September is Classic 70s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Nick Dykal. Movie Title: Network Year: 1976 Writer: Paddy Chayefsky Lead Actors: Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch Director: Sidney Lumet IMDB Plot Summary: A television network cynically exploits a deranged former anchor’s ravings and revelations about

Alfred Pennyworth: You crossed the line first, sir. You squeezed them, you hammered them to the point of desperation. And in their desperation, they turned to a man they didn’t fully understand. Bruce Wayne: Criminals aren’t complicated, Alfred. Just have to figure out what he’s after. Alfred

A special treat this week as I will be posting excerpts from a screenwriter’s roundtable I did with a group of talented Hollywood screenwriters: Chris Borrelli, F. Scott Frazier, Chris McCoy, Justin Rhodes, Greg Russo, and John Swetnam. How good are they? Between them, they have sold more than

Filmmaker Adam Neustadter is back with another short film called Chillr. Here are some production notes from Adam: Chillr is a two-and-a-half minute comedy about a fictional new mobile app called Chillr — “the only non-sex-based mobile app that instantly connects chill dudes with other chill

Screenplay by The Spierig Brothers (Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig), story by Robert A. Heinlein The life of a time-traveling Temporal Agent. On his final assignment, he must pursue the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time. IMDB Comment Archive

September is Classic 70s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Mark A. Furney. Movie Title: McCabe & Mrs. Miller Year: 1971 Writer: Edmund Naughton (Novel “McCabe”); Robert Altman (Screenplay); Brian McKay (Screenplay) Lead Actors: Warren Beatty; Julie Christie; Director: Robert Altman IMDB Plot Summary: A gambler and a

RICK: Don’t you sometimes wonder if it’s worth all this? I mean what you’re fighting for?  LASZLO: We might as well question why we breathe. If we stop breathing, we’ll die. If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die.  RICK: What of it? Then

…I know of no better value in an undergraduate college program than the Writing for Screen and Stage minor at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. What?!?! Not NYU? USC? That’s my take and I’m sticking to it as I begin my 7th year teaching at

A special treat this week as I will be posting excerpts from a screenwriter’s roundtable I did with a group of talented Hollywood screenwriters: Chris Borrelli, F. Scott Frazier, Chris McCoy, Justin Rhodes, Greg Russo, and John Swetnam. How good are they? Between them, they have sold more than

Via David Anderson. I tell my screenwriting students: “What we try to do when we write a screenplay is wrangle magic.” The magic has to be there… in order for us to wrangle it. And in order for it to be there… we have to believe in it… The magic

Hey, adults! Movie lovers! Film fans! It’s that time of year where it’s safe to head to the local theater. Sick of Sequels, Prequels, Remakes, Reboots? For the next few months, you’ll actually be able to view interesting original movies. What movies, you ask? For starters, check

Written by Graham Moore English mathematician and logician, Alan Turing, helps crack the Enigma code during World War II. IMDB Release Date: 21 November 2014 (USA)  Comment Archive

September is Classic 70s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Michael Waters. Movie Title: The Sting Year: 1973 Writer: David S Ward Lead Actors: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw Director: George Roy Hill (also directed Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) IMDB Plot Summary: In 1930s Chicago,

Dominic: I came when they opened it. It gave me the collywobbles. Still does. V: [Disguised as William Rookwood] That’s close enough Inspector. Finch: We’re not wired. V: I’m sorry, but a man in my position survives by taking every precaution. Finch: You’ve information for us.

There are many intangibles about the craft of screenwriting. Much of that derives from the fact that story itself is organic. Stories — good ones, at least — are not formulas. They are not widgets. Rather they are living, breathing entities with a heart, soul, and even will of their own. They

An interview on RogerEbert.com with Richard Linklater, writer-director of the magnificent movie Boyhood. If most directors looked back at 12 years of their filmmaking, they could see changes in their approach to form and their art. When you watch “Boyhood,” do you see anything like that in your

Check this out: * Blank Character Sheet (+370 Questions) * Abridged Character Sheet (100 Questions) * Big-Ass Character Sheet * Character Creation Form * Character Sheet by Jody Hedlund * Creating a character Bio Sheet * Character Analysis Worksheet * 100 Character Development questions for writers * Create a Character Profile * Character Development Worksheet * Original Character Bio-Sheet

Written by John Ridley A drama based on Jimi Hendrix’s pre-fame years. IMDB Release Date: 26 September 2014 (USA)  Comment Archive

September is Classic 70s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Paul Graunke. Movie Title: Chinatown Year: 1974 Writer: Robert Towne (Oscar for best original screenplay) Lead Actors: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston Director: Roman Polanski Plot Summary: A private detective hired to expose an adulterer is swept

DR. DREYFUSS: (taking a big gulp of the spiked coffee) I don’t know what you did to that girl in there — and don’t tell me — but it was bound to happen, the way you carry on. Live now, pay later. Diner’s Club! (another swig) Why don’t