Desk of Amy Suto

TV writer who eats danger for breakfast

Writing in Hollywood: Should Men Tell Women’s Stories?

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Back in the day, I wrote a guide for men on how to write female characters.

In a nutshell: like human beings. Complex, flawed, whole. Strong — but also weak. A spectrum, just like male characters have been written about for decades in film and television.

However, even though men should portray female characters as complex in their writing — should men elect to tell stories that are told from the female perspective, about the female experience? As storytellers, what should our responsibilities be when telling stories that are not our own experiences? [Read more…]

How to Work with a Writing Partner (and not murder each other!)

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It’s a Friday and I’m going to meet up with another writer at his office like I do almost every Friday, mainly because I want to steal all of the butterscotch from the reception candy bowl (I’m not twelve, I promise you). I’m carrying a container of the very real, very ridiculous pizza flavored nuts brand Dee’s Nuts — I kid you not — that is integral to our plot. Okay, maybe not integral but like there is a sophisticated, layered inside joke throughout the script about this container of nuts and our main character just happens to be nicknamed Dee (like I said, I’m not twelve.)

We’re working on a pilot that, if you’ve had drinks with me in the past three months, you’ve probably heard me pitch to you in the same breathless tone of voice that I get when I describe why I love Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. (But don’t talk to me about any of the sequels. Just don’t.)

I’ve written some of my favorite projects with others: Jen Enfield-Kane and I wrote and were co-showrunners on CON at USC. Noah Suarez-Sikes and I have had a litany of never-produced yet incredibly lovely writing projects that we’ve worked on together (and hopefully will have another soon!) I’m working with Sandy Valles (an actress known for her role in CON oh and also QUEEN OF THE SOUTH) on a pitch based on an awesome idea her and her brother came up with.

I love television writing in part because of how collaborative it is: you get to play make-believe with other talented creatives. Together, you make something cool that people will hopefully turn into GIFs and needlessly complex Fanfiction for years to come.

However, this doesn’t mean that the writing process is a dream. Writing with a partner or in a television room means there are a lot of different perspectives and approaches to story — which can be great at certain times and a roadblocks at others!

So if you’re starting in a television writers’ room or are about to embark on writing a script with a writing partner, here are some things you should keep in mind so that you get along with other creatives and homicide stays on the page:  [Read more…]

Working in Hollywood and the Cost of Ambition

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37th College Television Emmys at the Skirball Cultural Center on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
37th College Television Emmys at the Skirball Cultural Center on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)

In a whirlwind two months, I graduated from USC with a degree in screenwriting, won some shiny things from USC and from the Television Academy for the series I wrote and created, started full-time as an assistant to an awesome TV lit agent at Verve, and made some incredible new friends.

college television emmys television foundationYet not everything survived the transition into the real world, and I ended yet another relationship that crumbled in the face of my long hours and steadfast dedication to my career. It’s no secret that the path to becoming a TV writer is a long road that requires both the fortitude and portfolio to succeed in a sea of overqualified candidates, and while I’m in it for the long haul, sometimes the people I date see my love for my work as a limitation instead of a key part of who I am. [Read more…]

4 Ways to Find the Emotional Core of Your Story

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Emotional authenticity is the difference between a derivative genre flick and an Oscar winning film that moves audiences to tears. Think of your absolute favorite movie and why you love it.

The Matrix is mine, and the reason I love it so much is not simply because of the rich sci-fi world the Wachowskis created, but because Neo’s journey is so captivating. How would you react when everyone builds you up to be “The One,” only to be told by the wise Oracle that you’re not? Neo chooses to ignore the Oracle and create his own path, and

When it comes to selling your scripts, the most powerful weapon you have is being able to make your audience feel something. Emotion will get you where structuring and formatting and perfect grammar alone cannot. That’s why today’s post is all about finding ways to connect with the emotional core of your story!

Step One: Why This Story?

Why these characters, and this situation? What drove you to capture this particular story?

In essence, what is your story really about?

My spy thriller The One We Left Behind was really about my main character’s journey of self-discovery. Boy Meets Assassin is about the conflict between my character’s work life and his love life. The Last Prodigy is about responsibility. Love Letters from the Dance Floor came from my newfound love of ballroom dancing, but was really about how we connect with others both on and off the dance floor.

Step Two: What Inspired You?

What was the core piece of inspiration that lead you to an idea?

It could be a movie you love, a short story you read, a new hobby, or a conversation you overheard.

The Last Prodigy was inspired in part by this photo I took on vacation in Hawaii:

[Read more…]

For Men: How to Write Female Characters

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This post was originally intended to be a satirical comment on the state of female characters in screenplays written by men.

But, ironically enough, after talking to a handful of male screenwriters, I realized that there is a legitimate, long-standing issue amongst male writers when it comes to writing female characters.

I say this without judgment: some male writers just don’t know how to write female characters. Which is why I’m here to help! [Read more…]