20 Screenwriting Tips from Phoebe Waller-Bridge on how she wrote Fleabag and Killing Eve

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Phoebe Waller-Bridge (born 14 July 1985) is an English actress, screenwriter, comedian and television producer. She is best known as the creator, screenplay writer, and star of the BBC situation comedy series Fleabag (2016-2019), which was based on her play of the same name. She was showrunner, head writer and executive producer for the first series of Killing Eve (2018-present). Both Fleabag and Killing Eve are highly acclaimed and have been named among the 100 greatest television series of the 21st century by The Guardian. Time magazine named Phoebe Waller Bridge as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.
1. Start with writing funny and interesting things that happened in your life and then weave them into a dramatic story.
2. Disarm the audience with comedy, then punch them in the gut with drama.
3. Sometimes you have to go looking for inspiration by going far away from what you’re writing.
4. Create sympathetic antagonists and imperfect heroes.
5. Teach your characters what you’re trying to teach yourself.
6. If your writing feels dangerously truthful, you’re going in the right direction.
7. You’re allowed to bore your friends and family, but to bore your audience is unforgivable.
8. Build a lot of humanity within your character if their attitude seems dismissive on the outside.
9. Surprise the audience in a truthful way.
10. Material first, jokes first, character first. Structure second.
11. Add as much complexity to your character as you can.
12. Create an environment in your writer’s room where there is room for failure without embarrassment.
13. Take the audience on a journey.
14. Leave it open for interpretation, even if you have your own idea of what a certain element in your story means or symbolizes.
15. Write a relatable protagonist with whom audiences can identify with, no matter who they are.
16. Drama and comedy are intrinsically linked. The trick is to find the right balance between the two.
17. Relate deeply to the character.
18. Your protagonist doesn’t have to be chasing after something, they can be running away from something.
19. Don't ask the audience to like the character, invite them to try and understand the character.
20. Whenever you get stuck on something, ask yourself, ‘What would you do and write if you weren't afraid.’
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#PhoebeWallerBridge #Screenwriting #Fleabag #Screenwriter

[@JG-kk1mr]

she is so talented. fleabag is perfect television from beginning to end.

[@mohammedkhadeer9887]

I love listening to her, she is one of my fav screenwriters.

[@elaynerc]

I love everything about this woman.

[@catrein4687]

This channel is gold. Thank you for your work!

[@OutstandingScreenplays]

💟💯✅🙌

[@sorrybabyx]

She's so inspiring!! Thank you for the video :)

[@fionakida]

Yes. All the yeses, so glad to see this come up!!

[@AuntieAnnWtt]

this is such a wonderful video thank you

[@Travel-nr7uz]

Thnx for subtitles ❤️❤️❤️

[@smym793]

Great work on the video! I just had a random question. What is the name of the song at the end of your Hitchcock video when Hitchcock is explaining what happiness means to him? this song starts at @11:22. if you could tell me what song that is or what music that is specifically, that would be great. Keep up the great work!

[@sherekhan90]

Could you link the video here?

[@smym793]

@@sherekhan90 ruclips.net/video/zTB9vEC2YGA/видео.html

[@ML-yw4hv]

Thank you for this.

[@karenmink865]

"I write about women who don't give a "S".. because I'm teaching myself how to be one !!!

[@introgeek5278]

Got here first. I wish to be as good a writer as PWB

[@FerasWithAcam]

My English isn’t very good, could someone please tell me what she said at 2:30 ? Something about godfather?

[@franteik4419]

Films Godfarher I and II

[@landonbolts7650]

She’s awesome

[@Iris-CreativePro]

Seems like tip #19 is missing

[@MalcolmSheppard]

1) Be posh.
2) Don't not be posh.

[@davedbaveda]

She is so brilliant that her greatest legacy is now the person who destroyed the Indianna Jones legacy.

[@nirmalts4378]

There was only 19 tips, not 20. 😋😁

[@ThinWhiteDude]

It's like getting child-care tips from Jimmy Saville...