in literature.

Advice for Selecting Character Traits in Your Work

Which character traits should my protagonist, antagonist, and secondary characters have? Does it matter?

When writing the people that populate your stories, it's important to have a balance of character traits so that no two people are the same. Additionally, it's important that everyone has both positive and negative character traits since, like people in real life, no one is perfect.

Remember that stories are, above all else, about people. Even if those stories are set on different planets, in magical realms, or between alternate universes, it's your cast of characters that matter most because people drive plot. Your characters are the ones making decisions, reacting to situations, and embarking on journeys; they define their own character arcs, so having a strong set of character traits is essential.

Here are three tips for selecting the best set of character traits in your story:

For protagonists, give them positive traits to strive for and negative traits to overcome. The best conflicts occur when a protagonist has to overcome their own negative character traits to achieve something.

For antagonists, think about traits that will make them perfect obstacles against the protagonist. A protagonist who is kind and respectful, but conflict-avoidant, might have a hard time overcoming an antagonist who is loud, coarse, and arrogant.

For secondary and tertiary characters, consider their purpose in the story, and give them traits that help them uphold that purpose. For example, a secondary character that exists to support the protagonist should be helpful and generous; someone who misleads the protagonist might be well-intentioned but foolish.

Conflict and Character Development
Here are instructor Jack Smith's thoughts on using conflict to deepen your character development.
Characters become interesting when they undergo conflict. A character without conflict is a dull character. Conflict gets the reader interested, as long as the conflict is important to the character in a way we can relate to-and in a way that motivates the character to take action.

This takes us to motivation. What prompts your character to do what they do?

What are the protagonist's stakes? What is the protagonist's goal?

You can always go back and rethink motivation later, but if your character just seems to be doing something for no apparent reason, it might be harder to fix. Get inside your protagonist. Be your protagonist. See what happens. Whether you're a plotter or a pantser, you'll do well to identify with the protagonist and become that protagonist.

Think story: What's happening? Where is this character going? What is the main conflict the protagonist faces?

Let the conflict build. Think about foreshadowing, about hinting at something that will occur down the road-for instance, a marital break-up, a run-in with the law, a loss of job. Little things mentioned early on plant seeds of things that will bloom later.

The earlier you hook your reader with interesting conflict, the better for character development. Just set the stage for what is to follow. But don't treat these pages like a "thesis statement" for the novel; your reader wants to experience the novel, not be told what it's about. That's like reading a plot summary instead of the story itself.

Think of conflict as worked out in plot threads. What are the main plot threads in your novel? Assuming you have one main plot thread, what are the subplots that will thread their way through your novel? Watch for these.

A few things to keep in mind:

Fiction thrives on conflict: Not every conflict can be resolved, but avoid dead spots in your fiction-particularly scenes that go nowhere, ones that lack friction.

How about this one?

"How are you?"
"Doing pretty well. You?"
"Doing pretty well."
"Good."
"Great."

It's hard to say. If this is the mindless chatter that most people engage in just to be polite, that might work if you're satirizing small-town life. But otherwise, cut it.

Weed out extraneous conflicts and plot threads: Do they contribute in some way? Are they like streams flowing into a river? Do they contribute to or parallel the main plot in some way or ways? Consider this: Paul, a police detective, wants to solve a major wave of murders in his small city. He's been running into some problems, including false leads. Paul has a background in music; he was planning to be a professional violinist, but that didn't pan out. He's still conflicted about that goal. My thought is that, unless you can find some connection between his wanting to be a violinist and his being a detective-perhaps something similar in the way he approaches conflicts that sometimes seem insurmountable-I wouldn't get into his goal in music. Including his music aspirations might help create a complex character, but might seem irrelevant, especially to his character development. Do everything you can to create a unified novel. Perhaps music is his way of reducing stress from a very stressful job.

Let's say your pantser side comes up with this musical background and that dream to be concert violinist. Follow it up. See where it goes.

Be sure that the main plot thread, as well as those plot threads that relate to the main thread, are sufficiently developed and credible: What does this take? Ask yourself if your protagonist's character arc is satisfying to a reader. Is more needed? Is that arc believable? It's been said that the ending needs to be "surprising" but "inevitable."

See my article on endings at this URL:
https://www.writermag.com/improve-your-writing/fiction/ending-your-novels/2/

Incidentally, be sure that you don't end up with everything tied up in a neat bundle, but don't just stop either. What questions does the protagonist's arc answer? As you write through your novel, be aware, at least, of the direction of your overall plot. If you're a plotter, you know what it is. If you're a pantser, you're discovering it as you go along.

Further Readings on Character Development

The following articles take a deeper look at the specific kinds of characters you might develop a story around.

Craft Compelling Character Arcs at Writers.com

Looking for feedback on your characters, their journeys, and the worlds they occupy? Get feedback on your work in a Writers.com course! Take a look at our upcoming fiction courses and receive detailed, personalized feedback on your characters-in-progress.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Character Development Definition and Examples | Writers.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For any work of fiction to resemble real life, it has to portray real character development with a convincing character arc. Additionally, those characters need to have believable character traits, which evolve as the character grows. Stories are about people-even if your main character is a cat, a tree, or some other nonhuman entity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Visual Effects Work in Film: A Guide to the 4 Types of VFX - 2022 - MasterClass

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Visual effects, also called VFX, enable filmmakers to enhance a story by bringing to life believable characters, worlds, and stunts.

# data[].attributes.headline
Special effects (SFX) and visual effects (VFX)

# data[].attributes.subject
Special effects (SFX) and visual effects (VFX)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Learn the difference between special effects and visual effects, their history, and their future. Then start your own motion picture adventure.

The origins of special effects.

Filmmakers have used cameras to create trickery and delight audiences since the inception of the camera. Creating magic and illusions is one of the most exciting tools in the filmmaking arsenal, and special and visual effects (SFX and VFX) are the juice that powers the show.

"Special effects is an art. While many special effects artists never went to art school, usually they have a background in drawing, sculpting, and painting," says director Darion D'Anjou. You can see that artistry on display in the history of the form.

Arguably, the first instance of special effects is Oscar Rejlander's photo montage that combined 32 different negatives into a single image. However, some of the earliest movie special effects can be credited to Georges Méliès, who pioneered the use of the "stop trick." For this little bit of magic, the camera is shut off, all the performers freeze, the scenery or set dressing is changed, and filming is resumed. Many early films had characters disappear or scenes suddenly change with this effect.

Méliès, an artist as well as a filmmaker, created numerous other special effects in more than 500 short films, using multiple exposures, time-lapse photography, animation, and hand-painted color. From there, the world of film expanded into dozens if not hundreds of other methods of special effects wizardry, leading to the development of a second field: visual effects.

Visual effects vs. special effects.

Special effects and visual effects are often conflated, but they are different. While there are further subcategories, special effects are often practical, meaning that they are artificially created on set (for example, a controlled explosion in an action scene). Visual effects, on the other hand, are created in post-production or the editing bay. Early visual effects saw filmmakers toying with film stock, while modern visual effects deal in animation, computer generated imagery (CGI), and other post-production effects.

Each has its strengths and weaknesses. "Special effects can be preferable in many instances, because your actors can respond to the effects on set, and you get lighting effects and other features you would otherwise have to create digitally, often at great expense," says director Steven Bernstein. However, special effects often require specialized equipment, trained professionals, and careful choreography, which can be challenging for many new filmmakers. Visual effects, on the other hand, open boundless visual possibilities to a filmmaker, the only limit being technical competence and creative vision.

When and where to use SFX.

Special effects and visual effects are tools for realizing the vision of a filmmaking team. It's often easy to forget the "tool" part. Special and visual effects serve a particular purpose, which is immersing your audience in the story you are trying to tell. The choice can be high stakes too. "I've worked on projects where we used 23 cameras to get a scene just right, and we only had one or two tries to get it right," says Bernstein.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Special effects (SFX) and visual effects (VFX) | Adobe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Start your own motion picture adventure by discovering the difference between special effects and visual effects, their history, and their exciting future.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is VFX? A Guide to Visual Effects in Film

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn what VFX stands for and the different types of VFX.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Film/TV Pitch Deck

# data[].attributes.subject
The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Film/TV Pitch Deck

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We've sourced everything you need to know about creating a pitch deck for your next film project. There is a lot of great information out there and luckily, pitching your script is easier now thanks to the abundance of updated visualization technology. After all, your pitch deck is a visual supplement to your screenplay or script. This is your chance to share your vision of why your film should get made.

First, Let's Look at the Original Stranger Things Pitch Deck "Montauk"

If you follow @lafilmschool on Instagram and Facebook, you may have seen our video on the Stranger Things pitch deck. If you're curious, go back and watch the video to see what three elements made that original pitch deck such a success. We'll dive deeper into what makes a film pitch deck successful here in a moment, but let's examine the original pitch deck from Netflix's Stranger Things.

The Duffer brothers built their franchise empire off a charming, supernatural-inspired show concept they originally called "Montauk." Their pitch neatly laid out the show's vision across a 20+ page pitch deck to attract networks and eventually secured a home with Netflix.

The title page of the pitch deck shows an eerie grey-washed photograph of an abandoned bike on the side of a desolate road. "Montauk" is clearly displayed in red block letters above the photo. The only other text on the title page is... "An Epic Tale of sci-fi horror."

The 3 Things the Duffer Brothers included in their pitch deck that made "Montauk" into one of Netflix's most successful series franchises

1. Use Imagery That Builds Your Vision

Imagery is used throughout the deck to convey what type of vibe the series is aiming to achieve.

The Duffer Brothers leveraged colors, textures, and even imagery from supernatural '80s cult classics, building a strong vision for investors right off the bat.

2. Write a Clear and Engaging Synopsis

Your readers should feel hooked right from the introduction page. This sets the tone for the rest of the pitch deck and includes a strong final sentence that sums up what's to come:

From Montauk's Pitch Deck: "Emotional, cinematic, and rooted in character, Montauk is a love letter to the golden age of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King - a marriage of human drama and supernatural fear.

Both the STORY and STRUCTURE sections of this pitch did an excellent job of painting a clear trajectory of the story while still giving investors a sense of mystery and intrigue.

3. Appeal to Your Investors' Business Sense

The final page of the pitch deck is "Franchise Potential," which aims to pique the interest of studio executives and networks. It gives a solid story continuation layout if the series were to get picked up and do well with audiences. Spoiler alert- Stranger Things did more than just well, the show was a smash hit.

How can you apply these same concepts to your own film or TV show pitch deck?

Now that you've seen what a successful film pitch deck looks like, it's time to perfect your own. Leading with the three essential elements of a great pitch deck (1. Strong imagery 2. Clear synopsis and 3. A future plan), let's dive into your ultimate pitch deck checklist.

Under those three main buckets are subcategories to include in your pitch deck. You'll want to make sure your vision for your project is clearly defined. Potential networks need to see the value of your project's pitch deck and connect with the story synopsis right off the bat.

Your Pitch Deck Should Have... Strong Imagery

Instant visual cues included in your writing

Mood board images to convey the style and tone

Examples of inspiration from other film and TV projects

A brief story introduction following your title slide

Background on the creative team behind the screenplay and/or film project

Introduction of characters (make your audience care and feel a sense of who each character is)

Breakdown of targeted genres and audience demographics

Financial and distribution details

Mention potential installments or series continuation opportunities

Your Pitch Deck Should Have a... Clear Synopsis

Your Pitch Deck Should Have a... Future Plan

Take a look at your own pitch deck and see if you have these elements outlined above. Ask yourself if there is anything missing. Does your pitch deck convey a clear tone and build interest with each slide? Are you representing the project in the most effective way?

STUDENT PRO TIP: If you're a student at The L.A. Film School, you can get your pitch decks and film reels peer-reviewed by our advisors in Career Development or with your course instructors.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Film/TV Pitch Deck

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We've sourced everything you need to know about creating a pitch deck for your next film project. Keep reading to start your film pitch deck.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pitching a film is a necessary skill to have for any budding filmmaker. Read on to learn how to pitch a movie idea with the help of filmmaker Edgar Wright.

# data[].attributes.headline
Four Steps to Creating a Winning Film or TV Pitch Deck for Fiction and Documentary Projects

# data[].attributes.subject
Four Steps to Creating a Winning Film or TV Pitch Deck for Fiction and Documentary Projects

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Collab Takeaway: Four Steps to Creating a Winning Film or TV Pitch Deck - Sundance Collab

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
1. Know Your Vision and Your Audience Though completing a script feels like a lot of work, it’s really just the beginning of making a film, and a script itself isn’t necessarily enough to properly introduce your story or you as a creator. Enter: the pitch deck. As Yang Bongiovi puts it, “We create it […]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Whether you are an actor, a filmmaker, or a film geek through and through, writing film reviews can help hone your ability to think critically. With experience writing reviews, cinephiles can watch movies with a more thoughtful and intentional perspective. This skill enables viewers to have a response that goes deeper than "That movie was awesome!" And for you future film reviewers out there, it's never too soon to start.

How to Write a Movie Review

While there's no perfect approach to writing a movie review, there are definitely best practices that every aspiring reviewer can consider. Here are nine tips on writing a compelling piece.

1. Watch the film at least once.

When writing a film review, once is necessary, but twice is preferable. It's impossible to capture every detail and thought only after one viewing. Throughout watching the film, taking detailed notes is also a good idea. This will help the writing process and make it easy to refer to your in-the-moment thoughts and reactions.

2. Express your opinions and support your criticism.

Professional reviewers do not shy away from telling their readers whether they thought a movie was good, bad, or indifferent. In fact, readers rely on those reviewers whose tastes reflect their own. Be sure to back up these thoughts with specifics-a disappointing performance, a ridiculous plot, beautiful cinematography, difficult material that leaves you thinking, and so on. Professional reviewers can express why and how they came to their criticism.

3. Consider your audience.

Are you writing for a fan site or a news outlet? Who will read your pieces, and what are their interests? Knowing who your readers are can help you decide what elements of the movie to highlight. You can also adjust your writing style to fit the target audience and the tone they're used to reading.

4. Talk about the acting.

Many casual filmgoers will be inspired to see a movie if a favorite actor is in it, so you should probably spend a little space talking about the performances. Does the film feature a seasoned actor in a new kind of role or a brilliant performance from a rising star? How was the acting? Feedback about how well the actors handled the script, the dynamics in an ensemble, and so much more can help describe how the actors did in any given film.

5. Call out directors, cinematographers, and special effects.

This is where your film geek can really shine. Tell your readers about the highlights or missteps of directors, cinematographers, costume designers, and CGI. What worked, what surprised you, and what fell short of expectations are all great questions to address in the body of your review. It helps to have some knowledge of filmmaking, as well. That's why film students with writing experience can actually make great reviewers. At NYFA, for instance, many film students study a range of topics relating to film that can include screenwriting, producing, and much more.

6. No spoilers!

Give your readers some idea of the plot, but be careful not to include any spoilers. Remember, the point of a good review is to get people interested in going to the movie. Don't get over-excited and ruin it for them!

7. Study the professionals.

As with all writing endeavors, the more you read, the better. And when you read film reviews that you like (or don't like), think about why. Use your critical eye to consider why one reviewer has a hundred thousand followers and another only has two. Be sure to read the publications where you'd like your writing to appear as a template for your reviews, and don't forget to read the submission guidelines. A few examples of film review professionals include Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert, and Film Comment.

8. Reread, rewrite, and edit.

Edit your work. Your opinions will not be taken seriously if you misspell the director's name or can't put together a grammatically correct sentence. Take the time to check your spelling and edit your piece for organizational flow.

9. Find your voice.

The best reviewers have a distinct personality that comes across in their writing. This does not happen overnight, so take every opportunity to write as an opportunity to develop your own style and voice that will grab the reader's attention and keep them coming back for more.

Learn More About Filmmaking at NYFA

Writing film reviews is a great way to pursue your passion for film. Ready to build even more skills in filmmaking? Request more information about New York Film Academy's filmmaking programs and workshops today!

кредит онлайн на карту под 0 zaymibistroru круглосуточный кредит онлайн

займ на киви кошелек без отказа zaymibistroru займы онлайн на карту без проверок срочно

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Write a Movie Review: 9 Essential Tips

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Love film and want to learn how to write a movie review? Learn more about writing the best possible film review!