I was working with a screenwriter this week who made me think of something I say in class a lot: A movie is about “one idea.” I was reminded that in his book, Your Screenplay Sucks, my pal Will Akers says the very same thing....

I got a call from a well-known screenwriter the other day. I get emergency phone calls like X’s all the time to make sure they have their pitch straight, often just hours before going into their meeting. I got these calls before Save the Cat!...

Lately I’ve really enjoyed working with writers via phone. Usually a script question can be answered easily in an email, but sometimes it’s better to talk. A few of these conversations are with well-known screenwriters, which proves even the pros need perspective. They are about...

Do It Yourself. That’s what DIY stands for. For screenwriters and filmmakers, DIY is about creating memorable short films that show off your storytelling skills. But can a short, even one as brief as a minute or two, still hit the winning elements found in Save the Cat!...

You will hear many writers tell you — and rightly so — that Act Three is the toughest. Finishing up what you started, finding the final solution for your characters, and also “letting them go” is a challenge for sure. But to me, the trouble...

I recently got an email pitch from a writer asking for my opinion. I may not have given the response he wanted to hear, but I’ve heard so many pitches lately that have hit me the same way, I wanted to point out something you...

When it comes to fixing broken scripts, your story’s “spine” is key. Avoiding story “scoliosis” — a crooked tale of missteps and detours — is the name of the game. The spine of your story is defined as what happens to your hero as we...

Fresh from our busy Save the Cat! Laboratories, Development Director Jose Silerio has conceived this new twist on how to write a logline. By plugging in the components of your movie’s BS2 into the “Format” below you can create a “mini-story” that will help not only...

Can you pitch your movie in two minutes? Not just the concept but the story. Occasionally you find yourself in this circumstance.  This month, in fact, a group of Seattle screenwriters will get two minutes each to pitch to a group of producers, agents, and...

Of the principles spelled out in the Save the Cat! ouevre, none is more important than its namesake. “Save the Cat!” is one of many catch phrases we employ for identifying common tricks in storytelling and communication that we inherently sense — and now can put...