Scott Myers

• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 18

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 18, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Character On The Screen [Part 2]

  "Failure to concentrate on this essential of plot making (developing of character) has been responsible for the wishy-washy substance of...

  writing

  Sep 18, 2024
• Great Scene: "The Matrix"

  "You take the blue pill, the story ends... you take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland."

  writing

  Sep 18, 2024
• Page One: "Far from the Madding Crowd" (2015)

  Screenplay by David Nichols, novel by Thomas Hardy

  writing

  Sep 18, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 17

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 17, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Character On The Screen [Part 1]

  "Every character in the story of the scenarist should be established as an individual — a living, breathing, real person."

  writing

  Sep 17, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Charles Bennett

  "The construction is the most important goddamned thing. It's like building a house — you have to build the outside properly before you put...

  writing

  Sep 17, 2024
• Page One: "Fences" (2016)

  Screenplay by August Wilson based upon his play

  writing

  Sep 17, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 16

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 16, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Actor's Angle [Part 2]

  "It is your duty to think up situations which call for the necessary bits of business."

  writing

  Sep 16, 2024
• On Writing

  "Plot is people. Human emotions and desires founded on the realities of life, working at cross purposes, getting hotter and fiercer as they...

  writing

  Sep 16, 2024
• Page One: "Fallen" (1998)

  Written by Nick Kazan

  writing

  Sep 16, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 15

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 15, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Actor's Angle [Part 1]

  "It would be possible to plant the jealousy motif by a sub-title. It would be better artistry to show the husband staring after the wife...

  writing

  Sep 15, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Stephany Folsom

  My 2014 in-depth interview with the screenwriter of Toy Story 4, consulting producer and writer on the TV series The Lord of the Rings: The...

  writing

  film

  Sep 15, 2024
• Page One: "The Faculty" (1998)

  Screenplay by Kevin Williamson, story by David Wechter & Bruce Kimmel

  writing

  Sep 15, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 14

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 14, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Scenery for Scenarios

  "The matter of economy in settings is perhaps the very last thing that enters the mind of the amateur photodramatist — one big reason why...

  writing

  Sep 14, 2024
• Great Scene: "Manhunter"

  I think we'd all admit the first time Clarice Starling meets Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, that was a great scene.

  film

  Sep 14, 2024
• Page One: "Eye in the Sky" (2015)

  Written by Guy Hibbert

  writing

  Sep 14, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 13

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 13, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Writing for the Camera

  "No scenarist is a genius to his cameraman... [they] have a common bond in the conviction that 90 per cent of the scenario writers have...

  writing

  Sep 13, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: The Crazed Life of a Studio Executive

  There is nothing laid-back about movie execs who live life in the fast lane and this impacts you — the writer.

  writing

  Sep 13, 2024
• Page One: "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile" (2019)

  Written by Michael Werwie, based on a book by Elizabeth Kendall

  writing

  Sep 13, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 12

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 12, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Marketing the Script

  "Don't let one or a dozen rejection slips discourage you. Make a collection of them to show your friends when you become famous."

  writing

  Sep 12, 2024
• Great Scene: "Magnolia"

  The 'frog storm' near the end of Paul Thomas Anderson's 1999 movie.

  writing

  film

  Sep 12, 2024
• Page One: "The Expendables" (2010)

  Screenplay by David Callaham and Sylvester Stallone, story by David Callaham

  writing

  Sep 12, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 11

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 11, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Title

  "Although a good story is the first requisite, the title of the photoplay is most important from the point of view of the exhibitor."

  writing

  Sep 11, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Tom Benedek

  "Every script we write is a piece of ourselves. We may say we are writing a script because we want to position ourselves somewhere in the...

  writing

  Sep 11, 2024
• Page One: "The Exorcist III" (1990)

  Screenplay by William Peter Blatty, based on his novel

  writing

  Sep 11, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 10

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  creativity

  writing

  Sep 10, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Continuity (Part 2)

  "Confusion as to the characters is ruinous. Don't get your audience interested in minor characters at the start. Keep your important...

  writing

  Sep 10, 2024
• Keys to Handling Exposition

  Take my 1-week online class to learn ways to make exposition entertaining. Begins Monday, September 16, 2024.

  writing

  Sep 10, 2024
• Page One: "Exorcist II: The Heretic" (1977)

  Written by William Goodhart, based on characters created by William Peter Blatty

  writing

  Sep 10, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 9

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 09, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Continuity (Part 1)

  "The continuity writer visualizes the story in a series of scenes."

  writing

  film

  Sep 09, 2024
• On Writing

  "First you have nothing, and then, astonishingly, after ripping out your brain and your heart and betraying your friends and ex-lovers and...

  writing

  Sep 09, 2024
• Page One: "Excalibur" (1981)

  Screenplay by Rospo Pallenberg and John Boorman, adaptation by Rospo Pallenberg, book by Thomas Malory

  writing

  Sep 09, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 8

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 08, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Story Synopsis

  "The first step in preparing a photoplay is to put it into plain English telling the entire plot in from 500 to 1,500 words. This is called...

  writing

  Sep 08, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Nikole Beckwith

  "I think if you're inviting people into a story, you should invite them into all parts of that story. I tried to inhabit each character as...

  writing

  film

  Sep 08, 2024
• Page One: "Evolution" (2001)

  Screenplay by David Diamond & David Weissman and Don Jakoby, story by Don Jakoby

  writing

  Sep 08, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 7

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity

  writing

  Sep 07, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Action [Part 5]

  "Never take your audience off the path of the real plot."

  writing

  Sep 07, 2024
• Great Scene: "Little Miss Sunshine"

  Read how screenwriter Michael Arndt scripted Olive's dance routine in his Oscar-winning screenplay.

  writing

  film

  Sep 07, 2024
• Page One: "Evil Dead" (2013)

  Screenplay by Fede Alvarez & Rodo Sayagues, based on the motion picture "The Evil Dead", written by Sam Raimi

  writing

  Sep 07, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 6

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 06, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Action [Part 4]

  "Action may be mental as well as physical."

  writing

  Sep 06, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: The Art of Stacking Projects

  Note: This is a reprint of an article from 2012.

  writing

  Sep 06, 2024
• Page One: "The Evil Dead" (1981)

  Written by Sam Raimi

  writing

  Sep 06, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 5

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 05, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Action [Part 3]

  "One method of heightening the suspense is by foreshadowing coming events without actually giving the secret away."

  writing

  Sep 05, 2024
• The Black List Helped Reshape Hollywood. Can It Change Publishing?

  The Black List expands into novels and fiction-writing.

  writing

  Sep 05, 2024
• Page One: "Event Horizon" (1997)

  Written by Philip Eisner

  writing

  Sep 05, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 4

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 04, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Action [Part 2]

  "Never let anything superfluous creep into your plot. Never stop the progress of events to explore blind alleys."

  writing

  Sep 04, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Ron Bass

  "I've always felt that writing was communication — not showing off how articulate you are, or showing off your vocabulary. It's about...

  writing

  Sep 04, 2024
• Page One: "Everybody Wants Some!!" (2016)

  Written by Richard Linklater

  writing

  Sep 04, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 3

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 03, 2024
• Story Summaries: From Loglines to Beat Sheets

  Learn six different types of story summaries and how to use them to develop your scripted projects. My one-week online class starts Monday...

  writing

  Sep 03, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Action [Part 1]

  "The actors may walk around engaged in animated conversation, perhaps assault each other, but the only action which counts is that which...

  writing

  Sep 03, 2024
• Page One: "Eraser" (1996)

  Screenplay by Tony Puryear and Walon Green, story by Tony Puryear and Walon Green & Michael S. Chernuchin

  writing

  Sep 03, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 2

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  creativity

  writing

  Sep 02, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Star Sympathy

  "Be sure your audience is stirred to real sympathy, throw that sympathy to the star part, and be sure that this star part which you have...

  writing

  Sep 02, 2024
• On Writing

  "Characters are not created by writers. They pre-exist and have to be found."

  writing

  Sep 02, 2024
• Page One: "Equity" (2016)

  Screenplay by Amy Fox, story by Sarah Megan Thomas & Alysia Reiner and Amy Fox

  writing

  Sep 02, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 1

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Sep 01, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Theme

  "Found your story on an original truth of such universal interest that when your climax comes everybody in the audience from stenographer...

  writing

  Sep 01, 2024
• Great Scene: "Life of Brian"

  Today: The 1979 movie Life of Brian, written by Graham Chapman & John Cleese & Terry Gilliam & Eric Idle & Terry Jones & Michael Palin...

  film

  Sep 01, 2024
• Page One: "End of Watch" (2012)

  Written by David Ayer

  writing

  Sep 01, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Theme

  "Found your story on an original truth of such universal interest that when your climax comes everybody in the audience from stenographer...

  writing

  Sep 01, 2024
• Screenwriting Back to Basics, Day 5: Reader Identification

  Tap into the Protagonist's qualities which a reader can connect with.

  writing

  Aug 31, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Situation

  If you are a screenwriter, you should know about Anita Loos. Loos was one of the most influential writers in the early stages of American...

  writing

  Aug 31, 2024
• Script To Screen: "12 Monkeys"

  From the 1995 movie 12 Monkeys, screenplay by David Webb Peoples and Janet Peoples.

  writing

  Aug 31, 2024
• Page One: "Empire of Light" (2022)

  Written by Sam Mendes

  writing

  Aug 31, 2024
• Screenwriting Back to Basics, Day 4: Character = Function

  Every character in a screenplay has to be there for a reason. That is their narrative function, who they are and what they do tied to the...

  writing

  Aug 30, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Crisis and Conflict

  "Crisis and conflict are the great essentials of a dramatic story."

  writing

  Aug 30, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods

  My 2018 in-depth conversation with the writing duo whose breakout film A Quiet Place turned into a horror franchise, spawning two sequels...

  Aug 30, 2024
• Page One: "Emergency" (2022)

  Written by K.D. Dávila

  writing

  Aug 30, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Getting Ideas

  If you are a screenwriter, you should know about Anita Loos. She was one of the most influential writers in the early history of American...

  writing

  film

  Aug 29, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Minnie Buttons"

  Huckleberry Media acquires spec script "Minnie Buttons" written by Adam D. Boyer. Via Deadline:

  writing

  Aug 29, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Swag

  When you're a movie star, things like this happen:

  writing

  Aug 29, 2024
• Page One: "Emancipation" (2022)

  Written by William N. Collage

  writing

  Aug 29, 2024
• Screenwriting Back to Basics, Day 3: Plot Emerges From Character

  No matter what paradigm or theory you use to craft your screenplay's plot, the single most important thing you can do is this: Start with...

  writing

  Aug 28, 2024
• "How to Write Photoplays" by John Emerson and Anita Loos

  If you are a screenwriter, you should know about Anita Loos. Loos was one of the most influential writers in the early history of American...

  writing

  Aug 28, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Ron Bass

  "Everything I write is in three acts, and I actually start with three pieces of paper. I have some notion of where each act begins and ends...

  writing

  Aug 28, 2024
• Page One: "The Electrical Life of Louis Wain" (2021)

  Screenplay by Simon Stephenson and Will Sharpe, story by Simon Stephenson

  writing

  Aug 28, 2024
• The Coen Brothers and the Craft of Storytelling

  My one-week online class begins Monday, September 2nd.

  writing

  Aug 27, 2024
• Screenwriting Back to Basics, Day 2: The Protagonist's Arc

  Transformation lies at the heart of the character's arc.

  writing

  Aug 27, 2024
• Writing Advice from Matt Stone and Trey Parker

  A video from over a decade ago resurfaces on social media.

  writing

  Aug 27, 2024
• Page One: "The Edge of Seventeen" (2016)

  Written by Kelly Fremon Craig

  writing

  Aug 27, 2024
• Screenwriting Back to Basics, Day 1: Writing Scenes

  With every scene, you should ask yourself this question: What is the scene's Beginning, Middle, and End?

  writing

  Aug 26, 2024
• On Writing

  "For your born writer, nothing is so healing as the realization that he has come upon the right word."

  writing

  Aug 26, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Jimmy Miller

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Aug 26, 2024
• Page One: "Eddie the Eagle" (2015)

  Screenplay by Sean Macaulay and Simon Kelton, story by Simon Kelton

  writing

  Aug 26, 2024
• Screenwriting Tip: From Zero Draft... to Hero Draft

  "There are no mistakes. There are CHOICES. We have a scene. Or a character. Or a dialogue exchange. Whatever we're writing, it represents...

  writing

  Aug 25, 2024
• Interview (Part 6): Jimmy Miller

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Aug 25, 2024
• Great Scene: "Kramer vs. Kramer"

  Two scenes making french toast provide signposts to measure the nature of a father-son relationship.

  film

  Aug 25, 2024
• Page One: "Dutch" (1991)

  Written by John Hughes

  writing

  Aug 25, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): Jimmy Miller

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Aug 24, 2024
• A series analyzing Pixar writer-director Andrew Stanton's TED Talk

  "The Clues to a Great Story."

  writing

  Aug 24, 2024
• Script To Screen: "12 Years a Slave"

  From the 2013 movie 12 Years a Slave, screenplay by John Ridley, based on a memoir by Solomon Northup.

  writing

  film

  Aug 24, 2024
• Page One: "Duplicity" (2009)

  Written by Tony Gilroy

  writing

  Aug 24, 2024
• If you feel the pull toward creative interests ... embrace it.

  A quote from a well-known poet reminded me of a critical time in my past.

  creativity

  writing

  poetry

  Aug 23, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): Jimmy Miller

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Aug 23, 2024
• A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director's TED Talk

  Andrew Stanton is one of the key members of Pixar's 'braintrust' whose screenwriting credits include Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2...

  writing

  Aug 23, 2024
• Page One: "Dune" (1984)

  Screenplay by David Lynch, novel by Frank Herbert

  writing

  Aug 23, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): Jimmy Miller

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Aug 22, 2024
• A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director's TED Talk

  Andrew Stanton is one of the key members of Pixar's 'braintrust' whose screenwriting credits include Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2...

  writing

  Aug 22, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Surviving a Script Notes Meeting

  Filmmaking, they say, is a "collaborative" effort. To a screenwriter, what this effectively means is that everybody gets to mess with your...

  writing

  Aug 22, 2024
• Page One: "Driving Miss Daisy" (1989)

  Screenplay by Alfred Uhry based on his play

  writing

  Aug 22, 2024
• Pound Out That First Draft!

  Go from FADE IN to FADE OUT in my upcoming online writing workshop. Starts August 26!

  writing

  Aug 21, 2024
• A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director's TED Talk

  Andrew Stanton is one of the key members of Pixar's 'braintrust' whose screenwriting credits include Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2...

  writing

  film

  Aug 21, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Alan Ball

  "[In American Beauty] Lester's a man who in midlife has completely lost his passion about living, as do many people who have mind-numbing...

  writing

  film

  Aug 21, 2024
• Page One: "Dressed to Kill" (1980)

  Written by Brian De Palma

  writing

  Aug 21, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): Jimmy Miller

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Aug 20, 2024
• A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director's TED Talk

  Andrew Stanton is one of the key members of Pixar's 'braintrust' whose screenwriting credits include Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2...

  writing

  Aug 20, 2024
• On Writing

  "Writing, I think, is not apart from living. Writing is a kind of double living. The writer experiences everything twice. Once in reality...

  writing

  Aug 20, 2024
• Page One: "Dredd" (2012)

  Screenplay by Alex Garland, character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra

  writing

  Aug 20, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): Jimmy Miller

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Aug 19, 2024
• A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director's TED Talk

  Andrew Stanton is one of the key members of Pixar's 'braintrust' whose screenwriting credits include Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2...

  writing

  Aug 19, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 26: Tragedy vs. Epic Poems

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 19, 2024
• Page One: "DragonHeart" (1996)

  Screenplay by Charles Edward Pogue, story by Patrick Read Johnson & Charles Edward Pogue

  writing

  Aug 19, 2024
• A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director's TED Talk.

  Andrew Stanton is one of the key members of Pixar's 'braintrust' whose screenwriting credits include Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2...

  writing

  Aug 18, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 25: Impossible and Improbable

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 18, 2024
• Script to Screen: "(500) Days of Summer"

  Tom's best day ever plays out as a music video accompanied by Hall & Oates.

  writing

  film

  Aug 18, 2024
• Page One: "Dr. No" (1962)

  Screenplay by Richard Maibaum & Johanna Harwood & Berkely Mather, based on the novel by Ian Fleming

  writing

  Aug 18, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge!

  One month. Fade In. Fade Out. Write an entire zero draft.

  writing

  Aug 17, 2024
• Andrew Stanton TED Talk: "Clues to a Great Story"

  A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director's TED Talk.

  writing

  Aug 17, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 24: Tragedy and Epic Poem

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 17, 2024
• Page One: "Downhill" (2020)

  Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, inspired by the motion picture "Force Majeure" by Ruben Östlund

  writing

  Aug 17, 2024
• Andrew Stanton TED Talk: "Clues to a Great Story"

  A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director's TED Talk.

  writing

  Aug 16, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 23: Unity of Action

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 16, 2024
• Videos: Academy Originals Screenwriter Interviews

  Featuring John August, Ava DuVernay, Eric Roth, Aline Brosh McKenna, David Seidler, Dustin Lance Black, and more.

  writing

  film

  Aug 16, 2024
• Page One: "Doubt" (2008)

  Screenplay by John Patrick Shanley, play by John Patrick Shanley

  writing

  Aug 16, 2024
• Andrew Stanton TED Talk: "Clues to a Great Story"

  A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director's TED Talk.

  writing

  Aug 15, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 22: Word Choice

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 15, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: There is always another way

  Between writing assignments, I wrote a spec script. It's a contained thriller called "Legacy," about a child psychiatrist who ends up on a...

  writing

  Aug 15, 2024
• Page One: "The Double" (2013)

  Written by Richard Ayoade and Avi Korine, story by Avi Korine, novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky

  writing

  Aug 15, 2024
• Andrew Stanton TED Talk: "Clues to a Great Story"

  A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director's TED Talk.

  writing

  Aug 14, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Parts 20+21: Language and Words

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 14, 2024
• Script To Screen: "A Serious Man"

  Leave it to the Coen brothers (Joel and Ethan) to come up with a denouement in their 2009 movie A Serious Man that resolves virtually...

  writing

  film

  Aug 14, 2024
• Page One: "Dope" (2015)

  Written by Rick Famuyiwa

  writing

  Aug 14, 2024
• Script To Screen: "A Quiet Place"

  The terrifying opening incident is a master class in demonstrating how to use paragraphs of scene description to suggest individual camera...

  writing

  Aug 13, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 19: Thought and Diction

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 13, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: George Axelrod

  "Writing is such a mysterious process for me. For example, I don't use a computer, because I like the manual feeling of building something...

  writing

  Aug 13, 2024
• Page One: "Don't Worry Darling" (2022)

  Screenplay by Katie Silberman, story by Carey Van Dyke & Shane Van Dyke and Katie Silberman

  writing

  Aug 13, 2024
• "Don't let the facts get in the way of the story"

  Reflections on a Hollywood axiom and the power of emotional logic.

  writing

  film

  Aug 12, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 18(D): Chorus

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 12, 2024
• On Writing

  "One thing that helps is to give myself permission to write badly. I tell myself that I'm going to do my five or 10 pages no matter what...

  writing

  Aug 12, 2024
• Page One: "Doctor Sleep" (2019)

  Screenplay by Mike Flanagan, novel by Stephen King

  writing

  Aug 12, 2024
• Great Scene: "King of Hearts"

  In a fundamental way, screenwriting is scene-writing, so the more we learn about this aspect of the craft, the better.

  writing

  film

  Aug 11, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 18(C): Multiplicity of Plots

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  film

  Aug 11, 2024
• Script To Screen: "The Abyss"

  One of the most dramatic scenes from the 1989 movie The Abyss, written by James Cameron.

  writing

  Aug 11, 2024
• Page One: "Disclosure" (1994)

  Screenplay by Paul Attanasio, novel by Michael Crichton

  writing

  Aug 11, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Adaptation"

  A memorable scene from the 2002 movie Adaptation, screenplay by Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman, book by Susan Orlean.

  writing

  Aug 10, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 18(B): Four Kinds of Tragedy

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 10, 2024
• Scene Description Spotlight: "(500) Days of Summer"

  One of the best moments in the delightful film (500) Days of Summer is the morning-after-having-sex-with-Summer-big-dance-bit.

  writing

  film

  Aug 10, 2024
• Page One: "Dirty Girl" (2010)

  Written by Abe Sylvia

  writing

  Aug 10, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Scott Derrickson

  My in-depth 2018 conversation with co-writer and director of the Marvel movie Doctor Strange as well as horror movies The Exorcism of Emily...

  Aug 09, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 18(A): Complication and Denouement

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 09, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Air Force One"

  The movie version of this pivotal scene is much different than the script.

  writing

  Aug 09, 2024
• Page One: "Dinner for Schmucks" (2010)

  Screenplay by David Guion & Michael Handelman

  writing

  Aug 09, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Lisa Joy

  My 2014 in-depth conversation with the creator and co-executive producer of the HBO series Westworld, the Amazon series Fallout, and...

  Aug 08, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 17: Plot and Episode

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 08, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Spec scripts aren't just for aspiring screenwriters

  You may think a spec script is something only relevant to aspiring screenwriters. Not true.

  writing

  Aug 08, 2024
• Page One: "The Descent" (2005)

  Written by Neil Marshall

  writing

  Aug 08, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Hurt People"

  Netflix acquires legal thriller spec script "Hurt People" written by Melissa London Hilfers. Via Deadline:

  film

  Aug 07, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 16: Recognition

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 07, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Airplane!"

  A memorable scene from the 1981 comedy featuring the actress who played June Cleaver on Leave It To Beaver, screenplay by Jim Abrahams &...

  writing

  Aug 07, 2024
• Page One: "Denial" (2016)

  Screenplay by David Hare, book by Deborah Lipstadt

  writing

  Aug 07, 2024
• Writing Aids: 90 Words for "looks" and 115 Words for "walks"

  Movies are primarily a visual medium. Therefore as screenwriters, we need to think visually... and write visually.

  writing

  Aug 06, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 15(C): The Example of Good Portrait Painters

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 06, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: John August

  "Sometimes it's like, you wrote one really good sentence. You may never get called out for it, the props for it you deserve, but you know...

  writing

  film

  Aug 06, 2024
• Page One: "Den of Thieves" (2018)

  Screenplay by Christian Gudegast, story by Christian Gudegast & Paul T. Scheuring

  writing

  Aug 06, 2024
• Script to Screen: "The Graduate"

  This memorable montage from the 1967 movie The Graduate, screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry, novel by Charles Webb.

  film

  Aug 05, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 15(B): The Unraveling of the Plot

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 05, 2024
• On Writing

  "Why do writers write? Because it isn't there."

  writing

  Aug 05, 2024
• Page One: "Deep Star Six" (1989)

  Written by Lewis Abernathy and Geof Miller

  writing

  Aug 05, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Harris McCabe

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Aug 04, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 15(A): Four Qualities of a Tragic Hero

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 04, 2024
• Script to Screen: "Alien"

  Here is a memorable scene from Alien (1979), screenplay Dan O'Bannon, story by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

  writing

  film

  Aug 04, 2024
• Page One: "Death Proof" (2007)

  Written by Quentin Tarantino

  writing

  Aug 04, 2024
• Interview (Part 6): Harris McCabe

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Aug 03, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 14(B): The Conditions of a Tragedy

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 03, 2024
• Great Scene: "Goodfellas"

  "Funny how? What's funny about it?"

  film

  Aug 03, 2024
• Page One: "Death Becomes Her" (1992)

  Written by Martin Donovan & David Koepp

  writing

  Aug 03, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): Harris McCabe

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Aug 02, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 14(A): Fear and Pity

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 02, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: Writing sprint? How about a writing walk!

  If you frequent Twitter — and more specifically writers on Twitter — you may have run across the idea of a writing sprint. I first...

  writing

  Aug 02, 2024
• Page One: "Death at a Funeral" (2007)

  Written by Dean Craig

  writing

  Aug 02, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): Harris McCabe

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Aug 01, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 13(B): A Well-Constructed Plot

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Aug 01, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Sometimes you're just going to get it wrong

  In which I got it completely and utterly wrong about a movie project which went on to win six Oscars.

  writing

  Aug 01, 2024
• Page One: "The Dead Zone" (1983)

  Screenplay by Jeffrey Boam, based on the novel by Stephen King

  writing

  Aug 01, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): Harris McCabe

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 31, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 13(A): A Perfect Tragedy

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 31, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Aliens"

  It's Surrogate Mother vs. Alien Mother in this memorable fight scene.

  writing

  Jul 31, 2024
• Page One: "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" (2014)

  Written by Mark Bomback and Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, based on characters created by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver

  writing

  Jul 31, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): Harris McCabe

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 30, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 12: Prologue, Episode, Exode and Chorus

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  film

  Jul 30, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: John August

  "If you have four ideas, all equally viable, I'd recommend writing the one that has the best ending. That's the one you've thought through...

  writing

  film

  Jul 30, 2024
• Page One: "Dawn of the Dead" (2004)

  Screenplay by James Gunn, based on the 1978 screenplay by George A. Romero

  writing

  Jul 30, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): Harris McCabe

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 29, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 11: Reversal, Recognition and Suffering

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 29, 2024
• On Writing

  "Here's one simple rule to remember: Characters carry theme. Always. Develop your characters fully and set them in the story world where...

  writing

  Jul 29, 2024
• Page One: "Darkest Hour" (2017)

  Written by Anthony McCarten

  writing

  Jul 29, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Kayla Sun

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Jul 28, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 10: Simple and Complex Plots

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 28, 2024
• Script To Screen: "All About Eve"

  A scene from the 1950 movie All About Eve, written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and featuring one of the most famous lines of dialogue in movie...

  writing

  Jul 28, 2024
• Page One: "Dark City" (1998)

  Screenplay by Alex Proyas and Lem Dobbs and David S. Goyer, story by Alex Proyas

  writing

  Jul 28, 2024
• Interview (Part 6): Kayla Sun

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 27, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 9(D): Surprise, Cause and Effect

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  film

  Jul 27, 2024
• On Writing

  "People forget years and remember moments."

  writing

  Jul 27, 2024
• Page One: "Daredevil" (2003)

  Written by Mark Steven Johnson

  writing

  Jul 27, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): Kayla Sun

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 26, 2024
• Happy Birthday, Carl Jung: Screenwriting Guru!

  Swiss psychotherapist and founder of analytical psychology Carl Jung was born today in 1875. He died in 1961 at the age of 85.

  writing

  Jul 26, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 9(C): Episodic

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 26, 2024
• Page One: "D2: The Mighty Ducks" (1994)

  Written by Steven Brill, characters by Steven Brill

  writing

  film

  Jul 26, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): Kayla Sun

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 25, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 9(C): Episodic

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 25, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Sometimes you just have to say "Yes"

  I am sitting in the Beverly Hills office of my entertainment lawyer. In front of me is a contract. It's for a writing assignment. My gig...

  writing

  Jul 25, 2024
• Page One: "The Cutting Edge" (1992)

  Written by Tony Gilroy

  writing

  Jul 25, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): Kayla Sun

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 24, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 9(B): Possibility, Probability and Necessity

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 24, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Almost Famous"

  A terrific movie Almost Famous (2000), written and directed by Cameron Crowe. One of the keys to creating drama is to put characters under...

  writing

  film

  Jul 24, 2024
• Page One: "Curly Sue" (1991)

  Written by John Hughes

  writing

  Jul 24, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): Kayla Sun

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Jul 23, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 9(A): Poet and Historian

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 23, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: John August

  "While working on Big Fish, I got very Method: I'd stare at a mirror until I could get myself crying, and then I would start writing. It...

  writing

  film

  Jul 23, 2024
• Page One: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008)

  Screenplay by Eric Roth, story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald

  writing

  Jul 23, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): Kayla Sun

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Jul 22, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 8: Unity

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 22, 2024
• On Writing

  "To be a novelist or a short story writer, you first have to pretend to be a writer or a short story writer."

  writing

  Jul 22, 2024
• Page One: "The Crow" (1994)

  Screenplay by David J. Schow and John Shirley, based on a comic book series by James O'Barr

  writing

  Jul 22, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: c. Craig Patterson

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Jul 21, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 7(C): Story Length and Change of Fortune

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  film

  Jul 21, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Familiar"

  Paramount Pictures acquires horror thriller spec script "Familiar" written by Julien Magnat. Via Deadline:

  film

  Jul 21, 2024
• Page One: "Critters" (1986)

  Screenplay by Domonic Muir and Stephen Herek, story by Domonic Muir

  writing

  Jul 21, 2024
• Interview (Part 6): c. Craig Patterson

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 20, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 7(B): Beauty, Magnitude and Order

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 20, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: What are you afraid of?

  The single greatest inhibitor to creativity is fear. Do you recognize any of these voices?

  writing

  Jul 20, 2024
• Page One: "Crimson Peak" (2015)

  Written by Guillermo del Toro & Matthew Robbins

  writing

  Jul 20, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): c. Craig Patterson

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Jul 19, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 7(A): Beginning, Middle, End

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 19, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Guillermo Arriaga

  "I've written novels and screenplays, and with a screenplay you are writing something that's going to be filmed, and you have to understand...

  writing

  film

  Jul 19, 2024
• Page One: "Creed II" (2018)

  Screenplay by Juel Taylor and Sylvester Stallone, story by Sascha Penn and Cheo Hodari Coker, characters created by Sylvester Stallone

  writing

  Jul 19, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): c. Craig Patterson

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 18, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 6(G): Spectacle Sixth

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 18, 2024
• On Writing

  "Creation of character is, like much of fiction writing, a mixture of subjective feel and objective control."

  writing

  Jul 18, 2024
• Page One: "Creed" (2015)

  Screenplay by Ryan Coogler & Aaron Covington, story by Ryan Coogler, characters created by Sylvester Stallone

  writing

  Jul 18, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): c. Craig Patterson

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 17, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 6(F): Diction Fourth, Song Fifth

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 17, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "If I Had Your Face"

  Orion Pictures acquires horror spec script "If I Had Your Face" written by Ran Ran Wang. Via Deadline:

  film

  Jul 17, 2024
• Page One: "Crawl" (2019)

  Written by Michael Rasmussen & Shawn Rasmussen

  writing

  Jul 17, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): c. Craig Patterson

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Jul 16, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 6(E): Thought Third

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 16, 2024
• The Theology of Cinema Live!

  Five multimedia presentations from the popular Go Into The Story series, August 5–9 in Frankfort, Michigan.

  writing

  film

  Jul 16, 2024
• Page One: "The Craft" (1996)

  Screenplay by Peter Filardi and Andrew Fleming, story by Peter Filardi

  writing

  Jul 16, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): c. Craig Patterson

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Jul 15, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 6(D): Plot First, Character Second

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 15, 2024
• "My world is not spectacle and explosion. It's two people talking."

  Words of writing wisdom from Taika Watiti.

  writing

  Jul 15, 2024
• Page One: "Corpse Bride" (2005)

  Screenplay by John August and Caroline Thompson and Pamela Pettler, characters by Tim Burton and Carlos Grangel

  writing

  Jul 15, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Brent Delaney

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 14, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 6(C): The 6 Parts of Tragedy, Part 2

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 14, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Amadeus"

  The glorious "Requiem" scene from the 1984 movie Amadeus, screenplay by Peter Shaffer based on his original stage play.

  writing

  Jul 14, 2024
• Page One: "Copycat" (1995)

  Written by Ann Biderman and David Madsen

  writing

  Jul 14, 2024
• Interview (Part 6): Brent Delaney

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 13, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 6(B): Character and Thought

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 13, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Over Asking"

  Paramount Pictures acquires erotic thriller spec script "Over Asking" written by Caroline Dries. Via Deadline:

  film

  Jul 13, 2024
• Page One: "Cool Runnings" (1993)

  Screenplay by Lynn Siefert and Tommy Swerdlow & Michael Goldberg, story by Lynn Siefert & Michael Ritchie

  writing

  Jul 13, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): Brent Delaney

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Jul 12, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 6(A): The 6 Parts of Tragedy

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 12, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: The Joy of Running... Creatively Speaking

  "Does some creative block have you feeling stuck? Go for a run. Are you deliberating between one of two potentially life-altering...

  creativity

  writing

  Jul 12, 2024
• Page One: "Contagion" (2011)

  Written by Scott Z. Burns

  writing

  Jul 12, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): Brent Delaney

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Jul 11, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 5: Comedy and Epic Poetry

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  film

  Jul 11, 2024
• Reader Question: Are screenplay contests any good or not?

  With literally dozens of script competitions, this is an important question.

  writing

  Jul 11, 2024
• Page One: "Coneheads" (1993)

  Written by Tom Davis & Dan Aykroyd and Bonnie Turner & Terry Turner

  writing

  Jul 11, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): Brent Delaney

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 10, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 4: Poetry and the Development of Tragedy

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 10, 2024
• "Good isn't good enough. You have to be great."

  If you've been paying attention to the business of Hollywood, you're probably aware that Skydance is taking over Paramount.

  writing

  film

  Jul 10, 2024
• Page One: "Commando" (1985)

  Screenplay by Steven E. de Souza, story by Jeph Loeb & Matthew Weisman and Steven E. de Souza

  writing

  Jul 10, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): Brent Delaney

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 09, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 3: Medium, Objects, Manner

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 09, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Guillermo Arriaga

  "I have no education at all in screenwriting. But when I have read all these manuals of screenwriting, they say things that I will never...

  writing

  film

  Jul 09, 2024
• Page One: "Coming to America" (1988)

  Screenplay by David Sheffield & Barry W. Blaustein, story by Eddie Murphy

  writing

  Jul 09, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 3: Medium, Objects, Manner

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  film

  Jul 09, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): Brent Delaney

  My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 08, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 2: Moral Character, Types, Tragedy and Comedy

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 08, 2024
• On Writing

  "If you're going to be a writer, there's nothing I can say to stop you."

  writing

  Jul 08, 2024
• Page One: "Coming Home" (1978)

  Screenplay by Waldo Salt and Robert C. Jones, story by Nancy Dowd

  writing

  Jul 08, 2024
• Reader Question: Do all Protagonists need a character arc?

  A character's 'arc' is a big buzzword in Hollywood development circles.

  writing

  Jul 07, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Part 1: Structure and Imitation

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  Jul 07, 2024
• Script To Screen: "The American"

  The opening incident in the 2010 movie The American, starring George Clooney, screenplay by Rowan Joffe, based on a novel by Martin Booth.

  writing

  Jul 07, 2024
• Page One: "The Comedian" (2016)

  Screenplay by Art Linson & Jeffrey Ross and Richard LaGravenese and Lewis Friedman, story by Art Linson

  writing

  Jul 07, 2024
• Script To Screen: "American Beauty"

  One of the most memorable scenes from the 1999 movie American Beauty, written by Alan Ball, a plastic bag dancing in the wind.

  writing

  film

  Jul 06, 2024
• Studying Aristotle's "Poetics" — Introduction: The Nature and Purpose of the Arts

  As I've been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again...

  writing

  film

  Jul 06, 2024
• Great Scene: "Fight Club"

  One of the most effective ways to begin a script is to start at the ending. And one of the best scenes that opens with the ending is in the...

  writing

  film

  Jul 06, 2024
• Page One: "Come to Daddy" (2019)

  Written by Toby Harvard

  writing

  Jul 06, 2024
• Script To Screen: "American Pie"

  The infamous apple pie scene.

  writing

  Jul 05, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 28

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  film

  Jul 05, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: "The best way to have a good idea..."

  ...is to have lots of ideas." Those are the words of Linus Pauling, chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator, the only...

  writing

  Jul 05, 2024
• Page One: "Colette" (2018)

  Screenplay by Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland & Rebecca Lenkiewicz, story by Richard Glatzer

  writing

  Jul 05, 2024
• Great Scene: "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"

  One of the most memorable scenes in one of the most memorable John Hughes movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986).

  film

  Jul 04, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 27

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  Jul 04, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Research Trips

  "You're the writer. Why not pick a terrific place for your story setting? Just in case you get the chance to go on a research trip."

  writing

  Jul 04, 2024
• Page One: "Christine" (1983)

  Screenplay by Bill Phillips, novel by Stephen King

  writing

  Jul 04, 2024
• Reader Question: Are there movies where the Protagonist is the Nemesis?

  Is it possible for the Protagonist to also be the story's Nemesis? A deep dive into Fight Club, The Shawshank Redemption, and Carl Jung.

  writing

  film

  Jul 03, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 26

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  film

  Jul 03, 2024
• Script To Screen: "American Psycho"

  A scene from the 2000 movie American Psycho, screenplay by Mary Harron & Guinevere Turner, novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

  writing

  Jul 03, 2024
• Page One: "Gone Baby Gone" (2007)

  Screenplay by Ben Affleck & Aaron Stockard, novel by Dennis Lehane

  writing

  Jul 03, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 25

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  film

  Jul 02, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Guillermo Arriaga

  "I never outline the story, never. I once went to a seminar by one of these gurus of the screen, and this person said, 'You must know...

  writing

  film

  Jul 02, 2024
• Page One: "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" (1997)

  Written by Mike Myers

  writing

  Jul 02, 2024
• Story Type: Time Travel

  In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and...

  film

  Jul 02, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Argo"

  A dramatic scene from the 2012 movie Argo, written by Chris Terrio, book by Tony Mendez, magazine article by Joshuah Bearman.

  writing

  Jul 01, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 24

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  film

  Jul 01, 2024
• On Writing

  "A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit."

  writing

  Jul 01, 2024
• Page One: "Collateral Damage" (2002)

  Screenplay by David Griffiths & Peter Griffiths, story by Ronald Roose and David Griffiths & Peter Griffiths

  writing

  Jul 01, 2024
• Reader Question: What makes a stellar logline?

  Two words: Concept. Concise.

  writing

  Jun 30, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 23

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  film

  Jun 30, 2024
• Story Type: Ticking Clock

  In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and...

  writing

  film

  Jun 30, 2024
• Page One: "Collateral Beauty" (2016)

  Written by Allan Loeb

  writing

  Jun 30, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: The act of writing provides health benefits

  "From long-term health improvements to short-term benefits like sleeping better, it's official: Writers are doing something right."

  writing

  Jun 29, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 22

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  Jun 29, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Army of Darkness"

  Yes, it's the Boomstick scene from the classic 1992 comic horror movie Army of Darkness, written by Ivan Raimi and Sam Raimi.

  writing

  Jun 29, 2024
• Page One: "Cocoon" (1985)

  Screenplay by Tom Benedek, story by David Saperstein

  writing

  Jun 29, 2024
• "Mlle Bottine" gets a theatrical release date!

  The French-language family film I consulted on is set to open its theatrical run on November 29th.

  film

  Jun 28, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 21

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  film

  Jun 28, 2024
• Great Scene: "The Exorcist"

  "Regan sits up and with a nightmare slowness, a fraction at a time, her head begins to turn, swiveling like a mannequin's and creaking with...

  writing

  Jun 28, 2024
• Page One: "Clockers" (1995)

  Screenplay by Richard Price and Spike Lee, novel by Richard Price

  writing

  Jun 28, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Mice"

  A24 acquires horror thriller spec script "Mice" written by Todd Spence and Zak White. Via Deadline:

  writing

  film

  Jun 27, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 20

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  film

  Jun 27, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Premieres!

  It's one of the perks of working in the business: Attending movie premieres.

  writing

  film

  Jun 27, 2024
• Page One: "The Climb" (2019)

  Written by Michael Angelo Covino & Kyle Marvin

  writing

  Jun 27, 2024
• Story Type: Sports

  In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and...

  writing

  film

  Jun 26, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 19

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  film

  Jun 26, 2024
• Script To Screen: "The Artist"

  A cute scene that turns into a significant plot point from the 2011 silent movie The Artist, written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius.

  writing

  Jun 26, 2024
• Page One: "Clerks II" (2006)

  Written by Kevin Smith

  writing

  Jun 26, 2024
• Story Type: Slasher

  In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and...

  writing

  film

  Jun 25, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 18

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  Jun 25, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Darren Aronofsky

  "First, you start with an idea, then you start to flesh out the structure, and that's a long process. I think that's where we spend a lot...

  writing

  film

  Jun 25, 2024
• Page One: "Clerks" (1994)

  Written by Kevin Smith

  writing

  Jun 25, 2024
• Reader Question: How about adapting a comic book into a screenplay?

  Hollywood may be crazy about comic books, but for a writer there are some specific concerns which need to be addressed.

  writing

  Jun 24, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 17

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  Jun 24, 2024
• On Writing

  "I am the sort of man who writes because he has made progress, and who makes progress by writing."

  writing

  Jun 24, 2024
• Page One: "Cinderella Man" (2005)

  Screenplay by Cliff Hollingsworth and Akiva Goldsman, story by Cliff Hollingsworth

  writing

  Jun 24, 2024
• Story Type: Road Picture

  In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and...

  writing

  film

  Jun 23, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 16

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  film

  Jun 23, 2024
• Script To Screen: "As Good As It Gets"

  The final scene from the 1997 movie As Good As It Gets, written by Mark Andrus and James L. Brooks.

  writing

  Jun 23, 2024
• Page One: "Child's Play" (1988)

  Screenplay by Don Mancini and John Lafia and Tom Holland, story by Don Mancini

  writing

  Jun 23, 2024
• Story Type: Post-Apocalypse

  In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and...

  writing

  film

  Jun 22, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 15

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  film

  Jun 22, 2024
• Great Scene: "The Elephant Man"

  It's one of the most poignant, sad, and beautiful movie moments I can remember: The ending of The Elephant Man (1980). Directed by David...

  film

  Jun 22, 2024
• Page One: "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005)

  Screenplay by John August, book by Roald Dahl

  writing

  Jun 22, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Never forget who the star is

  "It's no surprise that William Goldman began his excellent book "Adventures in the Screen Trade" with a chapter titled 'Stars.' Of...

  writing

  Jun 21, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 14

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  Jun 21, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: "That pure part of you"

  Writing words of wisdom from the screenwriter of "Ordinary People".

  writing

  Jun 21, 2024
• Page One: "Challengers" (2024)

  Written by Justin Kuritzkes

  writing

  Jun 21, 2024
• Story Type: Mockumentary

  In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and...

  film

  Jun 20, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 13

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  Jun 20, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery"

  A scene from the 1997 comedy Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, written by Mike Myers.

  writing

  Jun 20, 2024
• Page One: "CB4" (1993)

  Screenplay by Chris Rock & Nelson George and Robert LoCash, story by Chris Rock & Nelson George

  writing

  Jun 20, 2024
• "Go into the story and find the animals"

  Writing wisdom from a three year-old boy: My son Luke.

  writing

  Jun 19, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 12

  Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

  writing

  Jun 19, 2024
• How to Escape the Box You've Become Trapped in as an Artist

  Screenwriter and novelist Cole Haddon asked more than 20 filmmakers, novelists, and comic book writers to weigh in about how to avoid being...

  writing

  Jun 19, 2024
• Page One: "Carnage" (2011)

  Screenplay by Yasmina Reza and Roman Polanski, translated by Michael Katims

  writing

  Jun 19, 2024
• "The only way out is through"

  Imagine the process of writing a story as being a journey. Perhaps as you embark on your adventure, you have a map — an outline or beat...

  writing

  Jun 18, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 11

  Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Ace in the...

  writing

  film

  Jun 18, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Wes Anderson

  "I use little notebooks. I write out everything longhand first, then I type it into the computer... I create seven of these [notebooks] for...

  writing

  film

  Jun 18, 2024
• Page One: "Car Wash" (1976)

  Written by Joel Schumacher

  writing

  Jun 18, 2024
• The Spirit of the Spec

  The creative empowerment of writing a spec script.

  writing

  Jun 17, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 10

  Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Ace in the...

  writing

  film

  Jun 17, 2024
• On Writing

  "As for writing, most people secretly believe they themselves have a book in them, which they would write if they could only find the time...

  writing

  Jun 17, 2024
• Page One: "Capernaum" (2018)

  Screenplay by Nadine Labaki & Jihad Hojeily & Michelle Keserwany in collaboration with Georges Khabbaz & Khaled Mouzanar

  writing

  Jun 17, 2024
• "May you listen... May you use your words... May you create a life worth living."

  Three life lessons in the invocation I delivered Saturday to a graduating class of university students.

  writing

  Jun 16, 2024
• Minimum Words, Maximum Impact

  I know the source of this mantra. It was one of my online screenwriting students. During a weekly live-chat session. I was going on and on...

  writing

  Jun 16, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 9

  Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Ace in the...

  writing

  film

  Jun 16, 2024
• Page One: "Cape Fear" (1962)

  Screenplay by James R. Webb, novel by John D. MacDonald

  writing

  Jun 16, 2024
• Test Your Story Concept

  5 questions to ask about a story idea to assess its viability as a scripted project.

  writing

  Jun 15, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 8

  Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17...

  writing

  Jun 15, 2024
• Script Analysis: "American Hustle" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jun 15, 2024
• Page One: "Calvary" (2014)

  Written by John Michael McDonagh

  writing

  Jun 15, 2024
• Set-up and Payoffs

  One of the most important narrative elements screenwriters have available to us is set-ups and payoffs. The basic idea is this: We...

  writing

  Jun 14, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 7

  Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17...

  writing

  Jun 14, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: To Write, Stop Thinking

  Think character. Think plot. Think theme. But when you sit down to write, don't think... feel.

  writing

  Jun 14, 2024
• Page One: "C'mon C'mon" (2021)

  Written by Mike Mills

  writing

  Jun 14, 2024
• Interview: Tor Valenza

  My conversation with a Hollywood screenwriter using his storytelling skills to advocate for solar power and the Earth's well-being.

  writing

  Jun 13, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Net profits

  "Net profit participation" sounds so nice, but...

  writing

  film

  Jun 13, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 6

  Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17...

  writing

  Jun 13, 2024
• Page One: "Burnt" (2015)

  Screenplay by Steven Knight, story by Michael Kalesniko

  writing

  Jun 13, 2024
• 1, 2, 7, 14

  Here is a simple formula about three things — Read Scripts. Watch Movies. Write Pages. — you need to do to expand and deepen your...

  writing

  Jun 12, 2024
• Story Type: Martial Arts

  In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and...

  writing

  film

  Jun 12, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 5

  Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17...

  writing

  film

  Jun 12, 2024
• Page One: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1992)

  Written by Joss Wheadon

  writing

  Jun 12, 2024
• Story as Psychological Journey

  "The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek."

  writing

  Jun 11, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 4

  Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17...

  film

  Jun 11, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Wes Anderson

  "The project almost always begins with a character or a group of characters. Usually there's a sort of world that's tied in. The last film...

  writing

  film

  Jun 11, 2024
• Page One: "Brigsby Bear" (2017)

  Screenplay by Kevin Costello & Kyle Mooney, story by Kyle Mooney

  writing

  Jun 11, 2024
• "Movies don't owe anybody a living"

  The original quote is about music, but it pertains to all entertainment.

  writing

  Jun 10, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 3

  Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17...

  writing

  film

  Jun 10, 2024
• On Writing

  "Creation is not a moment of inspiration but a lifetime of endurance. The drawers of the world are full of things begun. Unfinished...

  creativity

  writing

  Jun 10, 2024
• Page One: "Brightburn" (2019)

  Written by Brian Gunn & Mark Gunn

  writing

  Jun 10, 2024
• If you write a great script...

  ...Hollywood will find you.

  writing

  Jun 09, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Badlands"

  A memorable scene from the 1975 movie Badlands, written and directed by Terrence Malick.

  writing

  Jun 09, 2024
• Script Analysis: "All Is Lost" — Part 1: Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic...

  writing

  Jun 09, 2024
• Page One: "Bright" (2017)

  Written by Max Landis

  writing

  Jun 09, 2024
• Imagematic writing

  Good screenwriting is visual writing. After all, movies are: Motion. Pictures.

  writing

  Jun 08, 2024
• Great Scene: "Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"

  It's one of my five favorite movies: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964). Directed by Stanley...

  film

  Jun 08, 2024
• Story Type: Heist Movies

  In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and...

  film

  Jun 08, 2024
• Page One: "Bride of Chucky" (1998)

  Written by Don Mancini, based on characters by Don Mancini

  writing

  Jun 08, 2024
• "Don't think... feel"

  With writing, there are times to think... and times to feel.

  writing

  Jun 07, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Barton Fink"

  The final scene from the 1991 movie Barton Fink, written by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen.

  writing

  Jun 07, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: Something is Better Than Nothing

  "No matter what you write, good or bad, it's an improvement to a blank page."

  writing

  Jun 07, 2024
• Page One: "Breathe" (2024)

  Written by Doug Simon

  writing

  Jun 07, 2024
• "Beginning. Middle. End."

  Consider the universality of narrative in three movements.

  writing

  Jun 06, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Movie Stars

  I am staring at a cardboard standup display of an iconic movie character from an Academy Award winning movie, one of the most famous...

  writing

  film

  Jun 06, 2024
• Great Scene: "The Deer Hunter"

  This has to rank as one of the most riveting scenes in movie history: The Russian roulette sequence in The Deer Hunter (1978).

  film

  Jun 06, 2024
• Page One: "Breach" (2007)

  Screenplay by Adam Mazer & William Rotko and Billy Ray, story by Adam Mazer & William Rotko

  writing

  Jun 06, 2024
• "Get the damn thing done!"

  The one unalterable truth about writing a first draft.

  writing

  Jun 05, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Basic Instinct"

  No matter what you think about Joe Eszterhas, the fact remains that at one point in time, he was the hottest screenwriter in Hollywood...

  writing

  Jun 05, 2024
• How They Write A Script: Daniel Taradash

  Daniel Taradash's screenwriting credits include many memorable movies such as From Here to Eternity (1953), Picnic (1955), and Hawaii...

  writing

  Jun 05, 2024
• Page One: "The Boy" (2016)

  Written by Stacey Menear

  writing

  Jun 05, 2024
• Feet on the ground... head in the clouds

  A twist on a familiar adage speaks to the business of writing.

  writing

  Jun 04, 2024
• Story Type: Found Footage

  In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and...

  film

  Jun 04, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Wes Anderson

  "When I'm on a movie, part of that process is creating a setting for the story and a world that they live in. That's the kind of movie that...

  writing

  film

  Jun 04, 2024
• Page One: "Bound" (1996)

  Written by Lilly Wachowski & Lana Wachowski (as The Wachowski Brothers)

  writing

  Jun 04, 2024
• Break your story in prep

  Let me begin with this acknowledgement: There is no right way to write. Each writer is different. Each story is different. There is no...

  writing

  Jun 03, 2024
• How They Write a Script: Ted Tally ("The Silence of the Lambs")

  Ted Tally is yet another screenwriter who started out as a playwright. His film credits include White Palace (1990), The Juror (1996), All...

  writing

  Jun 03, 2024
• On Writing

  "Character gives us qualities, but it is in actions — what we do — that we are happy or the reverse. All human happiness and misery takes...

  writing

  Jun 03, 2024
• Page One: "The Boondock Saints" (1999)

  Written by Troy Duffy

  writing

  Jun 03, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 2

  Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17...

  writing

  film

  Jun 02, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Batman"

  The Final Struggle in the 1989 movie Batman.

  writing

  Jun 02, 2024
• Similar but different

  Or Precedent / Analogy. However you refer to it, it's how Hollywood operates.

  writing

  film

  Jun 02, 2024
• Page One: "Bohemian Rhapsody" (2018)

  Screenplay by Anthony McCarten, story by Anthony McCarten and Peter Morgan

  writing

  Jun 02, 2024
• Great Scene: "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"

  A cinematic moment in Spielberg's classic science fiction movie.

  writing

  film

  Jun 01, 2024
• Story Type: Fish Out Of Water (FOOW)

  When a central character finds themselves WAY out of their natural element.

  writing

  Jun 01, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: One key to creativity... naps?

  "There is a cultural bias against sleep that sees it as akin to shutting down..."

  creativity

  writing

  Jun 01, 2024
• Page One: "Blue Ruin" (2013)

  Written by Jeremy Saulnier

  writing

  Jun 01, 2024
• How They Write A Script: Alvin Sargent

  "I think too many people are too organized; they've got it all worked out, instead of hearing their characters first. Get the goop out...

  writing

  May 31, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Beetlejuice"

  A memorable scene from the 1988 movie Beetlejuice with some significant changes from script to screen [screenplay by Michael McDowell and...

  writing

  May 31, 2024
• Screenwriting Mantra: "Writing is rewriting"

  Perhaps no more true than in relation to screenwriting.

  writing

  May 31, 2024
• Page One: "Blood Diamond" (2006)

  Screenplay by Charles Leavitt, story by Charles Leavitt and C. Gaby Mitchell

  writing

  May 31, 2024
• Stacking projects

  One key to the craft: Learn how to manage several projects at once.

  writing

  May 30, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Reality Vice"

  Paramount Pictures acquires comedy spec script "Reality Vice" written by Katie Silberman. Via Deadline:

  writing

  film

  May 30, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: It's not just about the script

  Yes, you should focus on your spec script, but there's much more to learn.

  writing

  May 30, 2024
• Page One: "Blonde" (2022)

  Written for the screen by Andrew Dominik, based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates

  writing

  May 30, 2024
• Break your story in prep

  My only Prep: From Concept to Outline workshop of 2024 begins July 8th.

  writing

  May 29, 2024
• Screenwriting Mantra: Watch Movies. Read Scripts. Write Pages.

  I came up with this screenwriting mantra a decade ago. Still works.

  writing

  May 29, 2024
• How They Write A Script: Wendell Mayes

  Wendell Mayes (1918–1992) had a significant career as a screenwriter and TV writer with quite a range of movies including The Spirit of St...

  writing

  May 29, 2024
• Page One: "The Blob" (1988)

  Screenplay by Chuck Russell & Frank Darabont, story by Irvine H. Millgate, earlier screenplay by Theodore Simonson and Kay Linaker

  writing

  May 29, 2024
• Short Film: "The Smallest Power"

  This compelling animation is the first in a series of The New Yorker documentaries.

  film

  May 28, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Before Midnight"

  The final scene in the 2013 movie Before Midnight, written by Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke, characters by Richard...

  writing

  May 28, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Paul Thomas Anderson

  "Bad movie dialogue speaks in complete sentences without any overlapping or interruption, and avoids elliptical speech, which is truer to...

  writing

  film

  May 28, 2024
• Page One: "Blindspotting" (2018)

  Written by Rafael Casal & Daveed Diggs

  writing

  May 28, 2024
• The Owl Screenwriting Workshop

  Join me in Athens, Greece from October 1–4, 2024.

  writing

  film

  May 27, 2024
• Great Scene: "Citizen Kane"

  The marriage montage is an excellent example of efficient storytelling.

  writing

  May 27, 2024
• On Writing

  "If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse."

  writing

  May 27, 2024
• Page One: "Blankman" (1994)

  Screenplay by Damon Wayans & J.F. Lawton, story by Damon Wayans

  writing

  May 27, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Sam Boyer

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Foragers.

  May 26, 2024
• "Conversations With Wilder": Part 1

  Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17...

  writing

  May 26, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Know your genre

  If you want to write in a genre, you're wise to immerse yourself in it.

  writing

  May 26, 2024
• Page One: "Blades of Glory" (2007)

  Screenplay by Jeff Cox & Craig Cox and John Altschuler & Dave Krinsky, story by Craig Cox & Jeff Cox & Busy Philipps

  writing

  May 26, 2024
• Screenwriting Mantra: What is the point of the scene?

  Begin the scene-writing process by asking this fundamental question.

  writing

  May 25, 2024
• Interview (Part 6): Sam Boyer

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Foragers.

  writing

  May 25, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Being John Malkovich"

  The 7 1/2 floor scene from Being John Malkovich (1999), written by Charlie Kaufman. Setup: Craig (John Cusack) goes to an unusual office...

  writing

  May 25, 2024
• Page One: "Blade Runner 2049" (2017)

  Screenplay by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, story by Hampton Fancher, based on characters from the novel "Do Androids Dream of...

  writing

  May 25, 2024
• How They Write A Script: Richard Matheson

  Richard Matheson has written novels and short stories, as well as screenplays for both film and television. Notably, he is among the few...

  writing

  May 24, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): Sam Boyer

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Foragers.

  writing

  May 24, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: "Nothing succeeds like failure"

  Re-thinking the role of failure in the creative life.

  creativity

  writing

  May 24, 2024
• Page One: "Blade" (1998)

  Written by David S. Goyer

  writing

  May 24, 2024
• Update: "The Protagonist's Journey"

  Named one of 20 Best Story Writing Books of All Time

  writing

  May 23, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): Sam Boyer

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Foragers.

  writing

  May 23, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Living and Writing in L.A.

  Let me say up front, there are advantages for a screenwriter to live in or near Los Angeles. Here are a few key ones:

  writing

  May 23, 2024
• "Black Panther" (2018)

  Written by Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole, based on the Marvel comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

  writing

  May 23, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Facing the odds

  How to sustain creativity in the face of considerable odds against success.

  writing

  May 22, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): Sam Boyer

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Foragers.

  writing

  film

  May 22, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Big Fish"

  A scene from the 2003 movie Big Fish, screenplay by John August, novel by Daniel Wallace.

  writing

  May 22, 2024
• Page One: "Black Christmas" (1975)

  Written by Roy Moore

  writing

  May 22, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: When something happens... something ELSE happens

  The dynamic dual nature of a screenplay universe.

  writing

  May 21, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): Sam Boyer

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Foragers.

  writing

  May 21, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Arash Amel

  "Craft is discipline. I'm a professional. This is my job. You have a lot of hungry agents to feed and a lot of attorneys to feed. The way...

  writing

  May 21, 2024
• Page One: "The Birdcage" (1996)

  Screenplay by Elaine May, earlier screenplay by Francis Veber and Édouard Molinaro and Marcello Danon and Jean Poiret, play by Jean Poiret

  writing

  May 21, 2024
• Deep Focus: Go Into The Movies Project

  Film school on the cheap!

  film

  May 20, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): Sam Boyer

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Foragers.

  writing

  May 20, 2024
• On Writing

  "I write to find out what I didn't know I knew, to find out what I didn't know I felt."

  writing

  May 20, 2024
• Page One: "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey" (1991)

  Written by Chris Matheson & Ed Solomon, based on their characters

  writing

  May 20, 2024
• Screenwriting Mantra: Trust the Process

  "There is a magic to this process that cannot be controlled by the ego. Somehow it always finds the way to the place where you need to be...

  writing

  May 19, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Sean Harrigan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

  May 19, 2024
• Great Scene: "Cast Away"

  In a fundamental way, screenwriting is scene-writing, so the more we learn about this aspect of the craft, the better. One way to do that...

  writing

  film

  May 19, 2024
• Page One: "Big Trouble in Little China" (1986)

  Written by Gary Goldman & David Z. Weinstein, adaptation by W.D. Richter

  writing

  May 19, 2024
• Story Types: Disaster

  In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and...

  writing

  film

  May 18, 2024
• Interview (Part 6): Sean Harrigan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

  writing

  May 18, 2024
• Script To Screen: "The Big Lebowski"

  The scene that kick-starts the entire plot from the 1998 movie The Big Lebowski, written by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen.

  writing

  May 18, 2024
• Page One: "Big Time Adolescence" (2019)

  Written by Jason Orley

  writing

  May 18, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Imagine the movie

  One test of a story concept: Can you imagine it as a movie?

  writing

  May 17, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): Sean Harrigan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

  writing

  May 17, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: Mind Wandering

  "What no [spouse] of a writer can ever understand is that a writer is working when he's staring out of the window."

  writing

  May 17, 2024
• Page One: "The BFG" (2016)

  Screenplay by Melissa Mathison, based on the book by Roald Dahl

  writing

  May 17, 2024
• Happy Birthday, Go Into The Story!

  Launched on May 16, 2008, here we are 5,000+ days of blogging later... but what does it all mean?

  writing

  May 16, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): Sean Harrigan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

  writing

  May 16, 2024
• How They Write A Script: Ben Maddow

  Ben Maddow (1909–1992) had a long successful career in Hollywood as a screenwriter and TV writer. His writing credits include Asphalt...

  writing

  May 16, 2024
• Page One: "The Nutty Professor" (1996)

  Screenplay by David Sheffield & Barry W. Blaustein and Tom Shadyac & Steve Oedekerk

  writing

  May 16, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Hit the Gas"

  Paramount Pictures acquires thriller spec script "Hit the Gas" written by Chris McCoy. Via Deadline:

  film

  May 15, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): Sean Harrigan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

  writing

  May 15, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: There are no screenwriting rules

  There are guidelines, conventional wisdom, patterns, and principles... but no rules.

  writing

  May 15, 2024
• Page One: "Maniac Cop" (1988)

  Written by Larry Cohen

  writing

  May 15, 2024
• 2024 Black List Feature Writer Labs

  Two unique screenwriting labs set in beautiful Ojai, California.

  writing

  May 14, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): Sean Harrigan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

  writing

  May 14, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Jay Presson Allen

  "I don't do anything but write. I get up and I write and I write, until I have to go to sleep; then, I get up, eat something, then go back...

  writing

  film

  May 14, 2024
• Page One: "Tequila Sunrise" (1988)

  Written by Robert Towne

  writing

  May 14, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Write what they're buying or sell them your dream

  There are many writing paths. Here are two of them.

  writing

  May 13, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): Sean Harrigan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

  writing

  May 13, 2024
• On Writing

  "The story must be a conflict, and specifically, a conflict between the forces of good and evil within a single person."

  writing

  May 13, 2024
• Page One: "My Policeman" (2022)

  Screenplay by Ron Nyswaner, based upon the book by Bethan Roberts

  writing

  May 13, 2024
• Screenwriting Mantra: "The story rules"

  The first and last commandment of writing.

  writing

  May 12, 2024
• Story Type: Chick Flick

  "Slang term for a film mainly dealing with love and romance designed to appeal to a female target audience."

  writing

  film

  May 12, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Let's do lunch!

  In the Real World, lunch is a meal that people eat to provide their body and mind sustenance for the remainder of their work day. In...

  writing

  May 12, 2024
• Page One: "The Spy Who Dumped Me" (2018)

  Written by Susanna Fogel & David Iserson

  writing

  May 12, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: Look... don't overlook

  As writers in order for us to have any hope of securing a meaningful degree of understanding of a story universe and its characters, we...

  writing

  May 11, 2024
• Story Type: Chase

  There are genres (e.g., Action, Comedy, Drama). Cross genres (e.g., Action-Thriller, Comedy-Science Fiction). Sub-genres (e.g., Romantic...

  writing

  May 11, 2024
• Screenwriting Mantra: On the other hand...

  One of the best ways for writers to combat the dreaded Voices Of Negativity.

  writing

  May 11, 2024
• Page One: "Mimic" (1997)

  Screenplay by Matthew Robbins & Guillermo del Toro, screen story by Matthew Robbins & Guillermo del Toro, based on a short story by Donald...

  writing

  May 11, 2024
• How They Write A Script: J.F. Lawton

  Screenwriter J.F. Lawton has numerous writing credits including Pretty Woman (1990), Under Siege (1992), Blankman (1994), Chain Reaction...

  writing

  May 10, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: A spec script will not sell unless it has a strong story concept

  If you write a spec script based upon the first story idea that comes into your mind, that script likely won't sell.

  writing

  May 10, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"

  So many great monologues in the 2014 movie Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), but this one may be the best.

  writing

  film

  May 10, 2024
• Page One: "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977)

  Screenplay by Christopher Wood and Richard Maibaum, characters by Ian Fleming

  writing

  May 10, 2024
• Story Type: Briefcase Full Of Cash

  There are genres (e.g., Action, Comedy, Drama). Cross genres (e.g., Action-Thriller, Comedy-Science Fiction). Sub-genres (e.g., Romantic...

  writing

  film

  May 09, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages.

  You can learn pretty much everything you need to know about screenwriting by doing these three things:

  writing

  May 09, 2024
• Great Scene: "The Breakfast Club"

  The classic John Hughes teen comedy The Breakfast Club was released 39 years ago. That's right... you're officially old! In honor of the...

  film

  May 09, 2024
• Page One: "The Nun" (2018)

  Screenplay by Gary Dauberman, story by James Wan & Gary Dauberman

  writing

  May 09, 2024
• Screenwriting Mantra: "Go into the story and find the animals"

  Writing wisdom from a three year-old boy: My son Luke.

  writing

  May 08, 2024
• Script To Screen: "The Birds"

  A scene from the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock thriller The Birds, screenplay by Evan Hunter, short story by Daphne Du Maurier.

  writing

  May 08, 2024
• How They Write A Script: Charlie Kaufman

  "When I started screenwriting, I never really knew what I was doing, but I instinctively understood how to do it."

  writing

  May 08, 2024
• Page One: "The Last Castle" (2001)

  Screenplay by David Scarpa and Graham Yost, story by David Scarpa

  writing

  May 08, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month (2010–2024)

  Over 400 story concepts pulled from news reports free for you to use.

  writing

  May 07, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Dyersville

  Netflix and Higher Ground acquire crime thriller spec script "Dyersville" written by Will Hettinger. Via Deadline:

  film

  May 07, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Jay Presson Allen

  "I've always been interested in the why of human behavior. I think most dramatic writers are natural psychologists."

  writing

  film

  May 07, 2024
• Page One: "The Boxtrolls" (2014)

  Screenplay by Irena Brignull & Adam Pava, novel by Alan Snow, story adapted by Anthony Stacchi & Phil Dale

  writing

  May 07, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Learn the craft

  Being a screenwriter is much more than just writing a script.

  writing

  May 06, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Justin Piasecki

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Stakehorse.

  writing

  film

  May 06, 2024
• On Writing

  "Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too."

  writing

  May 06, 2024
• Page One: "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm" (2020)

  Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern, story...

  writing

  May 06, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: Is the key to creativity "unlearning"?

  What if we are inherently creative as children, then over time lose much of that capability? That possibility is what I discovered when I...

  writing

  May 05, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Laura Stoltz

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

  May 05, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Blade Runner"

  Batty and Deckard's final struggle from the movie Blade Runner (1982), screenplay by Hampton Fancher and David Webb Peoples, based on a...

  writing

  May 05, 2024
• Page One: "Boomerang" (1992)

  Screenplay by Barry W. Blaustein & David Sheffield, story by Eddie Murphy

  writing

  May 05, 2024
• Screenwriting Mantra: Get the damn thing done!

  The one unalterable truth about writing a first draft.

  writing

  May 04, 2024
• Interview (Part 6): Laura Stoltz

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

  writing

  May 04, 2024
• How They Write A Script: Garson Kanin

  Garson Kanin (1919–1999) was a Broadway actor and director, but best known as a screenwriter. His most renowned movies: A Double Life...

  writing

  May 04, 2024
• Page One: "Menace II Society" (1993)

  Screenplay by Tyger Williams, story by Allen Hughes & Albert Hughes

  writing

  May 04, 2024
• "12 Years a Slave": Scene By Scene Breakdown

  The practice of reading scripts is critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. One key to this practice is to work with a scene-by-scene...

  writing

  May 03, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): Laura Stoltz

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

  writing

  May 03, 2024
• Great Scene: "Blue Velvet"

  The introduction of Frank Booth and his obsession with "Mommy."

  film

  May 03, 2024
• Page One: "Lean on Me" (1989)

  Written by Michael Schiffer

  writing

  May 03, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Blood Simple."

  The Coen brothers first feature-length film Blood Simple. (1984) is arguably one of their best.

  writing

  film

  May 02, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): Laura Stoltz

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

  writing

  May 02, 2024
• How They Write a Script: Richard Brooks

  Another in the Go Into The Story series "How They Write a Script," excerpts from interview with notable Hollywood screenwriters. Today, we...

  writing

  May 02, 2024
• Page One: "The Island of Dr. Moreau" (1996)

  Screenplay by Richard Stanley and Ron Hutchinson, novel by H.G. Wells

  writing

  May 02, 2024
• My Writing Workshop Schedule

  Two online workshops this summer... my only ones in 2024!

  writing

  May 01, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): Laura Stoltz

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

  writing

  May 01, 2024
• Great Scene: "Almost Famous"

  Sometimes it's a great idea to put your story's characters together in a situation that 'rattles their cages' — and that's certainly what...

  writing

  May 01, 2024
• Page One: "Phone Booth" (2002)

  Written by Larry Cohen

  writing

  May 01, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 30

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with...

  writing

  Apr 30, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): Laura Stoltz

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

  writing

  Apr 30, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Isaac Adamson

  "The one thing I really like about it is... screenwriting is a kind of format where you spend six weeks or eight weeks or however long you...

  writing

  film

  Apr 30, 2024
• Page One: "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" (2022)

  Screenplay by J.K. Rowling & Steve Kloves, based upon a screenplay by J.K. Rowling

  writing

  Apr 30, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 29

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with...

  writing

  Apr 29, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): Laura Stoltz

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

  writing

  Apr 29, 2024
• On Writing

  "I can remember picking up my father's books before I could read. The words themselves were mostly foreign, but I still remember the exact...

  writing

  Apr 29, 2024
• Page One: "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" (2016)

  Written by Andy Samberg & Akiva Schaffer & Jorma Taccone

  writing

  Apr 29, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 28

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up...

  writing

  Apr 29, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Jake Disch

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Adults in the Room.

  Apr 28, 2024
• Great Scene: "A Christmas Story"

  Tongue meets frozen pole in this memorable scene from the charming 1983 holiday movie.

  film

  Apr 28, 2024
• Page One: "No Hard Feelings" (2023)

  Written by Gene Stupnitsky & John Phillips

  writing

  Apr 28, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 27

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with...

  writing

  Apr 27, 2024
• Interview (Part 6): Jake Disch

  Jake Disch has made the annual Black List two times: In 2018 for his script Gunfight, then in 2023 with The Adults in the Room. Recently, I...

  writing

  Apr 27, 2024
• Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Read your dialogue aloud

  This is truly one of the easiest things you can do to improve your dialogue writing: When you finish a draft of your script, read aloud...

  writing

  Apr 27, 2024
• Page One: "Miss Congeniality" (2000)

  Written by Marc Lawrence & Katie Ford & Caryn Lucas

  writing

  Apr 27, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 26

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with...

  writing

  Apr 26, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): Jake Disch

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Adults in the Room.

  writing

  Apr 26, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Blue Velvet"

  A scene from the 1986 movie Blue Velvet, written by David Lynch.

  writing

  film

  Apr 26, 2024
• Page One: "Batman Returns" (1992)

  Screenplay by Daniel Waters, story by Daniel Waters and Sam Hamm, characters created by Bob Kane

  writing

  Apr 26, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 25

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with...

  writing

  Apr 25, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): Jake Disch

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Adults in the Room.

  writing

  Apr 25, 2024
• How They Write A Script: Shane Black

  Shane Black. Black, along with Joe Eszterhaus, drove the spec script frenzy in the late 80s and early 90s. Shane has an interesting...

  writing

  Apr 25, 2024
• Page One: "Being the Ricardos" (2021)

  Written by Aaron Sorkin

  writing

  Apr 25, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 24

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with...

  writing

  Apr 24, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): Jake Disch

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Adults in the Room.

  writing

  Apr 24, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Here Comes the Dark"

  Paramount Pictures acquires supernatural thriller spec script "Here Comes the Dark" written by Carey Van Dyke and Shane Van Dyke. Via THR:

  film

  Apr 24, 2024
• Page One: "Bean" (1997)

  Written by Richard Curtis & Robin Driscoll

  writing

  Apr 24, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 23

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with...

  writing

  Apr 23, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): Jake Disch

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Adults in the Room.

  writing

  Apr 23, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Billy Ray

  "Don't let anybody outwork you. Don't let anybody out-hustle you. Be the person who's always willing to do more drafts and push yourself...

  writing

  film

  Apr 23, 2024
• Page One: "The Beguiled" (1971)

  Screenplay by Albert Maltz and Irene Kamp, novel by Thomas Cullinan

  writing

  Apr 23, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 22

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with...

  writing

  Apr 22, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): Jake Disch

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Adults in the Room.

  writing

  Apr 22, 2024
• On Writing

  ''Why do we want to have alternate worlds? It's a way of making progress. You have to imagine something before you do it. Therefore, if you...

  writing

  Apr 22, 2024
• Page One: "Batman Forever" (1995)

  Screenplay by Lee Batchler & Janet Scott Batchler and Akiva Goldsman, story by Lee Batchler & Janet Scott Batchler, characters created by...

  writing

  Apr 22, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 21

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up...

  writing

  Apr 21, 2024
• Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Name That Tune!

  Pick songs which speak to the core essence of specific characters.

  writing

  Apr 21, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: There is no right way to write

  Learn all you can, but ultimately it's about your Stories and your Creative Self.

  writing

  Apr 21, 2024
• Page One: "Baywatch" (2017)

  Screenplay by Damian Shannon & Mark Swift, story by Jay Scherick & David Ronn and Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant

  writing

  Apr 21, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 20

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up...

  writing

  Apr 20, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Adam Best

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Wolf in Chiefs Clothing.

  Apr 20, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Bonnie and Clyde"

  The ending sequence from the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde, written by David Newman & Robert Benton.

  writing

  Apr 20, 2024
• Page One: "Batman & Robin" (1997)

  Written by Akiva Goldsman, characters created by Bob Kane

  writing

  Apr 20, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 19

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with...

  writing

  Apr 19, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): Adam Best

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Wolf in Chiefs Clothing.

  writing

  Apr 19, 2024
• How They Write A Script: Walter Bernstein

  Walter Bernstein was born 1919 and thankfully is still with us, a screenwriter with a lengthy career in which he managed to survive 4 years...

  writing

  Apr 19, 2024
• Page One: "Bed Rest" (2022)

  Written by Lori Evans Taylor

  writing

  Apr 19, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 18

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with...

  writing

  Apr 18, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): Adam Best

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Wolf in Chiefs Clothing.

  writing

  Apr 18, 2024
• Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Create an argument

  Let's say you're stuck writing a flat scene. No matter how you've approached it, the scene just lays there.

  writing

  Apr 18, 2024
• Page One: "Batman" (1989)

  Screenplay by Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren, story by Sam Hamm, characters created by Bob Kane

  writing

  Apr 18, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 17

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up...

  writing

  Apr 17, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): Adam Best

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Wolf in Chiefs Clothing.

  writing

  Apr 17, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Braveheart"

  A scene from the 1995 movie Braveheart, written by Randall Wallace.

  writing

  Apr 17, 2024
• Page One: "Carrie" (1976)

  Screenplay by Lawrence D. Cohen, novel by Stephen King

  writing

  Apr 17, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 16

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with...

  writing

  Apr 16, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): Adam Best

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Wolf in Chiefs Clothing.

  writing

  Apr 16, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Lucy Alibar

  "Writing that scene ... I had to run a lot that day. I would write a little bit, go for a run, and come back. It helped me get rid of that...

  writing

  Apr 16, 2024
• Page One: "Barney's Version" (2010)

  Written by Zach Cregger

  writing

  Apr 16, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 15

  This is the 14th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 15, 2024
• On Writing

  "Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats."

  writing

  Apr 15, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): Adam Best

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Wolf in Chiefs Clothing.

  writing

  Apr 15, 2024
• Page One: "Barbarian" (2022)

  Written by Zach Cregger

  writing

  Apr 15, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 14

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  film

  Apr 14, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Chris Parizo

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Kazan.

  Apr 14, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Untitled Potential Emma Stone Project"

  Universal Pictures acquires an untitled drama comedy spec script written by Patrick Kang and Michael Levin. Via Deadline:

  film

  Apr 14, 2024
• Page One: "Bad Times at the El Royale" (2018)

  Written by Drew Goddard

  writing

  Apr 14, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 13

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 13, 2024
• Interview (Part 6): Chris Parizo

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Kazan.

  writing

  Apr 13, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Carrie"

  To me, the most interesting relationship in the 1976 movie Carrie, screenplay by Lawrence D. Cohen, novel by Stephen King, is the one...

  writing

  Apr 13, 2024
• Page One: "Bad Teacher" (2011)

  Written by Gene Stupnitsky & Lee Eisenberg

  writing

  Apr 13, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 12

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 12, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): Chris Parizo

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Kazan.

  writing

  Apr 12, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Flavor-Of-The-Week

  If you sell a spec script or make the annual Black List, you will take LOTS of meetings in Hollywood.

  writing

  Apr 12, 2024
• Page One: "Bad Moms" (2016)

  Written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore

  writing

  Apr 12, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 11

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 11, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): Chris Parizo

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Kazan.

  writing

  Apr 11, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Cast Away"

  From Cast Away, written by William Broyles, Jr..

  writing

  Apr 11, 2024
• Page One: "Bad Lieutenant" (1992)

  Written by Zoë Lund & Abel Ferrara

  writing

  Apr 11, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 10

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 10, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): Chris Parizo

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Kazan.

  writing

  Apr 10, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Scott Alexander

  "My real life is totally inhibited: A cliched domestic existence, happily playing in my yard with my wife and kids. But through the...

  writing

  film

  Apr 10, 2024
• Page One: "The Babysitter" (2017)

  Written by Brian Duffield

  writing

  Apr 10, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 9

  This is the 14th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 09, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): Chris Parizo

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Kazan.

  writing

  Apr 09, 2024
• Unpacking the Mysteries of Screenplay Time

  Flashback, Flashforward, Set-Up / Payoff, Callback, Montage, Series of Shots, Cross Cut, Visual-to-Visual Transition, Audio-to- Audio...

  writing

  Apr 09, 2024
• Page One: "American Ultra" (2015)

  Written by Max Landis

  writing

  Apr 09, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 8

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 08, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): Chris Parizo

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Kazan.

  music

  writing

  Apr 08, 2024
• On Writing

  "Having imagination, it takes you an hour to write a paragraph that, if you were unimaginative, would take you only a minute. Or you might...

  writing

  Apr 08, 2024
• Page One: "All the Old Knives" (2022)

  Screenplay by Olen Steinhauer based on his book

  writing

  Apr 08, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 7

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 07, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Filipe Coutinho

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Patsy.

  Apr 07, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Celeste & Jesse Forever"

  A memorable scene from the 2012 movie Celeste & Jesse Forever, written Rashida Jones and Will McCormack.

  writing

  Apr 07, 2024
• Page One: "Alien" (1979)

  Screenplay by Dan O'Bannon, story by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett, uncredited Walter Hill & David Giler

  writing

  Apr 07, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 6

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 06, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): Filipe Coutinho

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Patsy.

  writing

  Apr 06, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Chinatown"

  The memorable ending of the classic 1974 movie Chinatown, written by Robert Towne.

  writing

  film

  Apr 06, 2024
• Page One: "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane" (2006)

  Written by Jacob Forman

  writing

  Apr 06, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 5

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 05, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): Filipe Coutinho

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Patsy.

  writing

  Apr 05, 2024
• Writing Tip: Three-Act Structure as Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis

  How we can apply this theory of dialectics to the story-crafting process.

  writing

  Apr 05, 2024
• Page One: "All Is True" (2018)

  Written by Ben Elton

  writing

  Apr 05, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 4

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 04, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): Filipe Coutinho

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Patsy.

  writing

  Apr 04, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: John August

  "I counted it up once. I think I have written 45 full screenplays. Of those, maybe 15 have been shot, in some form. That's a pretty good...

  writing

  film

  Apr 04, 2024
• Page One: "Alien vs. Predator" (2004)

  Screenplay by Paul W.S. Anderson, screen story by Paul W.S. Anderson and Dan O'Bannon & Ronald Shusett, "Predator" characters by Jim Thomas...

  writing

  Apr 04, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 3

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 03, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "The Bet"

  Warner Bros. Pictures acquires dark comedy thriller spec script "The Bet" written by Javier Gullón. Via Deadline:

  film

  Apr 03, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): Filipe Coutinho

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Patsy.

  writing

  Apr 03, 2024
• Page One: "The Aviator" (2004)

  Written by John Logan

  writing

  Apr 03, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 2

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work...

  writing

  Apr 02, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "How to Save a Marriage"

  Sony Pictures Entertainment acquires spec script "How to Save a Marriage" written by Ross Evans. Via Deadline:

  writing

  film

  Apr 02, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): Filipe Coutinho

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Patsy.

  writing

  Apr 02, 2024
• Page One: "The Avengers" (2012)

  Screenplay by Joss Whedon, story by Zak Penn and Joss Whedon

  writing

  Apr 02, 2024
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 1

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work...

  writing

  Apr 01, 2024
• Theme = Meaning

  This one-week online class (begins April 8) focuses on theme: what it is, how it functions, and how to use themes to enrich your stories.

  writing

  Apr 01, 2024
• On Writing

  "It doesn't matter what time of day you work, but you have to work every day because creation, like life, is always slipping away from you...

  writing

  Apr 01, 2024
• Page One: "Audrey Rose" (1977)

  Written by Frank De Felitta

  writing

  Apr 01, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 31

  Zero Draft Thirty: Day 30.

  writing

  humor

  Mar 31, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Drop"

  Universal Pictures acquires thriller spec script "Drop" written by Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach. Via Deadline:

  film

  Mar 31, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Citizen Kane"

  A memorable scene from the 1941 movie Citizen Kane, original screen play by Herman J. Mankiewicz & Orson Welles.

  writing

  Mar 31, 2024
• Page One: "Atomic Blonde" (2017)

  Screenplay by Kurt Johnstad, based on the graphic novel series "The Coldest City" written by Antony Johnston and Sam Hart

  writing

  Mar 31, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 30

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 30, 2024
• Page One: "Anthropoid" (2016)

  Written by Sean Ellis & Anthony Frewin

  writing

  Mar 30, 2024
• Page One: "Argentina, 1985" (2022)

  Screenplay by Santiago Mitre and Mariano Llinás

  writing

  Mar 30, 2024
• Page One: "Ask the Dust" (2006)

  Screenplay by Robert Towne, novel by John Fante

  writing

  Mar 30, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 29

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 29, 2024
• Page One: "Assassination Nation" (2018)

  Written by Sam Levinson

  writing

  Mar 29, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 26

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 26, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Clerks"

  A scene from the 1994 movie Clerks., written by Kevin Smith.

  writing

  Mar 26, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: John Milius

  "A writer's greatest fear now is not that he's going to be no good when he sits down to write. A writer's greatest fear is that he's going...

  writing

  Mar 26, 2024
• Page One: "Anthropoid" (2016)

  Written by Sean Ellis & Anthony Frewin

  writing

  Mar 26, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 25

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 25, 2024
• "I got my first TV writing job at 55"

  Craig T. Williams shares the story about how decades learning the craft, writing scripts, and networking resulted in landing a TV staff...

  writing

  Mar 25, 2024
• On Writing

  "You can never read your own book with the innocent anticipation that comes with that first delicious page of a new book, because you wrote...

  writing

  Mar 25, 2024
• Page One: "Animal Kingdom" (2010)

  Written by David Michôd

  writing

  Mar 25, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 24

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 24, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Ballistic"

  Paramount acquires action comedy spec script "Ballistic" written by John Swetnam. Via Deadline:

  writing

  film

  Mar 24, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Collateral"

  A scene from the 2004 movie Collateral, written by Stuart Beattie.

  writing

  Mar 24, 2024
• Page One: "Angels & Demons" (2009)

  Screenplay by David Koepp and Akiva Goldsman, novel by Dan Brown

  writing

  Mar 24, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 23

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 23, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Kevin Sheridan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Backcountry.

  writing

  Mar 23, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Cool Hand Luke"

  A key scene from the 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke, screenplay by Donn Pearce and Frank Pierson, novel by Donn Pearce.

  writing

  Mar 23, 2024
• Page One: "Angels With Dirty Faces" (1938)

  Screen play by John Wexley and Warren Duff, story by Rowland Brown, uncredited Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur

  writing

  Mar 23, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 22

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 22, 2024
• Interview (Part 5): Kevin Sheridan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Backcountry.

  writing

  Mar 22, 2024
• How insane is it for a 46 year-old to try to start a Hollywood writing career?

  It's crazy, but then it's crazy for ANYONE to expect to break into Hollywood.

  writing

  Mar 22, 2024
• Page One: "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" (2004)

  Written by Will Ferrell & Adam McKay

  writing

  Mar 22, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 21

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 21, 2024
• Interview (Part 4): Kevin Sheridan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Backcountry.

  writing

  Mar 21, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"

  A great fight scene from the 2000 movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, screenplay by Hui-Ling Wang and James Schamus and Kuo Jung Tsai...

  writing

  Mar 21, 2024
• Page One: "Anastasia" (1997)

  Screenplay by Susan Gauthier & Bruce Graham and Bob Tzudiker & Noni White

  writing

  Mar 21, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 20

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 20, 2024
• The State of the Spec Script Market

  I get questions...

  writing

  Mar 20, 2024
• Interview (Part 3): Kevin Sheridan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Backcountry.

  writing

  film

  Mar 20, 2024
• Page One: "Analyze That" (2002)

  Written by Peter Steinfeld and Harold Ramis and Peter Tolan, characters by Kenneth Lonergan and Peter Tolan

  writing

  Mar 20, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 19

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  creativity

  writing

  Mar 19, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Amy Berg

  "For me, there's no set formula, but you always want your characters to lead the plot, rather than plot leading your characters. The way to...

  writing

  Mar 19, 2024
• Interview (Part 2): Kevin Sheridan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Backcountry.

  writing

  Mar 19, 2024
• Page One: "Anaconda" (1997)

  Written by Hans Bauer and Jim Cash & Jack Epps Jr.

  writing

  Mar 19, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 18

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 18, 2024
• Interview (Part 1): Kevin Sheridan

  My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Backcountry.

  writing

  Mar 18, 2024
• On Writing

  "Nothing is more satisfying than to write a good sentence. It is no fun to write lumpishly, dully, in prose the reader must plod through...

  writing

  Mar 18, 2024
• Page One: "An Unmarried Woman" (1978)

  Written by Paul Mazursky

  writing

  Mar 18, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 17

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 17, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Dallas Buyers Club"

  Ron 'asks' someone to shake Rayon's hand in a scene from the 2013 movie written by Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack.

  writing

  Mar 17, 2024
• Interview: Franklin Leonard

  Topic: Who Really Won the Oscars.

  film

  Mar 17, 2024
• Page One: "The Amityville Horror" (1979)

  Screenplay by Sandor Stern, based on a book by Jay Anson

  writing

  Mar 17, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 16

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 16, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Dead Poets Society"

  The ending scene of the movie Dead Poets Society, written by Tom Schulman.

  writing

  Mar 16, 2024
• Beyond Words 2024 — Writers Guild Awards Screenplay Nominees

  An audio recording of the recent WGA event featuring screenwriters nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Screenplay.

  writing

  film

  Mar 16, 2024
• Page One: "Amistad" (1997)

  Written by David Franzoni

  writing

  Mar 16, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 15

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 15, 2024
• How and when is it okay to use voice-over narration?

  The supposed Hollywood conventional wisdom is NOT to use V.O. narration.

  writing

  Mar 15, 2024
• Volunteers Wanted!

  Do you have a favorite movie from 2023? Here is an opportunity to dig deeper into why it works: Read that movie's script and create a...

  writing

  film

  Mar 15, 2024
• Page One: "The Beekeeper" (2024)

  Written by Kurt Wimmer

  writing

  Mar 15, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 14

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 14, 2024
• Script To Screen: "The Deer Hunter"

  The end scene in the 1978 movie The Deer Hunter.

  writing

  film

  Mar 14, 2024
• "If my story's main character is a 'bad guy,' do they need a 'Save the Cat' moment?"

  From Mragendra Singh:

  writing

  Mar 14, 2024
• Page One: "Private Benjamin" (1980)

  Written by Nancy Meyers & Charles Shyer & Harvey Miller

  writing

  Mar 14, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 13

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 13, 2024
• Writing Tip: The Challenge of Writing Dialogue

  How to be entertaining, yet serve the story by advancing the plot?

  writing

  Mar 13, 2024
• Writing as a Protagonist's journey

  Most stories involve a Protagonist going on a journey. Whether it's physical, spiritual, geographical, symbolic or all of the above, a...

  writing

  Mar 13, 2024
• Page One: "Tango & Cash" (1989)

  Written by Randy Feldman

  writing

  Mar 13, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 12

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 12, 2024
• Screenwriting as Scene-Writing

  My unique 1-week online course begins Monday, April 1st.

  writing

  Mar 12, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Joe Eszterhas

  "Don't let the bastards get you down. If you can't sell your script, or if you sell the script and they bring in another writer to butcher...

  writing

  film

  Mar 12, 2024
• Page One: "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006)

  Written by Will Ferrell & Adam McKay

  writing

  Mar 12, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 11

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 11, 2024
• Need writing inspiration? Go to an airport.

  All those arrivals and departures represent a non-stop flow of stories.

  writing

  Mar 11, 2024
• On Writing

  "Our minds and souls contain volumes inscribed by our experiences and emotions; each individual's consciousness is a collection of memories...

  writing

  Mar 11, 2024
• Page One: "Swingers" (1996)

  Written by Jon Favreau

  writing

  Mar 11, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 10

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 10, 2024
• Reader Question: How to write period-authentic dialogue?

  The three keys to writing dialogue which sounds like it is authentic to a specific time period: Research, Character Development...

  writing

  Mar 10, 2024
• The Theology of Cinema: Cross

  "A six-pointed star, a crescent moon, a lotus — the symbols of other religions suggest beauty and light. The symbol of Christianity is an...

  writing

  film

  Mar 10, 2024
• Page One: "Ambulance" (2022)

  Screenplay by Chris Fedak, based on the movie written by Laurits Munch-Petersen and Lars Andreas Pedersen

  writing

  Mar 10, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 9

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 09, 2024
• Script To Screen: "The Departed"

  The violent elevator scene in the 2006 movie, screenplay by William Monahan.

  writing

  Mar 09, 2024
• Video: 96th Oscars | Presenting the Best Picture Nominees

  Check out this inspiring video from The Academy.

  film

  Mar 09, 2024
• Page One: "All the Money in the World" (2017)

  Written by David Scarpa, based on a book by John Pearson

  writing

  Mar 09, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 8

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 08, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Do the Right Thing"

  Latent anger turns to hostility into violence in this intense scene from the 1989 movie Do the Right Thing, written by Spike Lee.

  writing

  Mar 08, 2024
• Believing is seeing

  A twist on the old saying, "Seeing is believing."

  writing

  Mar 08, 2024
• Page One: "Alex Cross" (2012)

  Screenplay by Marc Moss and Kerry Williamson, novel by James Patterson

  writing

  Mar 08, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 7

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity

  writing

  Mar 07, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Dog Day Afternoon"

  Perhaps the most memorable scene from the 1975 movie Dog Day Afternoon, screenplay by Frank Pierson.

  writing

  Mar 07, 2024
• Screenwriting Tip: Listen to a Movie

  Let's say you have a moment of clarity. You admit to yourself that your ability to write dialogue could use a boost.

  writing

  Mar 07, 2024
• Page One: "Airplane II: The Sequel" (1982)

  Written by Ken Finkleman

  writing

  Mar 07, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 6

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 06, 2024
• Virtual Production and You ... the Screenwriter

  "Technology is coming to take away our jobs as screenwriters" ... except when it isn't. In fact, it can make our job easier ... and better!

  writing

  film

  Mar 06, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Donnie Darko"

  A scene from the 2001 movie Donnie Darko, written and directed Richard Kelly.

  writing

  Mar 06, 2024
• Page One: "Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1964)

  Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick & Terry Southern & Peter George, based on the book "Red Alert" by Peter George

  writing

  Mar 06, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 5

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 05, 2024
• Why Did They Cut This Scene From "Aliens"?

  The scene underscores why Ripley's relationship with Newt is so impactful psychologically and emotionally. So, why did they cut it from the...

  writing

  film

  Mar 05, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Nora Ephron

  On the importance of a script having a great ending:

  writing

  film

  Mar 05, 2024
• Page One: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

  Screenplay by Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish, based on "The Adventures of Tintin" by Hergé

  writing

  Mar 05, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 4

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 04, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Double Indemnity"

  A key scene from the classic 1944 thriller Double Indemnity, screenplay by Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler, novel by James M. Cain.

  writing

  Mar 04, 2024
• On Writing

  "Don't take yourself too seriously. Take the work seriously, take the time to do it everyday, but don't get all bent out of shape about...

  writing

  Mar 04, 2024
• Page One: "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane" (1990)

  Screenplay by Daniel Waters and James Cappe & David Arnott, story by James Cappe & David Arnott, characters by Rex Weiner

  writing

  Mar 04, 2024
• 2023 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 3

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 03, 2024
• The Theology of Cinema: Congregation

  In giving themselves over to a larger cause, the individuals forge themselves together as a congregation.

  writing

  film

  Mar 03, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"

  Peter Sellers in one of three roles he plays in the movie: U.S. President.

  writing

  Mar 03, 2024
• Page One: "The Adjustment Bureau" (2011)

  Screenplay by George Nolfi, short story "Adjustment Team" by Philip K. Dick

  writing

  Mar 03, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 2

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 02, 2024
• Video: Eric Roth

  Interview with the award-wining screenwriter of Forrest Gump, Dune, and Killers of the Flower Moon among numerous other notable films.

  film

  Mar 02, 2024
• Screenwriting Tip: The Six Word Test

  If you're having trouble finding the focus of your story, try this test.

  writing

  Mar 02, 2024
• Page One: "Addams Family Values" (1993)

  Written by Paul Rudnick, characters by Charles Addams

  writing

  Mar 02, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 1

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 01, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Election"

  A critical plot point in this fantastic comedy.

  writing

  Mar 01, 2024
• Writing Tip: Free Association

  Sometimes if you're stuck in your writing, it's best just to cut loose.

  writing

  Mar 01, 2024
• Page One: "Action Jackson" (1988)

  Written by Robert Reneau

  writing

  Mar 01, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Get Your Head On Straight

  It's time to gear up for the latest Challenge which begins tomorrow!

  writing

  Feb 29, 2024
• The Black List Opens Submissions For Six Diversity Lists

  Introduces The Desi List For South Asian Writers

  writing

  film

  Feb 29, 2024
• How to approach writing a story with multiple main characters

  Exploring three keys to writing multilinear screenplays.

  writing

  Feb 29, 2024
• Page One: "The Accountant" (2016)

  Written by Bill Dubuque

  writing

  Feb 29, 2024
• Reader Question: How to create genuinely unique character voices?

  As opposed to the characters all sounding alike... or like the writer.

  writing

  Feb 28, 2024
• Ethan Coen reviews Joel Coen's movie. Joel Coen reviews Ethan Coen's movie.

  The result? Hilarity.

  film

  Feb 28, 2024
• Script To Screen: "The Elephant Man"

  A scene from the 1980 movie The Elephant Man, screenplay by Christopher De Vore & Eric Bergren & David Lynch.

  writing

  Feb 28, 2024
• Page One: "The Accidental Tourist" (1988)

  Screenplay by Frank Galati and Lawrence Kasdan, novel by Anne Tyler

  writing

  Feb 28, 2024
• Writing Dialogue

  Nothing catches the eye of a script reader or actor more than distinctive, entertaining dialogue. Up your dialogue-writing chops in this...

  writing

  Feb 27, 2024
• Script To Screen: "The English Patient"

  A moment of obsessed love explored in this scene from the 1996 movie The English Patient, screenplay by Anthony Minghella, novel by Michael...

  writing

  Feb 27, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Aaron Sorkin

  "I love writing but hate starting. The page is awfully white, and it says, 'You may have fooled some of the people some of the time, but...

  writing

  film

  Feb 27, 2024
• Page One: "16 Blocks" (2006)

  Written by Richard Wenk

  writing

  Feb 27, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — Character Development

  A series to help prepare writers for next month's Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

  writing

  Feb 26, 2024
• Character-Driven Storytelling

  Read the entire Twitter thread of my conversation with the #scriptchat community.

  writing

  Feb 26, 2024
• On Writing

  "Simply this: you sit down and make a list of the ten things that have to happen in your novel — the character actions or physical events...

  writing

  Feb 26, 2024
• Page One: "1408" (2007)

  Screenplay by Matt Greenberg and Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski, short story by Stephen King

  writing

  Feb 26, 2024
• Reader Question: What makes a movie a big budget versus small?

  There are choices a writer can make at the script stage which directly influence a project's budget ... and its potential viability for...

  writing

  Feb 25, 2024
• The Theology of Cinema: Purgatory

  "If we look at purgatory metaphorically, a circumstance in which the visitor must suffer in the 'furnace of affliction in order to...

  writing

  film

  Feb 25, 2024
• Video: A Conversation with Martin Scorsese

  Hosted by filmmaker Edgar Wright.

  film

  Feb 25, 2024
• Page One: "22 Jump Street" (2014)

  Screenplay by Michael Bacall and Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman, story by Michael Bacall & Jonah Hill

  writing

  Feb 25, 2024
• Reader Question: Are there any script rules that really shouldn't be broken?

  Or this: "How can you break screenwriting rules if there are none?"

  writing

  Feb 24, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Erin Brockovich"

  A compelling scene from the 2000 movie Erin Brockovich, written by Susannah Grant.

  writing

  Feb 24, 2024
• Video: Christopher Nolan in Conversation

  A BFI hosted 45-minute Q&A with the noted filmmaker.

  writing

  film

  Feb 24, 2024
• Page One: "2010: The Year We Make Contact" (1984)

  Screenplay by Peter Hyams, novel by Arthur C. Clarke

  writing

  Feb 24, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — Genre Bend

  A series to help prepare writers for next month's Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

  writing

  Feb 23, 2024
• Reader Question: Should I write a science fiction script on spec or not?

  I get this question occasionally, something like this:

  writing

  Feb 23, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Excalibur"

  A key early scene in the 1981 movie Excalibur, screenplay by Rospo Pallenberg and John Boorman, book by Thomas Malory.

  writing

  Feb 23, 2024
• Page One: "The 'Burbs" (1989)

  Written by Dana Olsen

  writing

  Feb 23, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — Gender Bend

  A series to help prepare writers for next month's Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

  writing

  Feb 22, 2024
• Read all 10 WGA Award Nominated Scripts

  Original Screenplays: Air, Barbie, The Holdovers, May December, Past Lives. Adapted Screenplays: American Fiction, Are You There God? It's...

  writing

  film

  Feb 22, 2024
• Writing Tip: Adverbs = Bad Writing?

  A seemingly innocuous Stephen King quote provokes online controversy.

  writing

  Feb 22, 2024
• Page One: "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982)

  Written by Cameron Crowe

  writing

  Feb 22, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — Script Diary

  A series to help prepare writers for next month's Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

  writing

  Feb 21, 2024
• Script To Screen: "The Fabulous Baker Boys"

  The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) is a wonderful romantic comedy, written and directed by Steve Kloves who later went on to write 7 out of the...

  writing

  film

  Feb 21, 2024
• Reader Question: Do characters "own" a scene?

  Ownership is less important than underlying conflict between characters.

  writing

  Feb 21, 2024
• Page One: "Past Lives" (2023)

  Written by Celine Song

  writing

  Feb 21, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — Index Cards!

  A series to help prepare writers for next month's Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

  writing

  Feb 20, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Darren Aronofsky

  "First, you start with an idea, then you start to flesh out the structure, and that's a long process. I think that's where we spend a lot...

  writing

  film

  Feb 20, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Fargo"

  Here is a terrific scene from a terrific movie, the 1996 film Fargo, screenplay by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen for which they won an Academy...

  writing

  Feb 20, 2024
• Page One: "Five Easy Pieces" (1970)

  Screenplay by Carole Eastman, story by Bob Rafelson and Carole Eastman

  writing

  Feb 20, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — "What if..."

  A series to help prepare writers for next month's Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

  writing

  Feb 19, 2024
• Screenwriting Tip: "When something happens... something ELSE happens"

  The dynamic dual nature of a screenplay universe.

  writing

  Feb 19, 2024
• On Writing

  "Anton Chekhov gave some advice about revising a story: first, he said, throw out the first three pages. As a young writer I figured that...

  writing

  Feb 19, 2024
• Page One: "Airplane!" (1980)

  Written for the screen by Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry Zucker

  writing

  Feb 19, 2024
• My Favorite Five Films at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival

  Amidst a strong slate of movies, these five films stood out.

  film

  Feb 18, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"

  A memorable scene from the 1982 comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High, written by Cameron Crowe.

  writing

  Feb 18, 2024
• Page One: "Altered States" (1980)

  Written for the screen by Paddy Chayefsky as Sidney Aaron, based on the novel by Paddy Chayefsky

  writing

  Feb 18, 2024
• Memorable Monologues in 2023 Movies

  This L.A. Times article features some "meaty speeches" from some of last year's most notable movies.

  writing

  film

  Feb 17, 2024
• Interviews: Jonathan Glazer

  Conversations with the writer-director of The Zone of Interest, nominated for five Academy Awards.

  writing

  film

  Feb 17, 2024
• Page One: "300" (2006)

  Screenplay by Zack Snyder & Kurt Johnstad and Michael B. Gordon, graphic novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley

  writing

  Feb 17, 2024
• Roger Deakins at DePaul!

  Last week, the two-time Oscar-winning cinematographer and his Team Deakins partner James spent four days in Chicago. Here are three things...

  writing

  film

  Feb 16, 2024
• The Theology of Cinema: Conversion

  A character transforming from their Old Self into a New Self is a narrative arc we see time and time again, a kind of "conversion"...

  writing

  film

  Feb 16, 2024
• Page One: "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" (2012)

  Screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith, novel by Seth Grahame-Smith

  writing

  Feb 16, 2024
• Screenwriting Tip: What do you want the audience to feel...

  ...when they walk out of the theater at the end of your movie?

  writing

  Feb 15, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"

  A scene from the wonderful 1986 comedy Ferris Bueller's Day Off, written and directed by John Hughes.

  writing

  Feb 15, 2024
• Page One: "2 Fast 2 Furious" (2003)

  Screenplay by Michael Brandt & Derek Haas, story by Michael Brandt & Derek Haas and Gary Scott Thompson, characters by Gary Scott Thompson

  writing

  Feb 15, 2024
• Writing Tip: The Difference Between a Character's Want and Need

  One is a conscious goal. The other is an unconscious goal.

  writing

  Feb 14, 2024
• How to convey a character's emotional state in scene description?

  How much latitude does a screenwriter have to editorialize or comment on a character's inner state of being?

  writing

  Feb 14, 2024
• Page One: "Three Amigos!" (1986)

  Written by Steve Martin and Lorne Michaels and Randy Newman

  writing

  Feb 14, 2024
• Style = Voice

  Style goes beyond mere "scene description." My one-week online class focuses on expressing your voice on the page. It begins February 26th.

  writing

  Feb 13, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Matt Duffer

  "The first thing our Chapman screenwriting professors taught us was that all stories share one thing in common: there is a protagonist, and...

  writing

  film

  Feb 13, 2024
• Page One: "Chaplin" (1992)

  Screenplay by William Boyd and Bryan Forbes and William Goldman, story by Diana Hawkins, book by David Robinson and Charles Chaplin

  writing

  Feb 13, 2024
• A Zero Draft Thirty Success Story

  You can use the month of March to pound out a screenplay. Maybe it will lead to a movie getting made ... like this writer!

  writing

  Feb 12, 2024
• On Writing

  "The three-act structure is the form that I grew up in the theater with. You generally present a situation in Act I, and by the end of Act...

  writing

  Feb 12, 2024
• Page One: "The King of Comedy" (1982)

  Written by Paul D. Zimmerman

  writing

  Feb 12, 2024
• Writing Tip: When 3-Act Structure is 4-Act Structure

  "Per Aristotle, while we may still think of a story having three acts — Beginning, Middle, End — at a psychological level in the narrative...

  writing

  Feb 11, 2024
• Script To Screen: "A Few Good Men"

  A scene from the 1992 movie A Few Good Men, screenplay by Aaron Sorkin based on his play.

  writing

  Feb 11, 2024
• Page One: "Good Morning, Vietnam" (1987)

  Written by Mitch Markowitz, based on a story by Adrian Cronauer

  writing

  Feb 11, 2024
• 60 Second Screenwriter: What's a log line?

  A video series addressing key screenwriting concerns in one minute.

  writing

  film

  Feb 10, 2024
• Script To Screen: "The Fisher King"

  A notable scene from the 1991 movie The Fisher King, written by Richard LaGravenese.

  writing

  Feb 10, 2024
• Page One: "Knock at the Cabin" (2023)

  Screenplay by by M. Night Shyamalan and Steve Desmond & Michael Sherman, based on the book "The Cabin at the End of the World" written by...

  writing

  Feb 10, 2024
• Film School on the Cheap

  Resources put together by members of the Go Into The Story community.

  Feb 09, 2024
• Writing and the Creative Life: "Come to the edge"

  Going beyond the edge of the Old World into the New World can be a terrifying experience, but a necessary one for the transformation...

  writing

  Feb 09, 2024
• Page One: "Dirty Harry" (1971)

  Screenplay by Harry Julian Fink & R. M. Fink and Dean Riesner, story by Harry Julian Fink & R. M. Fink

  writing

  Feb 09, 2024
• Writing Tip: The Importance of Subplots

  A five-part series on a movie's many mini-stories.

  writing

  Feb 08, 2024
• What if you fall out of love with a script?

  "What about a script you fall out of love with after 2–3 drafts, and just can't finish? Put it aside for now or just push through?"

  writing

  Feb 08, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: When you don't get the gig

  We are seated in the expansive office of a top Hollywood director and we are having a great time. I mean a really great time. We talk about...

  writing

  Feb 08, 2024
• Page One: "Get Carter" (1971)

  Screenplay by Mike Hodges, novel by Ted Lewis

  writing

  Feb 08, 2024
• David Milch: "The Writer's Voice" (5-Part Series)

  Videos and transcripts from Milch's legendary 2001 and 2007 WGA series.

  writing

  Feb 07, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Five Easy Pieces"

  The famous 'hold the chicken' scene from Five Easy Pieces, screenplay by Carole Eastman, story by Carole Eastman and Bob Rafelson.

  writing

  Feb 07, 2024
• Page One: "Chariots of Fire" (1981)

  Written by Colin Welland

  writing

  Feb 07, 2024
• Reflections of 2023 Black List Feature Writer's Lab Participants

  Writers who participated in last year's Black List Feature Writer's Lab reflect on their experience.

  writing

  Feb 06, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Scott Frank

  "It has to come from character. I'm always going back to the people. Why character? It's about what makes a person a person. What do they...

  writing

  Feb 06, 2024
• Page One: "12 Strong" (2018)

  Written by Ted Tally and Peter Craig, based on the book, "Horse Soldiers" by Doug Stanton

  writing

  Feb 06, 2024
• Writing Tip: The Value of Three Scripts

  You write, you learn. Three scripts is a good minimum number for starting to understand the craft.

  writing

  Feb 05, 2024
• On Writing

  "'Character is Fate,' said Heraclitus in 500 B.C. or thereabouts. But 'Our characters are the result of our conduct,' added Aristotle a...

  writing

  Feb 05, 2024
• Page One: "The Cotton Club" (1984)

  Screenplay by William Kennedy & Francis Coppola, story by William Kennedy & Francis Coppola and Mario Puzo

  writing

  Feb 05, 2024
• The Hero's Journey as a Short Film

  Pixar shows it's possible to adapt the Hero's Journey in short form storytelling.

  writing

  film

  Feb 04, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Flight"

  A scene from the 2012 movie Flight, written by John Gatins.

  writing

  Feb 04, 2024
• Page One: "To Catch a Killer" (2023)

  Written by Damián Szifron & Jonathan Wakeham

  writing

  Feb 04, 2024
• What about the Protagonist and the inciting incident?

  "Something. Happens. In my view, that is the essence of an inciting incident."

  writing

  Feb 03, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Frozen"

  A scene from the 2013 animated movie Frozen, screenplay by Jennifer Lee, inspired by the story "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen...

  writing

  Feb 03, 2024
• Page One: "A Time to Kill" (1996)

  Screenplay by Akiva Goldsman, novel by John Grisham

  writing

  Feb 03, 2024
• Is there a rule as to how many "cuss words" can be used in a script?

  Delving into the sometimes mysterious world of the MPAA ratings system.

  writing

  film

  Feb 02, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Galaxy Quest"

  A fun early scene from the 1999 movie Galaxy Quest, screenplay by David Howard and Robert Gordon, story by David Howard.

  writing

  Feb 02, 2024
• Page One: "Anger Management" (2003)

  Written by David Dorfman

  writing

  Feb 02, 2024
• 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge!

  One month. Fade In. Fade Out. Write an entire zero draft.

  writing

  Feb 01, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Get Shorty"

  A scene from the 1995 movie Get Shorty, screenplay by Scott Frank, book by Elmore Leonard.

  writing

  Feb 01, 2024
• Page One: "Red Heat" (1988)

  Screenplay by Harry Kleiner & Walter Hill and Troy Kennedy Martin, story by Walter Hill

  writing

  Feb 01, 2024
• Five Primary Character Archetypes

  Learn about a story's Family of Characters in my upcoming one-week online course which begins Monday, February 13th.

  writing

  Jan 31, 2024
• Screenwriting and Historical Accuracy

  When writing a movie based on actual historical events, how accurate does a screenwriter have to be?

  writing

  Jan 31, 2024
• Page One: "Mean Streets" (1973)

  Written by Martin Scorsese and Mardik Martin, story by Martin Scorsese

  writing

  Jan 31, 2024
• 160 Scene-Writing Prompts

  At a fundamental level, screenwriting is scene-writing. Use these prompts to improve your scene-writing chops.

  writing

  Jan 30, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Daniel Kunka

  Screenwriter Daniel Kunka wrote a spec script called "Lift" which sold to Netflix and made the 2021 Black List.

  writing

  film

  Jan 30, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Scott Frank

  "It has to come from character. I'm always going back to the people. Why character? It's about what makes a person a person. What do they...

  writing

  film

  Jan 30, 2024
• Page One: "Passengers" (2016)

  Written by Jon Spaihts

  writing

  Jan 30, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 20

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 29, 2024
• On Writing

  "When we're under the spell of a compelling story, we undergo internal changes along with the protagonist, and her insights become part of...

  writing

  Jan 29, 2024
• Page One: "Pariah" (2011)

  Written by Dee Rees

  writing

  Jan 29, 2024
• Script to Screen: "Poor Things"

  This week, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science announced its nominations for this year's Oscar ceremony and Poor Things was...

  film

  Jan 28, 2024
• Interview: Samy Burch

  A conversation with the screenwriter of May December.

  film

  Jan 28, 2024
• Page One: "Parallel Mothers" (2021)

  Written by Pedro Almodóvar

  writing

  Jan 28, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Week 4

  Write some scenes. Win a free screenwriting prize.

  writing

  Jan 27, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Ghostbusters"

  The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man scene.

  writing

  Jan 27, 2024
• Page One: "Ouija" (2014)

  Written by Juliet Snowden & Stiles White

  writing

  Jan 27, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 19

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 26, 2024
• Script To Screen: "The Godfather"

  Compare screenplay to movie: The famous horse head scene in The Godfather, written by Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's...

  writing

  Jan 26, 2024
• Page One: "Orphan" (2009)

  Screenplay by David Leslie Johnson, story by Alex Mace

  writing

  Jan 26, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 18

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 25, 2024
• Writing Tip: 6 Old Grammar Rules That Are Finally Going Out of Style

  Writers should feel free to write stories how the stories need to be told.

  writing

  Jan 25, 2024
• Page One: "One Eight Seven" (1997)

  Written by Scott Yagemann

  writing

  Jan 25, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 17

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 24, 2024
• Download Oscar nominated screenplays

  Anatomy of a Fall, The Holdovers, May December, Maestro, American Fiction, Barbie, Oppenheimer, Poor Things, The Zone of Interest

  writing

  film

  Jan 24, 2024
• Page One: "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984)

  Screenplay by Leonardo Benvenuti & Piero De Bernardi & Enrico Medioli & Franco Arcalli & Franco Ferrini & Sergio Leone, English version by...

  writing

  Jan 24, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 16

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 23, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Cord Jefferson

  "There's a quote that I love: 'I hate writing, but I love having written.' Every time I sit down and write, I'm like, 'This is a miserable...

  writing

  Jan 23, 2024
• Page One: "Only Angels Have Wings" (1939)

  Screen play by Jules Furthman

  writing

  Jan 23, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 15

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 22, 2024
• On Writing

  "Go for broke. Always try and do too much. Dispense with safety nets. Take a deep breath before you begin talking. Aim for the stars. Keep...

  writing

  Jan 22, 2024
• Page One: "The Omega Man" (1971)

  Screenplay by John William Corrington and Joyce Hooper Corrington, novel by Richard Matheson

  writing

  Jan 22, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Week 3

  Write some scenes. Win a free screenwriting prize.

  writing

  Jan 21, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Grosse Pointe Blank"

  From the 1997 movie Grosse Pointe Blank, screenplay by Tom Jankiewicz and D.V. DeVincentis & Steve Pink & John Cusack, story by Tom...

  writing

  Jan 21, 2024
• Page One: "Over the Moon" (2020)

  Written by Audrey Wells

  writing

  Jan 21, 2024
• Begin with character. End with character. Find the story in between.

  The Preface from my book The Protagonist's Journey: An Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling.

  writing

  Jan 20, 2024
• Video: Omitted Scenes from "The Holdovers"

  The Holdovers is one of the best films of 2023. Chances are Paul Giamatti is the recipient of the Oscar for Best Actor. Here are a handful...

  film

  Jan 20, 2024
• Page One: "Onward" (2020)

  Screenplay by Dan Scanlon & Jason Headley & Keith Bunin, original story by Dan Scanlon & Keith Bunin & Jason Headley

  writing

  Jan 20, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 14

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 19, 2024
• "It's a Wonderful Life": Minute by Minute Breakdown

  A podcast analysis with MovieRob and me about the dramatic George-Mary phone call.

  film

  Jan 19, 2024
• Page One: "Only God Forgives" (2013)

  Written by Nicolas Winding Refn

  writing

  Jan 19, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 13

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 18, 2024
• Page One: "Poor Things" (2023)

  Screenplay by Tony McNamara, based upon the novel by Alasdair Gray

  writing

  Jan 18, 2024
• Script To Screen: "Halloween"

  Here is a whopper of a Final Struggle from the 1978 Halloween, written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill.

  writing

  Jan 18, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 12

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 17, 2024
• Learn How to Generate, Develop, and Assess Story Concepts

  My upcoming one-week online Core: Concept class begins Monday, January 29.

  writing

  Jan 17, 2024
• Page One: "Ferrari" (2023)

  Written by Michael Mann, based on the book Enzo Ferrari: The Man, The Cars, The Races, The Machine by Brock Yates

  writing

  Jan 17, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 11

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 16, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Tony McNamara

  "With TV, you've got 10 hours and can make more mistakes and get away with them. But with a screenplay, you've got to find the heart and...

  writing

  film

  Jan 16, 2024
• Page One: "One Chance" (2013)

  Written by Justin Zackham

  writing

  Jan 16, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 10

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 15, 2024
• On Writing

  "It's hard to make something that's interesting. It's really, really hard.... Basically, anything that anyone makes.... It's like a law of...

  writing

  Jan 15, 2024
• Page One: "Ocean's Twelve" (2004)

  Written by George Nolfi, characters by George Clayton Johnson & Jack Golden Russell

  writing

  Jan 15, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Week 2

  Write some scenes. Win a free screenwriting prize.

  writing

  Jan 14, 2024
• Interview: Samy Burch

  A conversation with the screenwriter of May December.

  writing

  film

  Jan 14, 2024
• Page One: "Oblivion" (2013)

  Screenplay by Karl Gajdusek and Michael Arndt (as Michael deBruyn), graphic novel original story by Joseph Kosinski

  writing

  Jan 14, 2024
• 2023 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts, 54 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Jan 13, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Cord Jefferson

  "I worked on Succession. I don't know any white billionaires. But I think the reason that Succession works, and the reason why people love...

  writing

  film

  Jan 13, 2024
• Page One: "The Iron Claw" (2023)

  Written by Sean Durkin

  writing

  Jan 13, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 9

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 12, 2024
• Writers on Characters

  Quotes from professional writers about the importance of characters in the story-crafting process.

  writing

  Jan 12, 2024
• Page One: "Nimona" (2023)

  Screenplay by Robert L. Baird & Lloyd Taylor, story by Robert L. Baird & Lloyd Taylor & Pamela Ribon & Marc Haimes & Nick Bruno & Troy...

  writing

  Jan 12, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 8

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 11, 2024
• "Am I going to enjoy playing this character?"

  Actor Tom Wilkinson explained how he decided which roles to take.

  writing

  film

  Jan 11, 2024
• Page One: "Napoleon" (2023)

  Written by David Scarpa

  writing

  Jan 11, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 7

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 10, 2024
• 2023 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts, 52 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Jan 10, 2024
• Page One: "The Color Purple" (2023)

  Screenplay by Marcus Gardley, based on the novel by Alice Walker, based on the musical stage play, book of the musical stage play by Marsha...

  writing

  Jan 10, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 6

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 09, 2024
• THE 25 BEST FILMS OF 2023

  A Video Countdown by film critic David Ehrlich.

  film

  Jan 09, 2024
• Page One: "Normal Adolescent Behavior" (2007)

  Written by Beth Schacter

  writing

  Jan 09, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 5

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 08, 2024
• On Writing

  "On the third or fourth draft, pencil in hand, I reread my test, by this point practically a fair copy, and eliminate whatever can be...

  writing

  Jan 08, 2024
• Page One: "Noah" (2014)

  Written by Darren Aronofsky & Ari Handel

  writing

  Jan 08, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 4

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 07, 2024
• 2023 THR Writer Roundtable

  Conversation with Chloe Domont, Andrew Haigh, Cord Jefferson, Tony McNamara, Eric Roth, and Celine Strong.

  writing

  film

  Jan 07, 2024
• Page One: "22 July" (2018)

  Written by Paul Greengrass, based on a book by Åsne Seierstad

  writing

  Jan 07, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 3

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 06, 2024
• 2023 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 3 New Scripts, 50 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Jan 06, 2024
• Page One: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" (2023)

  Screenplay by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg & Jeff Rowe and Dan Hernandez & Benji Samit, story by Brendan O'Brien and Seth Rogen & Evan...

  writing

  Jan 06, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 2

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 05, 2024
• Interview: Kristoffer Borgli

  A RogerEbert.com conversation with the writer-director of Dream Scenario.

  film

  Jan 05, 2024
• Page One: "Dream Scenario" (2023)

  Written by Kristoffer Borgli

  writing

  Jan 05, 2024
• 2024 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 1

  Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

  writing

  Jan 04, 2024
• Interview: David Hemingson

  A conversation with the screenwriter of The Holdovers.

  writing

  film

  Jan 04, 2024
• Page One: "All of Us Strangers" (2023)

  Written by Andrew Haigh, based on a novel by Taichi Yamada

  writing

  Jan 04, 2024
• How to Use Go Into The Story (Part 5): Learn the Business

  Some end of the year advice for blog readers.

  writing

  Jan 03, 2024
• Interview: Cord Jefferson

  Conversations with the writer-director of American Fiction.

  writing

  film

  Jan 03, 2024
• Page One: "High Fidelity" (2000)

  Screenplay by D.V. DeVincentis & Steve Pink & John Cusack and Scott Rosenberg, novel by Nick Hornby

  writing

  Jan 03, 2024
• How to Use Go Into The Story (Part 4): Study the Craft

  Some end of the year advice for blog readers.

  writing

  Jan 02, 2024
• Interview: Tony McNamara

  A conversation with the screenwriter of Poor Things.

  writing

  film

  Jan 02, 2024
• Page One: "The Night of the Hunter" (1955)

  Screenplay by James Agee, novel by Davis Grubb

  writing

  Jan 02, 2024
• How to Use Go Into The Story (Part 3): Write Pages

  Some end of the year advice for blog readers.

  writing

  Jan 01, 2024
• On Writing

  "Life goes on, and for the sake of verisimilitude and realism, you cannot possibly give the impression of an ending: you must let something...

  writing

  Jan 01, 2024
• Page One: "Maestro" (2023)

  Written by Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer

  writing

  Jan 01, 2024
• More Movies Like This, Please: 2023 List

  I started something in 2012. Whenever I saw a new movie I liked, I would jump onto Twitter, identify the movie, then simply tweet: "More...

  film

  Dec 31, 2023
• Script To Screen: "Harold and Maude"

  The delightful 1971 movie Harold and Maude, written by Colin Higgins, is most noted for its co-stars Harold [Bud Cort] and Maude [Ruth...

  writing

  Dec 31, 2023
• Page One: "Nyad" (2023)

  Screenplay by Julia Cox, based on the book "Find a Way" by Diana Nyad

  writing

  Dec 31, 2023
• "This is the true joy of life..."

  A wise quote from George Bernard Shaw.

  creativity

  writing

  Dec 30, 2023
• Script To Screen: "Heat"

  The face-to-face diner scene confrontation between Neil (Robert De Niro) and Hanna (Al Pacino).

  writing

  film

  Dec 30, 2023
• Page One: "Wonka" (2023)

  Screenplay by Simon Farnaby & Paul King, story by Paul King, based on characters created by Roald Dahl

  writing

  Dec 30, 2023
• 2023 Black List Word Cloud Logline Challenge: Winners!

  The challenge started with a word cloud based on the loglines for the 2023 Black List scripts, all 76 of them!

  writing

  Dec 29, 2023