How to Test Story Ideas, the Auteur Trap, & Train Dreams' Nostalgic Cinematography

[No Film School]

February 23, 2026 Hey Stu, Welcome back! Want to know what’s new on No Film School? Check out our top craft stories of the week. 🖋️ Screenwriting 8 Tests to Know If Your Idea Is Worth Writing A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Credit: HBO Who doesn’t love the excitement of having a new idea? It could all start with a concept, a premise, or a character, but there are a ton of ways to come at it. Maybe you imagine a kooky character and decide to send them on an adventure. Maybe you just want to write in a specific genre. Whatever your path, it's an exciting time in your writing. But many would tell you not to just open your screenwriting software and take off. Do you have enough story to get you to around 100 pages? Are you excited enough to spend potentially several months on this idea? There are several tests you need to put your idea through to know if it’s good enough to write. Continue Reading - 8 Tests to Know If Your Idea Is Worth Writing 🗞️ Quick Reads for Screenwriting Paul Thomas Anderson Opens Up About His Writing Process - The auteur says sometimes it’s easy and sometimes it's very hard. 6 Things Great Screenwriters Know About Dialogue - Stop treating dialogue as information delivery and start using it as action. The TV Showrunner Glossary - What are some terms showrunners know that you should, too? 🎬 Directing The Dangerous Trap of Trying to Be an Auteur Filmmaker 'Ed Wood' Credit: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution If you want your films to have a "soul," but if you spend all your time trying to be an Auteur, you might forget to be a storyteller. Engaging with Auteur Theory shouldn't feel like filling out a checklist of quirks. It’s about developing a perspective so clear that the audience can "hear" your voice through the visuals or through what you put on the page. Let’s dive in. Continue Reading - The Dangerous Trap of Trying to Be an Auteur Filmmaker 🗞️ Quick Reads for Directing Which Directors Became Cinematic Adjectives? - These directors are their own definitions. Your Voice is Your Currency: Kevin Smith’s Call to Unfiltered Creativity - Your point of view is so valuable.  🎥 Cinematography ​How ‘Train Dreams’ Achieved Its Nostalgic Cinematography With DP Adolpho Veloso 'Train Dreams' Credit: Netflix Noted for its passionate storytelling, historical accuracy, and keen eye for finding the beauty of the American Pacific Northwest, the cinematography of Train Dreams is one of the reasons that the film has found such critical success. To learn a bit more about the cinematography and which cameras and lenses were used for the project, ZEISS has put out a fun interview with Veloso that goes over how he brought this beautiful film to life. Continue Reading - How ‘Train Dreams’ Achieved Its Nostalgic Cinematography With DP Adolpho Veloso 🎙️ Podcast ​‘Send Help’ Producer Zainab Azizi’s Studio Filmmaking Playbook 'Send Help' Credit: 20th Century Studios In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, producer Zainab Azizi joins GG Hawkins to break down her journey from agency mailroom to president of Raimi Productions and producing studio features like Send Help. Azizi shares how she develops original ideas, packages talent, protects projects through shifting studio mandates, and leads with a collaborative producing style. She also discusses mentoring female producers, balancing creative and financial realities in modern filmmaking, and why theatrical success for original films still matters. Continue Reading - ‘Send Help’ Producer Zainab Azizi’s Studio Filmmaking Playbook 📚 Recommended Reads: The Dark Trope Where the Mentor Becomes the Final Threat Stories of the guru vs. the disciple. What Is a “Button” in Screenwriting? Closing the curtains in storytelling. 5 Powerful Screenwriting Lessons from Joachim Trier What we can take away from the Oscar-nominated Sentimental Value. 7 Best Red Herrings In Movies That Masterfully Outsmarted Audiences These movies perfected misdirection. 9 Pixar Quotes That Quietly Raised a Generation These Pixar quotes made our childhood fun and insightful. Explore more articles → Visit No Film School 🎬 Never Miss an Update! Subscribe Now Want the latest filmmaking news, industry insights, and indie success stories delivered straight to your inbox? 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive tips and resources: 👉 Sign up here 🎙️ Check out the No Film School Podcast for gear updates, trending film topics, and interviews with some of the biggest names in the industry. 🎥 Keep learning, keep creating. Visit No Film School for daily updates, expert guides, and in-depth tutorials. 📢 Join the conversation on social media and connect with fellow filmmakers: Instagram | Twitter/X | YouTube | Facebook See you next time with more filmmaking goodness! 🎬   Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2026 No Film School 8605 Santa Monica Blvd PMB 39920 West Hollywood, CA 90069, United States Terms of Service