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?
Great Scene: “Duck Soup” As much of a fan of movies as I am, I’m still shocked to remember that it wasn’t until I was in college that I saw a Marx Bros. movie for…
Page One: ‘The Graduate’ (1967) Screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry, based on the novel by Charles Webb
Plot = Structure A screenplay is a unique literary form. It both tells a story and serves as a blueprint to make a movie. As such, understanding structure…
Screenwriting 101: J.J. Abrams “Whether it’s alternate universes or time travel, the idea that reality isn’t exactly what we assume it is is the sort of primordial ooze…
Sure, as long as you're not asking him to read a script, check out a logline, give you a job, help… Mickey is a great guy and if you ask a reasonable question, I suspect he'll be happy to answer.
My Interviews with 39 Nicholl Fellowship Screenwriting Winners The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition is the most important of all screenplay contests. Founded in 1986, it is administered…
Spec Script Deal: “The Prize” Village Roadshow Pictures acquires thriller spec script “The Prize” written by Chris Sparling. Via Deadline:
I've been tracking spec script deals since the lat 80s and here on my blog since 2008. How to access spec scripts? Not easy, unless you know someone who works in Hollywood development. You can always try…
Spec Script Deal: “Arcana” Lionsgate acquires drama fantasy spec script written by Michael Finch and Alex Litvak. Via Deadline:
On Writing “There’s an enormous difference between being a story writer and being a regular person. As a person, it’s your duty to stay on a straight…
On Writing “The secret of the creative life is how to feel at ease with your own embarrassment. We are all in the dirty laundry business and we’re…
Spec Script Deal: “Back Home” Artists Film Group acquires science fiction thriller spec script “Back Home” written by Anne Vithayathil. Via Deadline:
On Writing “Fuck research! I say this, knowing that my works are thought to be well-researched and I am proud of the research in them. But in…
On Writing “Becoming a writer is not a ‘career decision’ like becoming a doctor or a policeman. You don’t choose it so much as get chosen, and once…
Screenwriting 101: Rob Meyer “Even in an indie film I’d say it’s actually more important to have a logline that 70 to 90 percent of people are going to perk up, and…
On Writing “You go into a book and you’re in the dark, really. You go in with a certain fear and trembling. You know one thing. You know you will not…
Spec Script Deal: “Role Play” StudioCanal acquires thriller spec script “Role Play” written by Seth Owen. Via Deadline:
