Make a Pledge
At the end of the day, the more you do something, the better you get at doing it, which is why you need to practice. I’m a big believer...
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rachelallen060
- Feb 3
- 1 min
Write and Shoot a Silent Movie
“Character speaks louder than words” is something I've heard over and over again from acting teachers and screenwriting gurus, but I...
rachelallen060
- Feb 1
- 1 min
Watch Silent Films
Before you make a silent film, I suggest you sit down and watch some. What you’ll learn is that you don’t need much to tell a compelling...
rachelallen060
- Jan 27
- 2 min
Pick Your Theme
Theme Categories While the film's theme can be put into either a question (can money buy happiness?) or a statement (some things cannot...
rachelallen060
- Jan 25
- 1 min
Categories Meet Category
There is no rule that says that a story should adhere to a single category. For example – I’m sure you’ve noticed that Lord of the Rings...
rachelallen060
- Jan 20
- 2 min
Ask the Right Questions
Having said all of the above, you still need to know what your next movie is going to be about, if you don’t already, and to do that, you...
rachelallen060
- Jan 18
- 2 min
Don’t Try to Reinvent the Wheel
Take a look at the following synopsis: “A high school senior from the wrong side of the tracks longs for adventure, sophistication, and...
rachelallen060
- Jan 13
- 2 min
“Borrow” from Real Life and Hide it Well
Continuing with the notion that great ideas, great plots, and characters are inspired by true events; the event itself doesn’t need to...
rachelallen060
- Jan 11
- 2 min
The Best Ideas Come to You While you Write.
While it’s true that my breakout short film, Prego was not an original idea, and it’s FAR from being a great film, there are some...
rachelallen060
- Jan 6
- 2 min
Ideas Are Not Stories
When I first got started in this business, I was obsessed with the “idea” of coming up with a “great idea.” I thought that if I was ever...
rachelallen060
- Jan 4
- 1 min
How to Profit from Your “Great Ideas”
If you have great movie ideas in your head, but you don’t know how to write, I suggest you take that as a sign from the universe that you...
rachelallen060
- Dec 30, 2021
- 2 min
Above All – Be a Writer
Movies are the amalgamation of artistic talent and technical know-how, coming together to tell a story through moving pictures, and,...
rachelallen060
- Dec 28, 2021
- 1 min
Enter the Filmmaker
Filmmakers actually have a lot in common with their audiences, mainly because they’re both expecting to have a good experience; the...
rachelallen060
- Dec 23, 2021
- 1 min
Good Ideas Come from Research
The process of writing a screenplay always involves research, whether it’s watching documentaries or other films, interviewing people,...
rachelallen060
- Dec 21, 2021
- 1 min
Plots Are Cool. Characters Are Cooler.
If you make a list of your all-time favorite movies, I’m pretty sure that it will align with a list of your all-time favorite characters....
rachelallen060
- Dec 16, 2021
- 1 min
Good Ideas Come from Reading
It sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. The more books you read, the more you use your imagination, and the more you use your...
rachelallen060
- Dec 14, 2021
- 2 min
Ask the Right Questions
Having covered everything so far, I need to come back to probably the most important aspect of movie-making. You still need to know what...
rachelallen060
- Dec 9, 2021
- 1 min
The “What If ” Approach
This is my personal favorite approach to coming up with movie plot ideas. You take any circumstance, either real or fictional, and add a...
rachelallen060
- Dec 7, 2021
- 1 min
Write a Movie or a TV show You Know
This is one of the oldest tricks in the book but one that I recommend wholeheartedly. Pick an episode from your favorite TV show and...
rachelallen060
- Dec 2, 2021
- 2 min
Forget the “Gift” of Dialogue
Dialogue is one of those screenwriting topics that many screenwriters drool over, either with awe or aggravation over their inability to...