From One Town to the World: How to Write Universally
In today’s hyperconnected world, a screenplay doesn’t just speak to one country—it can echo across continents. Thanks to global streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime, and Disney+, your story could be watched in Tokyo, Buenos Aires, and Oslo on the same day. But writing for a worldwide audience raises a question: How do you go global without watering down your voice?
Speak Local, Think Universal
The biggest mistake screenwriters make when aiming for global reach is trying to be “everything to everyone.” Instead, write from a specific truth. Universal stories are often born from deeply personal places. Think of Parasite, Roma, or Minari. These films are rich in local detail but resonate across cultures because they tap into universal themes: inequality, family, survival.
Avoid Cultural Flatness
When you erase cultural nuance in the name of relatability, your story loses depth. Respect your culture, context, and roots. Audiences are smarter than we give them credit for. Subtitles don’t scare them—blandness does. A powerful story rooted in a specific world is more engaging than one that’s diluted to be “international.”
Strategic Clarity
Writing globally doesn’t mean dumbing things down—but it does mean being intentional. Clarify references that won’t travel, streamline jokes that are too local, and ensure emotional clarity in every key scene. This isn’t compromise—it’s craft. Good writing always considers the reader (and viewer), whether they’re in your neighborhood or halfway around the world.
Build Characters, Not Stereotypes
Global appeal comes from authenticity, not clichés. If you’re including different cultures, do the work: research deeply, listen closely, and avoid flattening characters into tropes. Diversity on screen should feel earned, lived, and believable.
A Screenwriter’s North Star
Global storytelling isn’t about simplification—it’s about amplification. When your voice is clear, your theme is strong, and your characters are honest, your story travels farther. Don’t chase the global market—write your truth so clearly that it finds its own way around the world.
