Writer/Producer Thomas Schnauz (Breaking Bad, The X-Files, Better Call Saul) shares how to come up with stories for TV and gives advice for screenwriters.
00:00 -Tom Schnauz Backstory
01:32 -What Tom learned from working on ‘The X-Files’
02:16 -The biggest industry changes since Tom started writing TV
04:11 - Breaking story with index cards
06:57 - What is a ‘beat’ in screenwriting
07:47 - Breaking a season’s story
10:16 - Getting into your characters’ headspaces
11:52 - Writing your way out of corners
13:33 - How does an idea become a card on the board?
15:11 - Coming up with tense scenes as a group
16:54 - The elements of a good scene
18:11 - Making “filler scenes” interesting
19:01 - Moving from a fully-carded episode to a script
19:52 - Tom’s writing routine
20:44 - Dealing with writer’s block
21:45 - What should happen in Act 1 of your script?
22:23 - The value of writers taking acting classes
23:41 - Tom’s influences
25:21 - Tom’s parting words of wisdom
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