10 Screenwriting and Story Tips from Robert McKee

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Robert McKee is a Screenwriting Guru and Story consultant who is known for his "Story Seminar", which he developed when he was a professor at the University of Southern California. Robert McKee is the author of Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting, Dialogue: the Art of Verbal Action for Stage, Page and Screen, Storynomics: Story-Driven Marketing in the Post-Advertising World and Character: The Art of Role and Cast Design for Page, Stage, and Screen.
1. Your protagonist needs to be the one who takes the decision that brings about the climactic action.
2. Set yourself creative limitations because they will inspire you and help you with your writing
3. You reveal a character’s hidden nature by putting them under pressure.
4. Desire in your character is key.
5. Create a physical picture of a character in your mind, then take them with you wherever you go to discover what kind of desire they have.
6. Draw the audience in with empathy and curiosity, and let them indirectly gather exposition as they go along, rather than overwhelming them with it.
7. You can do whatever you want in your screenplay, as long as you make sure it works and you know why you’re doing it.
8. Create dimensionality in characters by building consistent contradictions within them.
9. When you don't know what to write about, ask yourself what your favorite movies are and why they are your favorite.
10. Character payoffs should always be emotional unless you have a special reason.
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[@SoCreate]

So many great tips. Tip #4 is a great one to remember when it often gets looked over and can add so much.

[@ImaginaryShadows1]

I read two of his books. Great screenwriter teacher.

[@Crimson28]

I thought Brian Cox was in the thumbnail pic. His casting as Robert in Adaptation was perfect 😂

[@OutstandingScreenplays]

It was indeed Outstanding casting! ✅💯😁

[@Evanderj]

Robert McKee actually chose the casting of Brian Cox.
His requisites to be in Adaptation were to choose who played him, to have a redemptive scene, and to help Kauffman actually make the story good.

[@moniquedurant2289]

I love the tips about putting my character under pressure, and that his desire must be implied, not explicitly stated. This is pure gold.

[@fionakida]

Clicked on this so fast - as always, thank you for these!

[@user-uz7dm6qn3y]

Now I understand the difficulties faced in writing a memoir. It is the most restrictive of the genres.

[@ComicPower]

I think a lot of writers forget that basic question. What does the lead character want? Answering that question writes your plot.

[@canaisyoung3601]

I actually have a copy of Story (it was one of my textbooks when I was in film school). I need to get Character and Dialogue to complete the set.

[@jellestarremans5990]

Again a great video. I'm learning a lot from this channel. You have also done a few novel-writers. Like George R.R. Martin, Stephen King and J.K. Rowling. Maybe you can do a Brandon Sanderson video?
Thanks for making this helpfull videos.

[@jamesmrproducefordjr6555]

Am Listening

[@moviepoint4217]

Good content... Keep it up for us

[@thereccher8746]

I really wish horror writers would listen to this and understand how important rules and limitations are. I'm so tired of unbeatable antagonists that can do anything, yet for some reason they wallow about for two hours only so the movie can happen.

[@eseoghenetv]

❤❤

[@gianthills]

If these gurus had all the answers , they'd be writing selling screenplays every week. They make money on talking about writing, not writing. Not to say they're not experts on the concepts. They are, but the creative process is beyond definition.

[@MaximilianonMars]

Some of them have a good degree of success selling their screenplays, but it's not like a bakery where you churn out 100 donuts and know there will be 100 hungry people who want them.
Sometimes what's in your heart to write won't have an audience in the market of that era. A stable income teaching the craft seems like a very sensible choice.

[@gianthills]

@@MaximilianonMars wrong. None of the gurus sell.

[@ScoobyandShaggy5554]

Cherry pick the good and spit out the bad.

[@bibhuranjandutta470]

Screenwriting lessons from Casablanca

[@bskravivarman]

Mel Gibson Tips? Plz?