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Using Gemini for Script Notes, Pixar CCO Talks ‘Elio’, & the Shot 'Sinners' Lost

Using Gemini for Script Notes, Pixar CCO Talks ‘Elio’, & the Shot 'Sinners' Lost

Hey Filmmakers,

Glad you’re back! Let’s take a look at this week’s top craft stories in screenwriting, directing, and cinematography.

First up—now that some of the biggest script notes companies have closed their doors for good, writers are increasingly using AI for coverage. Regardless of where you fall on the “is AI good or bad for artists” spectrum, we go over how some are using Google Gemini to find weak areas in their screenplays.

Also, we talk with a director who turned her vertical web series into her feature film debut, as well as the CCO of Pixar to learn about Elio’s creative process. Finally, take a gander at the incredible shot that didn’t make it into the final cut of Sinners.

Let’s get to it!

🖌️ Screenwriting

'AI: Artificial Intelligence' Credit: Dreamworks

Screenwriters, development executives, and amateur wordsmiths are increasingly turning to the powerful large language model for screenplay coverage.

The reason is that it's really cheap and it's instant. This shift is sparking a vibrant debate about the role of artificial intelligence in a field long defined by human creativity and intuition.

You cannot replace human taste in the process, but with fewer and fewer screenplay coverage services existing, consumers are desperate.

Let's unpack this issue and the prompts.

🗞️ Quick Reads for Screenwriting

 A Giant List of Power Verbs For Screenwriters - Supercharge your writing with these powerful, action words.

300+ Descriptive Words to Help You Write More Vivid Characters - Need help bringing more life to your characters? This massive list of adjectives will definitely help!

Read Some of the Best Two-Hander Screenplays - Our resident screenwriter explains how ripped from the headlines stories can sometimes backfire.

🎬 Directing

'Keily: Homecoming Dweeb' Credit: CandyJar

Sometimes, the ticket to making your first feature is thinking outside the box or expanding it. Say, into 9x16?

Emily Elizabeth Thomas is a genre filmmaker whose work explores womanhood, trauma, and resiliency. Through a unique blend of "girl and grit" and a punk rock sensibility, she challenges traditional notions of femininity and seeks to empower women and girls to recognize their own strength and magic.

We got the chance to sit down with her to talk about her feature film debut, Keily: Homecoming Dweeb, as well as her past web series.

🎥 Cinematography

'Sinners' Credit: Warner Bros.

Ryan Coogler's Sinners has been the hottest movie of this year, shattering box office records and being at the top of everyone’s mind for months. From the Irish music to the Juke Joint dance scene, everything in this movie has been examined — in fact, you know a movie’s good when even the stuff that didn’t make it past the cutting room floor is a topic of conversation!

Fandango tweeted out some special features that come with the Sinners digital download, one of which is a deleted scene where Delroy Lindo sings, and we get a beautiful split diopter shot.

If you’re a fan of Sinners, you gotta take a look!

🎙️ Podcast

'Elio' Credit: Disney

This week on the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins sits down with Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer at Pixar Animation Studios and the visionary behind films like Monsters, Inc., Up, Inside Out, and Soul. The conversation dives deep into the creative process behind Pixar’s latest original feature, Elio, and how Pixar’s iterative storytelling model has evolved over the years.

Pete shares actionable insights on how filmmakers, whether working at a major studio or independently, can embrace change, vulnerability, and creative discovery to build resonant stories.

📚 Recommended Reads:

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