Hi Stephan,

I’m a big believer in the notion that there is no ONE correct way to execute a screenplay. Whatever works to tell the story works - within reason. I’ve seen far too may aspiring screenwriters get so caught up in rules and formulas that they locked into a box that they can NEVER think outside. One such so-called rule is that you can only write what can be seen or filmed. This is just not true. For example, take the following screenplay excerpt….

“Goeth steps out onto the balcony in his undershirt and shorts and peers across the labor camp, his labor camp. Satisfied with it, even amazed, he’s reminiscent of Schindler looking down on his kingdom, his factory, as he loves to do, from his wall of glass. Life is great.”

This from Oscar winning screenwriter Steven Zaillian, and as you can see he is using prose and editorializing. I can sight a dozen more examples from various successful screenwriters who all do the same thing.

Obviously you don’t want to “overdo” this type of writing. As you said, it’s not a novel, but it is a technique that is used quite often.

Hi Austin,

Nowhere in the article does it claim the process is a “quick path to becoming a screenwriter.” Nor does it claim its author is any kind of “guru.”

I’d like to invite you to read a few articles I’ve written (that are excerpts from my process) and even perhaps visit my website. At least then your opinion, even if remains negative, would be far more informed and appreciated by others. Even by me. :)

http://nofilmschool.com/2016/07/3-key-psychological-hooks-creating-compe...

http://creativescreenwriting.com/heart/