7 BEST YOUTUBE CHANNELS FOR SCREENWRITERS +1
1. JUST WRITE - https://www.youtube.com/user/mythicalsage/videos
Just Write’s videos are short essays on films and genre or specific elements of filmmaking and screenwriting. There is a series entitled “Writing Lessons” which focuses specifically on the screenplay and what may be learned from specific films but don’t stop there.
Genre episodes and even critiques provide in depth analysis for writers to benefit from. Just Write has a variety of topics from “The Genius of South Korean Reality TV” to “Who is the Best Screenwriter of All Time”.
But the “Writing Lessons” are a growing encyclopedia of great analysis and lessons for screenwriters
Favorite Video:
Bad Writing: The Rise of Skywalker is the Most Frustrating JJ Abrams Film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD5mLw0A8vI
2. NERDWRITER1 - https://www.youtube.com/user/Nerdwriter1/videos
The videos on Nerdwriter run a spectrum of topics but many of them focus on film and the cinematic arts. Why is this useful to screenwriters? It’s the questions he poses on cinema and filmmaking and how he tries to answer them that is useful to screenwriters. If you watch his videos it may spur you to think of how you visualize your own writing. How will you write that scene and get across the exact visualization you wanted? Well, check how someone did it in one of your favorite films on Nerdwriter.
His videos are worth more than a class on film theory and the same goes for Cinema Cartography below…
Favorite Video:
How Alfred Hitchcock Blocks a Scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgnNakO6JZw
3. THE CINEMA CARTOGRAPHY – formerly Criswell & Art Regard -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL5kBJmBUVFLYBDiSiK1VDw/videos
This channel appeared to be dead with no new content in a year, but only recently revived with an Andrei Tarkovsky Retrospective deep dive and we couldn’t be happier they are back.
This is the film theory class of your dreams. From the film breakdown of Apocalypse Now to the masterful shots composition of Ozu to emotion in animation and Cowboy Bebop, Cinema Cartography does a masterful job of breaking down theory and analysis with wonderful editing and voice over.
Our only wish is that they were making more.
Favorite Video:
The Social Network – Designing Dialogue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxOECOtYeZc
4. LESSONS FROM THE SCREENPLAY - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCErSSa3CaP_GJxmFpdjG9Jw/videos
Probably the most directly applicable to screenwriters, Lessons from the Screenplay breaks down specific aspects of films that exhibit a strong example of one element in a screenplay.
Breaking down the elements of screenplay through films that are great examples of that specific element, this Youtube collection may be a one stop shop for research when you are having a difficult time with your story. Need to understand the Midpoint more – theres a video. Need to know how to write exposition in action – there’s a video. Need to understand how to create character empathy – well, there’s a few videos.
Favorite Video:
Collateral – The Midpoint Collision
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0QMxzEVuDI&t=77s
5. EVERY FRAME A PAINTING - https://www.youtube.com/c/everyframeapainting/videos
Another channel on the level of The Cinema Cartography that also seems to have ended their production. Its too bad as it is one of the best set of video essays on cinema we’ve found but what they have left us is a gold mine. You may rethink how you approach your writing and creating a visual image through the written word after watching these videos. At the very least, seeing other elements of filmmaking will raise your awareness of how others may execute what you write.
Favorite Video:
Akira Kurosawa – Composing Movement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doaQC-S8de8
6. THE CRITICAL DRINKER - https://www.youtube.com/user/jacktaylor1983/videos
This one is NSFW so put your headphones on and enjoy the drunken reviews and breakdowns of the Critical Drinker. What makes the Drinker great is that he is a very active alcoholic who produces very up to date content.
His videos do plot breakdowns and story analysis while remaining true to character and having a bit of fun. Granted, he is partial to 80s action and sci-fi but then who isn’t.
Favorite Video:
The Drinker Recommends – Predator
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hYE_N4HTco
7. NOW YOU SEE IT - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL--PgETgAz5FGoatB9KQzbnpv0bgZqU2l
Now You See It is a media analysis channel that searches for meaning in unexpected places. This channel breaks down elements of film and other media to its simplest forms with an explanation of how it is done but also why it is done this way.
This is a very unique channel in that rather than just providing the “how” it answers the “why”. Understand why elements of screenwriting are done a certain way may help lead a writer to greater creative breakthroughs.
Favorite Video:
How to do a Cold Open
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tl8z7LFO3c
And the +1 —
8. SCREEN RANT -
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL--PgETgAz5FGoatB9KQzbnpv0bgZqU2l
This is a comedy channel about film and specifically Hollywood but the reason we have this on our list is for one particular playlist - Super Easy, Barely An Inconvenience – Screen Rant Pitch Meetings.
Every writer knows what pitch meetings are and most dread them. But what Screen Rant does here is take the pitch meeting and pitch a movie in a way that shows how all its story logic breaks down. This is a great lesson in making sure the story logic in your screenplay works. Find your favorite or not so favorite films and see how they fare.
Favorite Video:
Game of Thrones Season 8 Pitch Meetings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAhKOV3nImQ&list=PL--PgETgAz5FGoatB9KQzbnpv0bgZqU2l&index=28
What are your favorites?