Screenwriters Talk Screenwriting

Want to write a funny comedy sketch but aren't sure where to start?

In this episode of Screenwriters Talk Screenwriting, Jordan Imiola breaks down how to write sketch comedy, from finding one clear premise to creating memorable characters and building jokes that keep escalating.

We look at what makes some of the most memorable comedy sketches work, with examples from Saturday Night Live, Key & Peele, Monty Python, Abbott and Costello, and more.

You'll learn how to:

• Find the comedic game of your sketch
• Create one strong premise and stick with it
• Get to the jokes quickly
• Create memorable characters with strong attitudes
• Use comic opposites and comedic conflict
• Escalate your jokes instead of repeating the same beat
• Use catchphrases without relying on them
• Write character sketches, celebrity parodies, and commercial parodies
• Brainstorm sketch ideas you can actually write and produce

Whether you're writing your first comedy sketch, creating funny videos for YouTube, or looking to improve your comedy writing, this episode will help you turn a funny idea into a finished sketch.

✍️ Want to keep writing? Join the Screenwriting Success Club for screenwriting courses, live meetings, writing challenges, a community of writers, and more:
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🎬 Want to make your own comedy? Join Make Your Own Movies for filmmaking courses, challenges, and a community of creators:
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🎙️ Screenwriters Talk Screenwriting
Hosted by Jordan Imiola

#SketchComedy #ComedyWriting #Screenwriting #SNL #ScreenwritersTalkScreenwriting

Want to write a movie but aren't sure how to structure your screenplay from beginning to end?

In this screenwriting lesson, Jordan Imiola breaks down how to write a movie step by step, from the opening scene and inciting incident through Act 2, the midpoint, lowest point, climax, and final scene.

You'll learn how to:

🎬 Hook the audience with your opening scene
✍️ Write an inciting incident that changes everything
🎥 Break into Act 2 and keep your story moving
🔥 Use the midpoint to raise the stakes
📉 Build an effective lowest point and turning point
🏆 Craft an Act 3 and climax that satisfies the audience

Whether you're writing your first screenplay or your tenth, use these story structure techniques to turn your movie idea into a finished script.

Want more screenwriting help, live meetings, accountability, and lessons on how to sell your scripts?

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Want to actually make your movie or series? Join Make Your Own Movies for screenwriting, directing, phone filmmaking, producing, and more:
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Want personalized feedback on your screenplay? Book 1-on-1 screenwriting coaching:
https://screenwritingcoaching.com

🎬 Have you ever wondered why your screenplay might not be getting interest from managers or production companies?

After reviewing thousands of screenplays and coaching writers for more than 17 years, I've noticed the same mistakes appear over and over again in early drafts and from new screenwriters. In this episode of Screenwriters Talk Screenwriting, I break down the 10 biggest screenwriting mistakes beginners make.

Whether you're writing your first screenplay or polishing your latest draft, these screenwriting tips will help you write stronger characters, tighter scenes, sharper dialogue, and a more professional screenplay.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ Why your screenplay should be fun to read

✅ Why relying on AI can hurt your writing

✅ How to write a professional action description

✅ Why present tense matters

✅ How to avoid on-the-nose dialogue

✅ Better ways to handle exposition and backstory

✅ Why "Show, Don't Tell" is one of the most important screenwriting principles

✅ Common screenplay formatting mistakes

✅ Why your first 10 pages matter so much

✅ Why shorter screenplays often have an advantage

If you're serious about improving your writing and creating scripts that stand out to producers, managers, contests, and readers, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply immediately.

Don't just write. Finish.

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Want to write funnier screenplays, sitcoms, or comedy films?

In this episode of Screenwriters Talk Screenwriting, award-winning screenwriter and producer Jordan Imiola shares his Top 10 Comedy Writing Tips using examples from classic sitcoms, produced films, and his own projects, including AARON AND ABBY'S ADVENTURES and LOVE AT FIRST SPITE.

Whether you're writing your first screenplay or polishing your tenth draft, these comedy writing techniques can help you create stronger characters, bigger laughs, and more memorable scenes.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why surprise is one of the most important tools in comedy
• How to write jokes that stand the test of time
• Why specificity makes scenes funnier
• How conflict creates comedy
• Common comedy writing mistakes to avoid
• And much more

Jordan Imiola is an award-winning screenwriter, producer, and screenwriting coach with more than 35 produced writing projects to his credit. His work includes the feature film LOVE AT FIRST SPITE, the sitcom Aaron and Abby's Adventures, Romantically Hopeless, Monster Therapy, and Sports TV.

Need help with your screenplay?

Join the Screenwriting Success Club:
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Watch Aaron and Abby's Adventures:
https://www.youtube.com/FunnyBuffalo

Subscribe for more interviews, screenwriting tips, filmmaking advice, and behind-the-scenes stories from working writers and filmmakers.

How do you ACTUALLY make a movie from start to finish?

In this special Screenwriters Talk Screenwriting episode, award-winning screenwriter Jordan Imiola is joined by LOVE AT FIRST SPITE director David Wingert and co-writer/actress/producer Marisa Dzintars for a full behind-the-scenes conversation about the complete process of making an indie feature film — from the original screenplay and early TV pilot version to production, post-production, editing, collaboration, distribution, and release.

Whether you're trying to write your first screenplay, direct a movie, produce an indie film, or simply understand how feature films really get made, this episode breaks down the REAL filmmaking process step-by-step.

Topics include:
🎬 Writing the screenplay
📺 Turning a TV pilot into a feature film
🎥 Directing & producing an indie movie
✍️ Rewriting during production
🎭 Working with actors
🤝 Building a filmmaking team
🎞️ Editing & post-production
📺 Film distribution & streaming
🔥 Lessons learned making a feature film

🎞️ LOVE AT FIRST SPITE is now streaming commercial-free on Amazon and also available on Tubi, Roku, and more streaming platforms!

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Subscribe to Screenwriters Talk Screenwriting for more interviews, filmmaking discussions, and screenwriting conversations every week.

Join the Make a Short Film in 21 Days Challenge here 👉 https://www.skool.com/screenwriting-1697/about

If you’ve been saying, “I want to make a short film someday,” Make that someday this June.

🎬Inside the Screenwriting Success Club, we’re doing a

💪 Make a Short Film in 21 Days Challenge

You’ll have 21 days (which is more than enough time) to create a short film from start to finish.

You must be a Premium member to participate👉 JOIN THE PREMIUM PLAN HERE:🔥 https://www.skool.com/screenwriting-1697/plans

What does a TV showrunner actually do and what does it really take to run a television show. In this episode, working TV writers and showrunners share the best showrunning advice they have learned while creating and running TV series.

You will hear insights on how showrunners protect story and creative instincts, how writers rooms actually function, why story matters more than jokes, how character arcs are planned across seasons, and what it is like working on major franchises like Marvel, network television, and comedy series.

This episode features advice from writers and creators behind shows like On Call, King of the Hill, Jane the Virgin, Loki, Cobra Kai, Saturday Night Live, Frasier, and more, along with showrunning lessons learned along the way.

🎬 Watch full interviews and showrunning courses inside the Screenwriting Success Club
https://www.skool.com/screenwriting-1697/about

The Screenwriting Success Club is a community for new and professional writers where you can watch full interviews with TV showrunners, take on demand TV writing and showrunning courses, join live Zoom writing sessions, and finally finish your scripts with accountability and support.

Writing is easier and more fun when you are not doing it alone. Join the Screenwriting Success Club today.

Join the Make a Short Film in 21 Days Challenge here 👉 https://www.skool.com/screenwriting-1697/plansIf you’ve been saying “I want to make a short film someday” —make that someday this February. 🎬Inside the Screenwriting Success Club, we’re doing a💪 Make a Short Film in 21 Days Challenge 💪📅 February 12 – March 5You’ll have 21 days (which is more than enough time) to create a short film from start to finish.🎯 IMPORTANT: You must be a Premium member to participate👉👉👉 JOIN THE PREMIUM PLAN HERE:🔥 https://www.skool.com/screenwriting-1697/plans🎥 Film Requirements (Only 3!)To keep this fun, creative, and doable, there are only three rules:Max 3 charactersMax 3 locationsOne character must be named MaxYour film can be:⏱️ 10 seconds to 10 minutes🎭 Made with real actors, AI, or both📱 Can totally be filmed on your phone (I made my last 6 short films on an iPhone) and I'll be going over this in our first meeting.🧠 Weekly Support (Optional)We’ll be hosting optional weekly Zoom check-ins every Thursday, covering:Writing the script & pre-productionProductionPost-productionSo you’re never stuck wondering what to do next.🏆 Winner Gets:A trophyA custom Screenwriting Success Club fidget spinnerAND at our final meeting, I’ll show everyone how to get the winning film on IMDb — live, in real timeIf you’re ready to stop watching films made by other people and actually make one yourself,Join the Screenwriting Success Club and make a short film in 21 days or less.👉 Join the Premium Plan:🔥 https://www.skool.com/screenwriting-1697/plans🔥👉 Want to learn more about the club first?https://www.skool.com/screenwriting-1697/about

In this episode, we break down how to write a logline that actually sells your screenplay — to producers, managers, agents, contests, and pitch rooms.This video is pulled from a live group meeting inside the Screenwriting Success Club, where writers learn how to write, finish, and sell their scripts.🏆 Join the Screenwriting Success Club on Skool👉 https://www.skool.com/screenwriting-1697/about

Whether you’re writing a feature film, TV pilot, short film, or preparing for contests and fellowships, your logline is often the first — and only — thing people read. This episode will help you make it count.In this video and the SSC, You’ll learn:✅ What a logline really is (and what it’s NOT)✅ Why you should aim for 30 words or less✅ How comedy loglines can sell a script✅ How to brainstorm loglines to find the one that works✅ A simple method to get feedback from other writers✅ Why streaming platforms change your logline (sometimes for better, sometimes worse)If you’re serious about screenwriting and don’t want to sit on unfinished scripts for years, join the Screenwriting Succeess Club on Skool at 👉 https://www.skool.com/screenwriting-1697/aboutWith the Screenwriting Success Club, you can attend group meetings, get courses, interviews with working writers, and a community of screenwriters actually finishing scripts.Want just the Sell a Screeplay Course without the community? Find that @ https://jordanimiola.thinkific.com/courses/sell-a-screenplayTAKE other Screenwriting Courses @ https://jordanimiola.thinkific.com/ Get 1-on-1 Screenwriting Coaching @ https://www.screenwritingcoaching.comSubscribe for more Screenwriters Talk Screenwriting 🎉#screenwriting #loglines #sellingscreenplays #filmmaking #screenwritertips

The Grateful 10 Episode — Screenwriters Talk Screenwriting (2025)

In this special gratitude-themed episode, screenwriters and actors reflect on the creative wins, unexpected breakthroughs, and personal growth that shaped their year. The entertainment industry can be unpredictable—long waits, stalled momentum, sudden surprises—but today we’re focusing on the moments that made it all worthwhile.

Featuring:
Gloria Garayua, Gloria Tsai, Elena Dizon, and Jordan Imiola

Whether you’re a working writer or just beginning your screenwriting journey, these stories of gratitude, resilience, and artistic evolution will inspire you to appreciate your own creative path.

In This Episode:

• Creative breakthroughs and new acting/writing opportunities

• Lessons that reshaped careers

• Finished scripts and projects (big and small!)

• Collaborations, friendships, and community support

• And so much more we're grateful for this year

Join us for a heartwarming and motivational conversation about the joys—and the journey—of being a storyteller.