ON THE BLOG
One Word That Can Make or Break Your Project: the Subject.
January 6th 2026
Without a clear subject and a strong, distinctive, contemporary point of view, a project is unlikely to convince a selection committee.
The subject is the reason your film exists.
Before diving into dramatic structure or character arcs, take the time to identify your subject — the question, theme, or tension you genuinely want to explore. Choose something that excites you, irritates you, amuses you, or challenges you.
The more your subject resonates with today’s world, the stronger its impact. Not only artistically, but strategically.
Because in the end, it’s all about audiences: getting people into theatres and in front of their screens. Selection committees are sensitive to this. They respond to projects that speak to what audiences recognise, experience, and care about.
One thing to remember before you start writing:
subject, subject, subject.
Life Thrives on Contrasts — What About Your Project?
January 7th 2026.
In music, counterpoint is the art of combining two distinct melodies to create harmony.
In storytelling, the same principle applies: placing opposing elements side by side often creates far more impact than a straightforward approach.
👉 A classic example is a violent scene set against soft, gentle music. Rather than pulling the audience out of the story, this contrast amplifies emotion by introducing discomfort and tension — as seen in A Clockwork Orange or Reservoir Dogs.
But dramatic counterpoint goes far beyond image and music.
It can come from:
light or humorous dialogue in a tragic situation,
a peaceful, idyllic setting for a violent act,
or an innocent character thrown into a brutal world.
Why does it work?
Because dramatic counterpoint surprises, unsettles, and disrupts expectations — and that’s what makes a scene stick with an audience.
✍️ A note for screenwriters: when writing a powerful scene, ask yourself whether it might be stronger with counterpoint rather than an “expected” choice.
A Summer of Shorts.
January 7th 2026.
Last summer, I set out to watch as many short films as possible.
Short films are often overlooked, treated as secondary to feature cinema. And yet, after watching around fifty of them, something became clear. While each film remained distinct, recurring patterns began to emerge.
I’d like to share a few of these observations here — and, in some cases, invite you to draw on them in your own work:
• A strong, compelling subject is essential, often rooted in a contemporary social issue.
• The film’s genre DNA needs to be immediately clear, both on the page and on screen.
• Stories gain strength when they are grounded in a clearly defined setting, whether urban or rural.
• Plot turns should surprise and challenge the viewer. A short film should never feel static or predictable. Short does not mean uneventful — nor does it mean that nothing unexpected can happen.
• The main character must generate instant empathy, even when leaning toward the darker side.
• Symbolism is often overrated. On its own, it rarely makes a film work. It can add a layer, a final touch — but strong storytelling remains the key.
Among the short films I enjoyed the most were The Phone Call, An Irish Goodbye, and Whiplash.
Writing the unseen character.
January 7th 2026.
Do you know what we call the unseen character? Despite their absence, they can be one of the most powerful figures in a story.
In storytelling, an unseen character is someone who is frequently mentioned but never appears on screen. Their dramatic power lies precisely in that absence: the more they are mentioned, the more their presence becomes obsessive, mysterious, and structurally essential to the story.
In theatre writing, think of Godot in Waiting for Godot or Tartuffe in Tartuffe.
In literature and film, Kurtz in Heart of Darkness — and its adaptation Apocalypse Now — remains unseen until the very end, after a long, carefully built wait.
In television, Marlis, the never-seen wife in Columbo, is constantly mentioned yet never shown, becoming almost a character in her own right.
Using an unseen character is a powerful way to establish lasting suspense from the very beginning of a story. Keep it in mind in your next writing projects.