THE SCRIBBLERS TOOLBOX

"An ever-expanding collection of tips, tools, observations, and topical ephemera for my fellow scribblers to peruse, apply, disseminate, or disregard."

Jesse Alexander

Scene & Sequel
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Scene & Sequel

Scene and sequel structure is the blueprint, the GPS of your story. It keeps your narrative engine revving, pacing on point, and audience on seat edge.

Read More
Berserker by Berserker
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Berserker by Berserker

Whatever project you tackle, breaking it into bits and pieces is a tried-and-true way to get ‘er done.

Read More
Fail Faster
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Fail Faster

Not only is AI helping many creative disciplines work more efficiently, it’s creating more time for iteration and adding the elements of our work that are uniquely human.

Read More
Priority Pages
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Priority Pages

When it comes to screenwriting, the opening pages of your script are way more than just a warm-up. They're like the front door to your story, the audition tape, the chance to hook your readers and reel them in.

Read More
Blog to Book
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Blog to Book

I've taken the first year of posts from Scribbler's Toolbox and turned them into a book that's now up on Amazon. I used this amazing tool called Kindle Create.

Read More
“Quality scripts on time.”
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

“Quality scripts on time.”

"Quality scripts on time." was the guiding light of our writing room. It summed up exactly what our job was about—cranking out top-notch scribbles while constantly racing against network deadlines.

Read More
Movies about Movies
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Movies about Movies

My scribbler’s journey wasn't just about making Super-8 movies or hitting up schools like TISCH and AFI. It was heavily shaped by flicks about the craft itself and candid insights from director commentaries on DVDs.

Read More
Feedback is your Friend
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Feedback is your Friend

As you're grinding on those latest drafts and story sessions, bring more voices into the mix. Get hyped about getting outside takes.

Read More
Get your reps in!
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Get your reps in!

Sometimes scribbling is not just about quality, but scribbling a whole freakin' lot.

Read More
Fan Fiction
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Fan Fiction

Fanfiction is about taking the characters, settings, and plots that we know and love from our favorite TV shows, movies, or video games, and putting our own spin on them.

Read More
Visionaries & Operators
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Visionaries & Operators

I’ve noticed many similarities between launching a new TV show and starting a tech company. Both require money, teams that work well together, and a leader to define the goals and culture of the endeavor.

Read More
World Building Bureaucracies!
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

World Building Bureaucracies!

Epic tales and ancestral feats are cool, but let’s talk about the frameworks that let other creative minds run wild.

Read More
Film School
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Film School

My son is heading off to a rad film school called SCAD. This got me thinking about my journey from traditional film school to the wild world of professional filmmaking.

Read More
Prompt Dictation
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Prompt Dictation

I've whipped up a bunch of questions that get down to the metal of what makes a scene or character work. They’re based on all the stuff I’ve scribbled in the blog.

Read More
Public Domain Images
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Public Domain Images

Let’s explore some treasure troves of free-to-use images to fuel your creative endeavors.

Read More
Bolly/Tolly Script Structure
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Bolly/Tolly Script Structure

Unlike the predictable path of their Western counterparts, Indian action flicks weave genres, traditions, and narratives that dance on the wizened face of ye olde three-act structure.

Read More
Stream Surfing for Scribblers
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Stream Surfing for Scribblers

Let’s check into business class and take flight into the world of scribbling with an eye on that vast, interconnected global audience.

Read More
Public Domain
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

Public Domain

When looking for inspiration, consider the treasure trove of public-domain material. It's like having a Fast Pass to some of the greatest and most beloved tales ever told.

Read More
I designed a Wargame with my AI pal.
Jesse Alexander Jesse Alexander

I designed a Wargame with my AI pal.

A tabletop miniature wargame set in a 2060 Earth transformed by climate upheaval. Deploy to a dynamic world of elite special forces operatives on a future Earth reshaped by mega-storms, rising seas, dissolved nation-states, and new realms of power.

Read More