how to write contemporary drama

So much dramatic tension is achieved by having characters not be able to communicate with each other - think of the ending of Romeo and Juliet, for instance, which would be impossible without a miscarried message - that we have the critically important question, how do you employ this tension in a world where all the characters carry cell phones?

And the answer is, have them put the phones on vibrate and leave them on the other side of the room. Voila, the return of the missed urgent phone call.

- This piece of dramatic advice courtesy of the third season of Orphan Black, which does it a lot.