Screen Writers

We are very excited and fortunate to have the participation and support of these experts. They are all leaders in their field and can offer you some great insight if you just read what they have to say.

Video Clips with Top Screenwriters

Looking for inspiration? Listen to award winning screenwriters share their experiences and insights: Writing a Story, Story and Characters, Character Development, Setting, Story Plot, Dialogue, and Advice for Young Screenwriters.

In addition to the writers, we want to thank the Austin Film Festival in producing these clips.

Listed here as Realplayer videos are some of the best tips offered by these industry professionals by theme. For additional resources to help aspiring screenwriters, check out the Language Arts Program.

Don't have Realplayer? Download it now. 

Writing a story, origination of a theme
		Interviewee/Screenwriter	Theme of discussion
1,313KB		Tim McCanlies Anne Rapp	Writing a story as a lesson Story themes from your own experiences
3,232KB		Narrator - Barbara Morgan Anne Rapp	Good screenplays uses all the elements of storytelling Short story as pure form of story telling
Relationship of a story and characters
		Interviewee/Screenwriter	Theme of discussion
2,114KB		Bill Wittliff Anne Rapp Shane Black	Best stories have characters you really care about Should be a reason why character is there Interesting but flawed characters helps you put yourself in their shoes
Character development in writing a story
		Interviewee/Screenwriter	Theme of discussion
869KB		Anne Rapp William Broyles	Life is about people, stories are about people Creating compelling characters is hardest thing about screenwriting
1,317KB		Bill Wittliff Narrator - Barbara Morgan	Begin with character or event that interests you Creating compelling characters
Importance of the setting
		Interviewee/Screenwriter	Theme of discussion
1,878KB		Shane Black William Broyles Shane Black William Broyles	Setting is an additional character; film noir
Story plot and keys to having a good plot
		Interviewee/Screenwriter	Theme of discussion
1,565KB		Narrator - Barbara Morgan Bill Wittliff	Interesting stories occur through conflict; need a dynamic
3,239KB		William Broyles Shane Black	Plot point is the hinge that takes you around the corner Shane's "Hay Stack" theory concerning importance of twisting the plot to maintain viewer interest in the story
Dialogue
		Interviewee/Screenwriter	Theme of discussion
1,761KB		Narrator - Barbara Morgan Tim McCanlies Anne Rapp Bill Wittliff Tim McCanlies	Defining character through speech Text of dialogue should relay type of character Key to writing good dialogue is being a good listener Silences are key Character point of view
3,506KB		Anne Rapp William Broyles	Character exposition revealed truthfully Showing the thought process of key characters through acting, behavior
Advice to young writers
		Interviewee/Screenwriter	Theme of discussion
3,871KB		Bill Wittliff William Broyles Bill Wittliff	Write for content in your heart, cut loose Write about ordinary difficulties from your own life Writers are tricksters, people pay attention to the good and the bad