Author Archives: heidihornbacher

About heidihornbacher

A graduate of UCLA’s screenwriting program, Heidi has written numerous features, treatments, and TV pilots for various independent producers. She’s judged for the Slamdance Film Festival screenwriting contest and co-founded the Slamdance Script Clinic. She and her husband founded PageCraft Writing in 2008 offering script coaching and writing retreats in LA and Italy. Her clients have gone on to find representation, win contests, and become working writers. Heidi has written, directed, and produced numerous commercials, music videos, and electronic press kits for various artists. She’s currently making a documentary film about British artist Paul Whitehead.

Soap for My Mom

I’m probably 8 or 9. Traveling with dad on his annual IXRDA conference. I think Hilton Head or maybe Lake of the Ozarks, this one. One morning in our musty room with its quilted polyester bedspreads I free from its … Continue reading

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Guidelines for a New Year

I’ve spent the last year learning hard lessons and getting my creative house in order. 2021 was a slow and painful but hopeful process of taking steps to honor myself and my work, to exit negative situations, and to learn … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

LUCA and the Missing Stakes

As lovers of all things Italy, we naturally couldn’t wait to see the new Disney Pixar animated feature, Luca, set in a fictionalized version of Cinque Terre’s Riomaggiore on the Ligurian coast. The film is a sort of updated mash-up of The … Continue reading

Posted in Coach Notes, Common Mistakes, Film, film making, Italy, PageCraft Writing, Screenwriting | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Central Line: Giri/Haji

One of my favorite concepts we discuss in our rewrite workshops is the central line. I challenge writers to find a line of dialog in their script that reveals who the protagonist is. Sometimes they are surprised to discover these … Continue reading

Posted in Coach Notes, Film, PageCraft Writing, Screenwriting, television, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Queen’s Gambit: The Narrative Power of a Strong Character Arc

As we sat engrossed by the last episode of the marvelous Netflix limited series, The Queen’s Gambit, it hit me that one of the (many) reasons it succeeds is the strong character arc of protagonist Beth. Sure, the solid source material, … Continue reading

Posted in Coach Notes, Film, film making, PageCraft, PageCraft Writing, Screenwriting, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Scene Transitions: A Secret Weapon for Story Momentum

You may already know the fundamental ways of increasing momentum and tension in your script: get into scenes late and get out early; craft scenes around your protagonist’s pursuit of a goal; hold onto your central mystery as long as … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Motif! Adding Depth To Your Script With Key Details

You’re feeling good about your latest script draft. You’ve crafted a strong story structure and compelling character arcs. But there’s something missing that you can’t put your finger on. A little je ne sais quoi. Threading in a motif–a recurring thematic … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Perfume

When I first saw this film starring a breaking out Ben Wishaw, I was duly intoxicated. Perfume: The Story of A Murderer was adapted from the 1985 novel in 2006. As the years have passed, it’s remained in my memory … Continue reading

Posted in Film, PageCraft, PageCraft Writing, Screenwriting, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Consistent Character

One thing I talk about with writers is the importance of doing background development work on your characters. This helps ensure they behave consistently throughout your story, run by the fears, hopes, and dreams that shaped them. As the story … Continue reading

Posted in Coach Notes, PageCraft, PageCraft Writing, Screenwriting, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ford v Ferrari and Character Desperation

I have always been a car girl. In my childhood bedroom there was nary a Barbie or baby doll in sight, but I had a killer collection of Hot Wheels. As an adult, I consider the 1965 AC Shelby Cobra … Continue reading

Posted in Coach Notes, film making, PageCraft, PageCraft Writing, Screenwriting, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment