Caroline Gordon-Elliott2 hours ago2 minAre You a "Sell-Out" or a "Savvy Business Person"?I was driving on the highway yesterday, when a bizarre thought came to me: How badly would I need money to drive a promotional van around...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottJun 212 minYou Be YouWhen I was growing up, I always heard "Just be yourself." I knew there was a caveat hidden in there, though. There had to be. For me, it...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottJun 142 minStop Poo-Poo'ing RemakesEver heard, "Hollywood is too lazy to think of new ideas," or "They've run out of stories to write?" These are not the reasons for the...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottJun 63 minAm I the Bad Guy?In "Little House on the Prairie," the principal characters, Charles and Caroline Ingalls, could do no wrong. And if they ever did, they...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottJun 21 minShow and (Not) TellNewer writers often struggle showing details about a character, or crucial backstory, without explaining it with overt dialogue. They...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottMay 242 minGet Bored"Only boring people get bored." ~ Ruth Burke I would like to politely (and resentfully) disagree. As Tolstoy wrote, boredom is "a desire...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottMay 172 minI'm Like That When...I thoroughly enjoy the podcast Smartless. It's three dudes I like listening to, interviewing people I want to hear from. In the most...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottMay 101 minThat Script Ain't Gonna Shoot ItselfThere are a gazillion ways to try to break into a career in screenwriting, but the least effective one is probably writing a script and...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottMay 73 minWhat's a Good Mother, Anyway?On the eve of Mother's Day, a holiday I've long resented for being a Hallmark-strangling, guilt-inducer, I've decided to stay away from...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottMay 32 minWho Are You?Do you know your character? I mean, really know them? Whether you're a writer creating a character, or an actor becoming one, get to know...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottApr 262 minThe Offensive LineA few years ago, the late Gilbert Gottfried, the King of the "Too Soon" joke, tweeted: "Somebody once said 'Tragedy plus time equals...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottApr 191 minBe Afraid. Be Very Afraid.I was watching Succession on HBO the other night, and marveling at the wonderful writing and performing of the various characters. If you...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottApr 124 minLearning to Coverfly?BlackList. InkTip. ScriptRevolution. GreenlightMyMovie. ISA. Coverfly. Should you use these? Are they a waste of money? Just a waste of...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottApr 53 minIt's All About the BenjaminsSometimes you gotta spend money, and sometimes you don't. I heard once that the majority of money made in photography is the money made...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottMar 291 minRules Shmules?Use "INT" and "EXT" at the beginning of all slug lines. Don't use times of day at the end of your slug lines. Don't use "Cut To:" These...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottMar 222 minWhen to LaunchWere you the kid in high school who proofed your essays before you handed them in? Or were you the kid who got the period in at the end...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottMar 151 minBut I'm Too BusyDo you have children, a full time job, and no childcare? Do you care for an ailing parent and coach three Little League teams? Are you...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottMar 81 minHow Do I Get an Agent?Perhaps the question instead should be "What do I have to offer an agent?" So many artists are seeking an agent as if an agent is going...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottMar 12 minUninspired YouHow can you write when you're feeling totally uninspired? Lack of inspiration is not a medical condition, or something psychologically...
Caroline Gordon-ElliottFeb 231 minStuck in Act IIIf you're feeling stuck in the middle of Act II, like you're unsure where to take your protagonist next, go back to your outline (though...