Alex D. Reid
Alex is a professional screenwriter who loves writing horror. He won the horror category at Austin Film Festival for his screenplay Delirium in 2019 and is currently studying for a Ph.D in English Literature with a focus on the horror genre
Articles by Alex D. Reid
Business
6 MINS READ / August 4, 2023
How to Include Diversity In Your Script
In an Ever Changing World, It's Important That Screenwriters Keep Up With The Times
Story
7 MINS READ / June 16, 2023
Solving the Mystery of What Is Film Noir?
Film Noir is one the Most Interesting and Dark Genres But What Is It and How Can You Utilize It In Your Writing?
Business
6 MINS READ / May 19, 2023
Get Ready for These Blockbusters Coming in 2023
There are Some Epic Films Coming Out This Year, Let's Dive In.
Breakdowns
6 MINS READ / April 25, 2023
Yellow Stone Breakdown
Let's Breakdown the Plot of Yellowstone and How It Can Help Us Plot Our Screenplays
Breakdowns
5 MINS READ / April 19, 2023
Knives Out Breakdown
Let's Interrogate this Agatha Christie Inspired Mystery Staring Daniel Craig
Story
5 MINS READ / April 6, 2023
What Makes a Great TV Show?
Let's examine the elements of a great TV Show and how you can replicate that in your work
Breakdowns
7 MINS READ / March 23, 2023
Breaking Down Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction Has a Narrative Structure That is Unconventional: Let's Explore What That Means.
Breakdowns
7 MINS READ / March 16, 2023
Breaking Down The Godfather
Let's Deconstruct One of the Greatest Crime Dramas of All Times Using the Save the Cat Framework
Breakdowns
6 MINS READ / February 23, 2023
Breaking Down Beaky Blinders
Let's Break Down the First Episode of BBC's Epic Drama Peaky Blinders
Breakdowns
5 MINS READ / February 7, 2023
Breaking Down Jaws Using Save the Cat
Let's Breakdown one of the Most Iconic Horror Films of All Time Using Save the Cat
Breakdowns
8 MINS READ / January 12, 2023
Breaking Down the Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring Using the Three Act Structure
Breaking Down The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Using the Three Act Structure
Breakdowns
7 MINS READ / January 10, 2023
Breaking Down Stranger Things Pilot
Let's break down the plot of Netflix's Stranger Things
Breakdowns
10 MINS READ / December 29, 2022
Breaking Down Citizen Kane Using Save the Cat
Citizen Kane Is Considered One Of The Greatest Films of All Time. Let's Break it Down to See Why
Breakdowns
10 MINS READ / December 6, 2022
Breaking Down The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby is One of Baz Luhrmann's Greatest Dilms. But What Makes it So Great? Let's Break it Down.
Breakdowns
8 MINS READ / November 29, 2022
Breaking Down The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Into Three Acts
The pilot episode of The Marvellous Mrs Maisel can be broken down into a three act structure
Breakdowns
5 MIN READ / September 20, 2022
Film Breakdown: Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan is one of the greatest films of all time. So, what can we learn from breaking it down into scenes and beats?
Breakdowns
5 MIN READ / September 8, 2022
Inglorious Basterds Beat Breakdown
Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds is widely considered one of the best fictional war films, let’s break down the structure and see what makes it so great.
Breakdowns
7 MIN READ / September 6, 2022
Get Out: Screenplay Breakdown
Get Out is widely considered one of the best and controversial modern horror films, let’s break down the structure and see what makes it so great.
Breakdowns
10 MIN READ / July 26, 2022
Screenplay Breakdown: Interstellar Explained
We break down and explain the plot of Interstellar and investigate why this film was a cutting-edge blockbuster.
Story
7 MIN READ / May 30, 2022
Top 10 Best Horror Films for Screenwriters
Are you a screenwriter looking to dip your toe into horror? Check out our top 10 best picks for horror films that will inspire your writing.
Character Development
10MIN READ / May 24, 2022
What Is Catharsis in Film?
If you want to write a great screenplay, you need to know how to create an emotional connection with your audience. Catharsis is one way you can achieve this.
Character Development
7MIN READ / May 24, 2022
How To Write Character Backstories & Why They Are Important
Every person on Earth has a backstory and characters in a screenplay are no different. If you want your story to be remarkable, you need to learn how to write compelling character backstories.
Character Development
6 MIN READ / May 11, 2022
What Are Stock Characters?
Stock characters don’t have to be flat. They can do much more than fade into the background of your screenplay.
Formatting
4 MIN READ / May 5, 2022
What Are Parentheticals?
Parentheticals are small, but crucial components in your screenplay. Learn how to use them correctly.
Business
4MIN READ / April 5, 2022
Best Screenplays To Read in Every Genre
Read the best screenplay examples from every genre and improve your craft.
Formatting
5MIN READ / March 16, 2022
Difference Between Feature Films vs. Short Films
What’s the difference between feature film and short films? The answer may surprise you.
Business
4MIN READ / March 16, 2022
6 Best Screenwriting Podcasts
Read about some of the very best screenwriting podcasts available that have something to offer for everyone, from rookies to professionals.
Business
6 MIN READ / February 25, 2022
Top 10 Best Screenwriters of All Time
These are the top ten best screenwriters that every emerging screenwriter needs to know in order to improve their own craft.
Productivity
7 MIN READ / February 1, 2022
How To Write Every Day: Develop Daily Writing Habits
Do you want to finish your script but keep getting stuck? Check out these tips for learning how to write everyday by developing daily writing habits.
Business
8 MIN READ / January 13, 2022
The 20 Best Original Screenplays of All Time
To help bolster your screenwriting skills, check out these 20 best original screenplays of all time.
Story
6 MIN READ / December 27, 2021
How To Come Up With Short Film Ideas
Feeling like you have no good ideas? We'll help you get unstuck with our tips on how to come up short film ideas that rock.
Technique
6 MIN READ / December 20, 2021
How To Break the Fourth Wall
Learn what breaking the fourth wall means, how to use it when you're writing a screenplay, and some of the best and funniest uses in film and TV.
Technique
6 MIN READ / December 17, 2021
What Is Situational Irony?
What is situational irony? How is it different from other kinds of irony? What it does to help your story? Learn all of this and more!
Formatting
6 MIN READ / December 6, 2021
How To Write a Screenplay: The Basics
Ready to write a screenplay but not sure how to get started? We've outlined the basics for you to excel with your first draft.
Technique
9 MIN READ / June 9, 2021
20 Screenwriting Terms Every Writer Needs To Know
Understanding the jargon helps you become a better writer. Here are 20 screenwriting terms every writer needs to know.
Character Development
5 MIN READ / May 28, 2021
How To Write a Cathartic Character Arc
Learn how to write a compelling character arc that ties together plot and theme into a cathartic conclusion that will make a strong impression on a reader.
Story
9 MIN READ / April 21, 2021
How Does Emmy-Winning Writer Craig Mazin Structure a Story?
Learn how Craig Mazin, one of the most popular screenwriters working today, structures his stories through theme.
Story
9 MIN READ / March 18, 2021
Plot Point Breakdown: ‘Promising Young Woman’
Come and see how one of this year’s best screenplays works through every major plot point, from opening shot to the dramatic finale.
Formatting
6 MIN READ / March 3, 2021
The Screenwriter’s Guide to Page One
Learn how to perfect the most important page of your screenplay: page one.
Productivity
6 MIN READ / February 18, 2021
10 Ways to Come Up With Screenwriting Ideas
Need ideas for your screenplays? Here's how to generate great screenwriting ideas.
Formatting
8 MIN READ / January 11, 2021
Should Your Story be a Feature, a TV Pilot, or a Short Film?
Before writing your screenplay, you have to decide: Feature, TV Pilot, or short film? Here's how.
Productivity
7 MIN READ / December 11, 2020
How to Write a Second Draft
Learn how to begin writing the second draft of your script by cutting ruthlessly, finding what’s truly important about your script, and implementing notes.
![Save The Cat – An Overview [+ Free Template]](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/93ldtxic/production/d141cf96875813d0c3f68c29fc0a1ba6d86f7410-990x558.jpg?w=1600&auto=format)
Story
10 MIN READ / November 27, 2020
Save The Cat – An Overview [+ Free Template]
Learn about Blake Snyder’s "Save the Cat," and how it helps screenwriters.
Productivity
8 MIN READ / November 13, 2020
7 Screenwriting Tools That Boost Productivity
Learn about a variety of screenwriting tools tailor made to boost your daily productivity alongside a list of our carefully selected recommendations to get you started.
Productivity
8 MIN READ / October 30, 2020
Becoming a Productive Screenwriter in 8 Steps
Discover the immediate and actionable steps to boost your screenwriting productivity to new heights while keeping stress levels to an absolute minimum.
Productivity
10 MIN READ / October 23, 2020
Managing Time as a Screenwriter
Get to grips with how to manage your time as a writer by setting specific goals, planning out when you are going to write, and how to write efficiently.
Character Development
8 MIN READ / October 16, 2020
The 5 Main Types of Movie Characters
Learn about the 5 main types of movie characters in a screenplay, how they work, and how to use them so that your story is the best it possibly can be.
Formatting
6 MIN READ / October 2, 2020
The Perfect Screenplay Title Page
Learn about the essential elements of a successful screenplay title page and the use of images and profound quotes to stand out from the crowd.
Story
9 MIN READ / September 18, 2020
How to Write Exposition
Learn how to write entertaining, seamless, and compact exposition that takes your script to the next level.
Character Development
11 MIN READ / August 28, 2020
Writing Secondary Characters
Learn about different types of secondary characters, how to avoid common pitfalls, and what benefits they can bring to your script.
Story
8 MIN READ / July 31, 2020
How to End a Story
Learn how to draw your screenplay to a satisfying close and leave your reader with a glowing impression of your storytelling skills.
Formatting
11 MIN READ / July 17, 2020
How to Outline a Script: 3 Common Methods
Learn how to navigate the complex world of outlining your screenplay with three key methods ranging from planning through to pantsing.
Story
7 MIN READ / June 26, 2020
Exploring the Cold Open
Learn what makes a great dramatic and comedic cold open that will grab your audience’s attention and engage them in the rest of your story.
Business
14 MIN READ / June 5, 2020
Screenwriting Jobs: A Complete Guide
Alex D. Reid lays out the different kinds of screenwriting jobs, how to get them, and how the entrepreneurial emerging writer is only one step away from breaking in.
Productivity
7 MIN READ / May 15, 2020
What Can Screenwriters Learn From Other Mediums?
Mediums other than movies such as video games, music or theater can be powerful tools to find inspiration for your screenplay. Don’t let them on the side!
Story
7 MIN READ / April 9, 2020
The First Ten Pages of Your Script
Alex D. Reid explores the well-worn adage in screenwriting that the first ten pages of your screenplay make or break your chance of thrilling your audience.
Story
7 MIN READ / March 19, 2020
Anatomy of a Scare: How to Write Horror
Alex D. Reid writes about the pacing and structure of scares as well as the sub genres your horror script might fit into.
