Video: 10 Screenwriting Tips from Edgar Wright

Reflections on the craft from the writer of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, The World’s End, and Baby Driver.

Another excellent compilation of observations about screenwriting from Outstanding Screenplays: Edgar Wright whose screenwriting credits include Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, The World’s End, Ant-Man, and Baby Driver.

1. Aim to recapture the thrills that you felt watching your favorite films at the cinema.

2. Writing that comes from your heart will always turn out better than what you think you ought to write about.

3. Be methodical about plotting out your screenplay. You need a clear idea of where you’re heading so you don’t get lost or bored along the way.

4. Keep “creatively procrastinating” by researching until your treatment document starts turning into a screenplay.

5. Use genre films like a Trojan horse. Sneak in bigger ideas into films that seem superficial at first.

6. Comedy comes out of character. If your character’s voice and their strengths and weaknesses are well defined, comedy will naturally emerge from them.

7. In this day and age, where all of the tools to get your films seen are at your disposal, but also at the disposal of your competitors, it is time to focus on being your most unique self to stand out with your film.

8. Having affection for the genre is what will make people take your genre film seriously and not mistake it for a parody.

9. Put a different part of yourself into each character in your screenplay.

10. When co-writing, someone needs to be the bad cop and negotiate how much time you can spend in the writing room if the good cop spends too much time joking and playing around with ideas.

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