by Erik Bork | Mar 4, 2017
There are only so many types of situations a human being can be in, that are big and relatable enough to base a movie on. As I see it, successful scripts generally have one of 8 essential challenges or story problems for their main character, when you boil them down...
by Erik Bork | Oct 29, 2016
One of the most frequent and important types of notes I give on scripts is to question whether something seems REAL. Another way of saying it is this: “Does the situation and what people are doing and saying seem BELIEVABLE? Would this happen in the real world?...
by Erik Bork | Jun 27, 2015
The main character in a movie generally has a big problem that it takes the whole movie to solve. And this is what a professional reader of a script is generally focused on understanding first. What is that problem? Why will it be so difficult to solve that it takes...
by Erik Bork | Jun 6, 2015
If I could sum up the number one most common overall weakness in screenplays I read, it would be that the main character does not have a big enough overall problem, and a high enough level of difficulty and complications as they try to solve it. When you get the...
by Erik Bork | Mar 1, 2014
My March 12 webinar on “Creating a Sellable Screenplay Concept” is now available from The Writers Store. In it, I analyzed the loglines of some spec scripts that sold in 2013 — and discussed the common elements. It’s a 90-minute...
by Erik Bork | Jun 10, 2013
Blake Snyder’s ten “genres” and fifty “subgenres” in his Save the Cat books are my single favorite tool for screenwriters. I have long believed that studying this system of story types, and making sure each script you write clearly fits...
by Erik Bork | Feb 26, 2013
Loglines describe a movie (or series) idea in a quick sentence or two that provide enough of an idea of what it’s about to (hopefully) seem like a grabby, fresh and commercially viable concept. They present a compelling situation for characters one can imagine...
by Erik Bork | Feb 14, 2013
A cool website called “Spec Scout” tracks the status of currently unproduced screenplays in the Hollywood marketplace, in a variety of categories. It also offers aspiring writers a chance to get their work professionally evaluated and ranked — with...
by Erik Bork | Jun 7, 2012
When I work with writers giving feedback and guidance on their material and career paths, I often end up giving advice about how to gain access to agents, managers, and producers – which seems to most writers to be the biggest challenge of this business. The common...
by Erik Bork | Oct 29, 2009
Most story (and series) ideas fail at the level of concept. Sad, but true. I’ve learned this the hard way. Of course, “fail” is a harsh word. What I mean is simply that they fail to become something that millions of people would happily pay money to...
