‘Blue Moon’ Screenwriter Robert Kaplow on His First Oscar Nomination, and Why Ethan Hawke Deserves to Win On the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Kaplow says Ethan Hawke deserves to win best actor.

“Blue Moon” is getting serious awards attention, and it’s a reminder that character-driven scripts still cut through. Not spectacle. Not IP. Just writing and performance.

variety.com/2026/film/aw...

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Nightcrawler is a masterclass in building a character arc that descends instead of redeems, forming a protagonist who gets worse, but prospers. The script never apologizes, and it doesn’t rely on a virtuous supporting cast to soften the blow, either.

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AI keeps creeping closer to the creative process. Currently, studios frame it as a “tool”, while writers keep asking who owns the work and who gets replaced when “tool” becomes “default.”

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The Bear is a must watch because it shows how sustained pressure can replace traditional plot without losing momentum. No exposition dumps. No breathing room. Just characters making decisions because they have to.

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No Country for Old Men (2007) Recommended because it’s pure cause and effect. Choices are made, consequences follow, and the story refuses to intervene. A sharp lesson in tension through restraint and inevitability. #screenwriting #screenwriter

Writers Guild Awards Nominations: ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,’ ‘Weapons,’ ‘Bugonia,’ ‘Frankenstein’ Among Nominees Awards season faves 'One Battle After Another,' 'Sinners,' 'Marty Supreme' and 'Hamnet' are also up for awards in the adapted and original screenplay categories.

WGA Awards nominations are out.
Strong showing for Sinners, Weapons, Black Bag, One Battle After Another, and Frankenstein.

www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

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Conflict Is Not Argument or Violence | ScriptSerious Conflict is not raised voices or opposing opinions. It is the presence of incompatible objectives that cannot be resolved without loss.

Conflict in stories isn’t about yelling, arguments, or violence. It’s about incompatible objectives that force real loss and change. True conflict reshapes a scene, alters direction, and leaves lasting consequence. scriptserious.com/conflict-is-...
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Little Chick - Emerging Writers Scheme Website of independent company Little Chick, from Emmy and BAFTA winning screenwriter and playwright Abi Morgan and Dorcas Morgan.

Little Chick Emerging Writers Scheme
TV drama programme for writers with at least one credit. Includes a 5-day retreat + 6 months of development with Abi Morgan & Sue Gibbs.
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Your Predictions, Fears, Hopes for Hollywood 2026: ‘Find Your Way to Stick It Out’ Writers, directors and execs (Amazon, CBS, Warner Bros.) share hard-earned advice and candid takes on what the industry needs and must shed to move forward

This is definitely worth reading if you are curious about the direction Hollywood is headed in this year. Lots of candid takes on salaries, AI’s impact, and what actually needs to stay behind.

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Study Tár if you struggle with dialogue. Nothing in it is “about” what people say. It’s about power. Yet, Lydia rarely raises her voice. She frames conversations so other people reveal themselves while she stays protected.

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The Women’s List Unveils 2025 Scripts List Finalists, Spotlighting Unproduced Screenplays “We want this list to land on every desk in town — from producers and showrunners to actors and agents."

The Women’s List 2025 is out, highlighting 38 unproduced feature and TV scripts written by women across all genres. A solid snapshot of what new voices are working on right now.

www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

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Oscars: Full List of Nominations 'Sinners' leads the nominees with a record-breaking 16 mentions.

The 2026 Oscar nominations are out.
The full list was announced today, with Sinners leading the field with a record-tying number of nominations. www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

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Streamers are quietly pushing for tighter episodes and leaner runtimes. Writers rooms are also being asked to break seasons like long features instead of padded serials. Therefore, your pilot and series engine have to work harder and faster. #screenwriting #screenwriter

Why is dialogue in today’s television and film unbearable? There has been a drastic shift in the quality of screenwriting in the past few years. Whenever I bring myself to tune into the latest hit show or critically-acclaimed movie, it ends with me switching...

This piece argues modern scripts lean toward fake-smart speech or blunt plot delivery. The result is characters who explain instead of express, killing subtext, rhythm, and the sense that real humans are talking.

commonwealthtimes.org/2026/01/21/w...

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Sinners becomes first film in history to earn 16 Oscar nominations Ryan Coogler’s ghost story breaks records as One Battle After Another trails in second with 13 nods and Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value and Frankenstein trail with nine apiece

Ryan Coogler’s vampire film Sinners just made Oscars history with 16 nominations, the most ever for a single movie. It’s a win for bold, original storytelling in an era dominated by sequels and franchises
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WGA warns of Paramount-WBD merger ‘disaster,’ vows to fight any deal The Writers Guild of America has said a merger of Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery would be a

The WGA says a Warner Bros–Paramount merger would be a “disaster” for writers and competition, and plans to fight it with regulators. Studio consolidation means fewer buyers and less leverage for script talent.

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French film bodies and the CNC just agreed on a landmark deal setting minimum fees and better pay for screenwriters before production starts. A rare structural win creators can point to globally.

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All the President’s Men (1976) proves tension comes from cause and effect, not spectacle. Questions, choices, consequences. That’s how scenes earn momentum and impact.

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The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri explains why characters drive story, not plot. Egri’s concept forces every scene to prove something through conflict and choice. If your story feels structurally fine but emotionally hollow, this book shows you why. #screenwriting

Exposition Is a Structural Problem, Not a Writing One | ScriptSerious Exposition fails not because writers cannot hide information, but because the story has not created a situation where that information must be exchanged to survive the scene.

Exposition isn’t a dialogue problem. It’s a structural problem.
If info doesn’t change what characters want or do, it will always feel dead.
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Make films shorter if you want them shown in cinemas, says Picturehouse director Clare Binns says three-hour runtimes deter audiences as she is named Bafta recipient for outstanding British contribution to cinema

Cinemas are echoing what consistent script reading already showed us. Heavy genres land best around 100 pages. Comedy and romance closer to 90. Longer doesn’t mean deeper. It usually means less precise.

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Most scripts don’t fail because the idea is weak. They fail on execution. Drifting structure, passive characters, scenes that don’t change anything. Good writing isn’t adding more. It’s sharpening what’s already there.

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Scripts Worth Reading isn’t about hype or hits.

It’s a curated list of screenplays worth studying for craft, clarity, and execution on the page.

Built as a reference, not content.

ScriptSerious

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Sentimental Value triumphs at European Film Awards Norwegian director Joachim Trier's drama about a father and daughter has won six categories including best film at...

Sentimental Value picked up multiple wins at the European Film Awards, including Best Screenplay, continuing its momentum this awards season.

www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/915520...

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Brit List 2025 Unveiled: Welsh Hiking Horror Comedy Tops List of Unproduced Film, TV Scripts Blake Ritson, known for portraying Oscar Van Rijn in 'The Gilded Age,' and his brother Dylan follow with their 'P.O.V,' set in "a dystopian world where state-issued glasses control everyone’s outlook...

The Brit List 2025 has been released, spotlighting unproduced UK film and TV scripts.

Lists aren’t roadmaps, but they do show what’s landing on the page before production enters the picture.

www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

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Pilar Alessandra is hosting an online session on rewrite techniques for TV and film. No motivation talk, just practical approaches.

Rewriting is where good scripts are actually made.

northernirelandscreen.co.uk/news/new-onl...

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This year’s Black List is out. Proof that scripts can circulate, generate conversation, and build momentum purely on the strength of the writing.

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Paul Thomas Anderson Reveals Origin of ‘One Battle After Another’ Script’s NSFW Line at Golden Globes Anderson referred to writers as "magpies" while collecting the prize for best screenplay at Sunday's ceremony.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest screenplay recognition is a reminder that clarity, theme and character still matter more than spectacle. His scripts work because every scene knows exactly why it exists.

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ScriptSerious Weekly Watch: Michael Clayton (2007)
Recommended because it introduces character through professional behavior, not backstory. A strong reference for writing morally compromised protagonists without leaning on exposition.

These interviews with Australian writers moving from stage to screen dismantle the “big break” myth. In a tighter market, access comes through adaptable craft and professional relationships, not big leaps.

www.artshub.com.au/news/feature...

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