So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’

A comprehensive series on the most significant of the supposed screenwriting ‘rules,’ hopefully to put things into proper perspective: Tools, not rules. Focus on your creativity, not picayune format and style issues. Write a great script. That should be your focus.

Part 1: The Organic Nature of the Screenplay

Part 2: The Emergence of the Selling Script

Part 3: The Evolution of Screenplay Format and Style

Part 4: There are no screenwriting ‘rules’

Part 5: There are expectations

Part 6: We See / We Hear

Part 7: Unfilmables

Part 8: Action Paragraphs — 3 Lines Max

Part 9: CUT TO (Transitions)

Part 10: Parentheticals

Part 11: Flashbacks

Part 12: Voice-Over Narration

Part 13: Sympathetic Protagonist

Part 14: Protagonist and Shifting Goals

Part 15: Certain Events by Certain Pages

The entire 15 part series