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Allen James Roughton is the Stage 32 Script Services Coordinator, a screenwriter, reader and development researcher who has consulted on over 100 projects, scripts, books, comics and films and conducted research on life stories, exposés, professions and locations for development at major production companies. Full Bio »
There's a fine line between introducing a writer to a new world or ruleset and spouting exposition. We’ll break down how writers created the fantasy world of “Game of Thrones”, the frigid winter of WIND RIVER, the digital dystopia of THE MATRIX, and the 1919 England of "Peaky Blinders".




The Breakdown
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We’re back in the Writers’ Room for the Breakdown with Erin Conley. We breakdown produced screenplays focusing on a different aspect of writing every webcast. Join us as Producer/Writer Erin Conley breaks down her second season episode of SHADOW AND BONE.
Oscar-nominated POOR THINGS has been taking the award season hype by storm. Written by Tony McNamara and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, it is a bizarre wonder of a film starring Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo and Ramy Youssef. This film has captivated audiences and gotten the critics talking. Join us on Wednesday March 6 as our Stage 32 Executive Liaison Nick Phillips breaks down the script of POOR THINGS. We'll learn how this wacky weird movie has entered into pop culture and why the script works so brilliantly.
Love is in the air in the Writers' Room! We are kicking off a brand new month this week with the Breakdown Webcast: Writing Romantic Comedies! Jason was speaking with a Senior Vice President of Development at an A-List production company who said, "Every studio executive is asking me for Rom Coms!" If you look at recent trends, it is clear they are on a come back. We will break down the beats of a Romantic Comedy so that you as a writer approach writing without falling into the trap of tired cliches. We will also explore how to take the storytelling conventions and turn them on their head. We will examine films and series including When Harry Met Sally, 500 Days of Summer, The Apartment, Knocked Up, What Women Want and more to find out what makes these projects work and how we can apply those same principles to our writing!
We're back in the Writers Room this afternoon for The Breakdown Webcast with Matt Ember! Matt Ember is a writer/producer who has worked on over 20 feature films and television shows including THE CONNERS on ABC, THE WAR WITH GRANDPA with Robert Deniro, GET SMART with Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway and FAILURE TO LAUNCH with Matthew McConaghey and Sarah Jessica Parker and many more.
We’re back in the Writers’ Room for the Breakdown with Lauren Schuker Blum & Rebecca Angelo breaking down DUMB MONEY: THE GAMESTOP SAGA! This is a unique adaptation so join us as Lauren and Rebecca breakdown their script!
Remember that every line of dialogue matters, every image has a purpose, and there are no wasted bullets in the gun! We're kicking off another month of a packed Writers' Room schedule with the Breakdown Webcast: Exposition as Ammunition! Many writers struggle with how to get out critical information and backstory to the audience in an organic way. So during this webcast, we discuss how to get the audience the information they need without a lecture they don't want. During this webcast we'll discuss different ways of getting out information in a way that feels organic to the narrative and the characters. We examine some of the best - and worst - examples from film and television!