Writers from the 2018 Screenwriters Lab share their insights on the screenwriting process, including going from shorts to features.
Key Insights
- A short film is a great way to discover your style.
- Focus on character. The story will evolve from the journeys of your characters.
- Inspiration is the clarity that arrives after a long process, not a light bulb that goes off in your head.
- It’s important to understand how your script is being received to make sure you’re properly communicating your ideas.
- Watch shorts to discover creative collaborators (e.g. DPs, editors, production designers); reach out to the ones who inspire you.
- Listen carefully to feedback, but ultimately your script should evoke the feelings you intend to convey.
Screenwriter
Eimi Imanishi is a Japanese American filmmaker who grew up in France. She earned her BFA from the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, where she majored in sculpture. more...
Screenwriter
Suzanne Andrews Correa is a Mexican American screenwriter and director. A recent graduate of the Film Program at Columbia University (MFA), she has worked in the industry for almost a decade as a member of IATSE. more...
Screenwriter
Beth de Araújo is a Writer and Director recently featured in Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film. Her feature screenplay, JOSEPHINE, participated in the 2018 Sundance Screenwriters Lab and is a recipient of the SFFILM Rainin Filmmaking Grant. more...
Screenwriter
Born in Greece, Christos Massalas is a graduate of the London Film School. His short films have received awards from around the world and have screened at international film festivals including Cannes, New Directors/New Films, Locarno, AFI Fest, Guanajuato and BFI, among others. more...
Join the Discussion
Keep Exploring
Video
Video
A Day in the Life of a Screenwriter
Writers from the 2018 Screenwriters Lab share their thoughts on how they find inspiration and sustain themselves financially, emotionally, and creatively.
Beth De Araújo
Screenwriter
Video
Video
Breaking into TV Writing with Lena Waithe & Tom Fontana
Showrunners and Advisors Lena Waithe and Tom Fontana discuss what it takes to break into writing for episodic television.
Tom Fontana
Writer
Video
Video
New Frontier: Storytelling at the Intersection of Art & Technology
Storytelling is transcendent. Director of the New Frontier Labs Program Kamal Sinclair shares how artists are using technology and innovating the art and form of storytelling.
Kamal Sinclair
New Frontier, Sundance Director
Video
Video
The Art & Craft of Screenwriting with Scott Frank
Master Screenwriter Scott Frank shares his best practices on the art and craft of screenwriting that he learned throughout his prolific career.
Scott Frank
Screenwriter