Neal Howard

Neal Howard: Produced, veteran industry writer, director and producer for TV and film. Longtime Writers Guild member.

Credits include writing staff & scripts as well as contributing writer for popular shows Coach, King of Queens, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Law & Order. Pilots, series and writing assignments for NBC, ABC, CBS, Universal, SONY, Regency and Spelling. Studio screenplay options include an historical drama Surfmen and the romantic comedy Then Again.

Currently partnering with prominent Korean director Yun-Hong-Min (Impossible Heir, Insider, Missing, Longing Heart, Touch) for a new series based on my 2021 offbeat indie comedy about love and obsession…Bad Cupid…starring John Rhys Davies (streaming on Amazon and other platforms).

Developing multiple TV and film projects for production while teaching scriptwriting (details below) and continuing my work as a nationally recognized trial consultant. My storytelling segued from the writers’ room to the courtroom after playing a pivotal role in the prosecution of the KKK members convicted in the infamous Birmingham Church Bombing case and the Mississippi Burning murders.

Prior to Hollywood, I spent many successful years in advertising as an award-winning copywriter (Cannes, Clio, Communication Arts, One Show) and creative director.

Scriptwriting Teaching Details Follow. (Anyone interested in working with me on their scripts can message me on Stage 32)

The name of my scriptwriting program is The About - the Heart of Effective Scriptwriting for Film &Television

When someone asks what your script is about the usual answer is expressed as a pitch, a logline or a synopsis. If you're actually in the process of writing your script though, none of those responses are right,

When you’re writing, “the about” is the intellectual and emotional heart of your script, its point of view and its truth. This applies to the story, the characters and you the author. Without it, without a firm grasp of it, your script cannot hope to succeed. Consequently, as a writer with serious aspirations, you’ll miss your chance to make a mark with agents, producers, directors, investors and audiences.

“The about” is the single most fundamental and indispensable facet of effective scriptwriting for film & television.

Structure, beats, plot, settings, characters, dialogue, actions, conflict, beginnings, climaxes, endings…none of them matter unless they are consistently informed by “the about”. All of those elements, as important as they are, only exist to serve “the about”.

Because it can be difficult to define and more so to articulate, “the about” is often overlooked in scriptwriting books, courses and seminars. Much more than a theme, “the about” is often intangible, even to successful writers…but that doesn’t lessen its vital necessity.

“The about” is a script’s creative wellspring and compass, effectively informing every step of the writing process. It is the most vital tool a writer has for making and evaluating creative choices.

I developed the The About scriptwriting program to:
• Help aspiring writers understand the critical importance of this foundational creative concept.
• Provide essential and practical guidance for crafting a script for creative and professional success.
• Teach writers how everything in a well-written script relates to “the about’.
• Demonstrate a superior, efficient and more focused means to both plan & execute a creative and professional script.

Crafting Your Script from the Content Up

What separates The About from other scriptwriting courses is its unique approach to crafting a script from the content up. Whereas most other teaching resources emphasize structure, format and technique, I concentrate on content…of which “the about” is the foundation.

Content is key to creative and professional success. It is only content that makes a script truly compelling. My program also contends with structure, format and technique but “the about” and subsequent script content is stressed above all else.

Ongoing One-On-One Help on Your Script

General lessons on scriptwriting can be valuable, but what about your idea or your script in particular? Can you afford another course that doesn’t provide ongoing individual and specific help on your project? The About is dedicated to just that…providing individual attention to your script through completion.

The About is designed to:
• Teach by example using your script pages.
• Apply instruction to a new script either one you’d like to start, have recently begun or one you’re already working on.
• Work one-on-one on your script content.
• Set your script on a significantly more creative and professional path.

The Real Deal

Understanding “the about” and employing its principles helped me become a creative professional working in Hollywood. Having started out just like most of you, with no industry connections, but with a willingness to learn and a keen understanding of “the about”, I was able to break into the entertainment business. I’d like to share with you what worked for me and what I’ve observed is the heart of all successful scripts.