by Erik Bork | Nov 14, 2018
What is a B Story? It’s a secondary story that has its own beginning, middle and end, and is focused on its own problem, separate from but intertwined with the A Story. And it has its own main character, who may or may not be the same as the A Story’s....
by Erik Bork | Dec 2, 2017
Many writers believe their story needs a villain — a single character who is the main source of opposition in the story, or the primary “bad guy.” Since arguably all stories have a “protagonist,” don’t they all need an “antagonist”? I don’t believe they...
by Erik Bork | Feb 12, 2013
A few years ago, screenwriter Craig Mazin wrote a blog post voicing his skepticism about “script consultants” — titled “Screenwriting is Free”. Craig (Chernobyl, Identity Thief, The Hangover Part II) was advocating for aspiring writers,...
by Erik Bork | Nov 22, 2012
I recently got to see the L.A. production of THE BOOK OF MORMON musical. I felt I basically knew the story from listening to the songs on the original Broadway cast recording. But not knowing the spoken dialogue or visuals, I was interested to see how the narrative...
by Erik Bork | Mar 24, 2010
For those of you who use the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet (which I highly recommend, and use in my script consulting), and struggle with the “Finale” section (that huge chunk of Act 3 that decides the ultimate outcome of the story) works, please note that in...
by Erik Bork | Nov 25, 2009
One issue I commonly find in scripts I read is a lack of clarity on whose emotional point-of-view the story is being told through. I think that we as writers don’t instinctively realize just how important it is to choose a main character and STAY WITH THEM. I...
