Uninflected
Write screenplays that show, not tell
Train yourself to think visually. Master the fundamental power of juxtaposed images.
Start writingOne shot per line
Force yourself to think in concrete, visual terms. Each shot is a distinct moment.
Simple, direct writing
Describe only what's on screen. No camera directions, no prose. Just what we see.
It's all about the cut
Cinema works through juxtaposition. Two images placed together create meaning in the viewer's mind.
Your script is the blueprint
Not a novel. Not instructions for actors. A clear, visual plan for what appears on screen.
The power of the blink
Humans are constantly editing their own experience. We blink when we turn our heads, cutting out the motion blur. We focus on where our eyes rest. This is how cinema works at its most powerful.
Your brain is a pattern-recognising machine. Use that to your advantage. Juxtapose two shots and invite the viewer to make connections. That's where storytelling happens.