Reader Question: How to handle the passage of time in a script? An question from Dan: I’ve got a screenwriting question if you wouldn’t mind having a look. I’m an 18 year old kid writing my first script, a biopic, and trying to learn the trade while also piecing together my script I run into problems quite a bit…
The Fault In Our Stars: Q&A (Part 3) with screenwriters Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber Based on the John Green novel, the movie version of The Fault in Our Stars is creating quite a buzz in social media as it approaches its opening in theaters in North America this weekend. So I reached out to the film’s screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
Jon Oliver explains “net neutrality” It’s the best new show on TV: “Last Week Tonight with Jon Oliver” on HBO. I’ve watched every episode and after a so-so first few weeks, the show has completely hit its stride, and never more so than with this segment on “net neutrality”. Why is that
On Finding New Screenplay Structures for Independent Films Filmmaker magazine featured a guest column from Jennine Lanouette who has taught screenwriting and lectured on story structure and script analysis for over 20 years. I found this article interesting in large part because Jennine ends up pretty much where I have about screenplay structure: It often seems to me
Movie Trailer: “Land Ho!” Written by Aaron Katz, Martha Stephens A pair of former brothers-in-law embark on a road trip through Iceland. IMDB Release Date: 11 July 2014 Comment Archive
30 Days of Screenplays, Day 4: “Spring Breakers” Why 30 screenplays in 30 days? Because whether you are a novice just starting to learn the craft of screenwriting or someone who has been writing for many years, you should be reading scripts. There is a certain type of knowledge and understanding about screenwriting you can only get from
Script To Screen: “The Fisher King” A notable scene from the 1991 movie The Fisher King, written by Richard LaGravenese. Plot Summary: A former radio DJ, suicidally despondent because of a terrible mistake he made, finds redemption in helping a deranged homeless man who was an unwitting victim of that mistake. Scene: Parry (Robin Williams), the
Daily Dialogue — June 4, 2104 Han Solo: Hey, Your Worship, I’m only trying to help. Princess Leia: Would you please stop calling me that? Han Solo: Sure, Leia. Princess Leia: You make it so difficult sometimes. Han Solo: I do, I really do. You could be a little nicer, though. Come on, admit it.
Wrangling your story Some call it breaking a story. Others cracking a story. I prefer wrangling a story. Whatever you call it, you have to do it… figure out the story. What goes where. Who does what to whom. And for most writers, the ideal time to do that work is before you
The Fault In Our Stars: Q&A (Part 2) with screenwriters Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber Based on the John Green novel, the movie version of The Fault in Our Stars is creating quite a buzz in social media as it approaches its opening in theaters in North America this weekend. So I reached out to the film’s screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
A Story in Six Words This is a story about A Story In Six Words that will take a lot more than six words to tell. It all started back in 2012 with this bromide about loglines by Max Millimeter: Hollywood Movie Producer Extraordinaire: Okay, here’s the deal with loglines. There is nothing more
Movie Trailer: “V/H/S: Viral” Written by Justin Benson, Gregg Bishop, T.J. Cimfel, Todd Lincoln, Aaron Moorhead, Marcel Sarmiento, Nacho Vigalondo, David White Follows fame-obsessed teens who unwittingly become stars of the next internet sensation. IMDB Comment Archive
30 Days of Screenplays, Day 3: “Jane Eyre” Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days! Why 30 screenplays in 30 days? Because whether you are a novice just starting to learn the craft of screenwriting or someone who has been writing for many years, you should be reading scripts. There is a certain type of
Screenwriting 101: Dana Coen “I learned by continually asking myself those essential craft questions. Is the scene driven by the intent of the characters? Are there external and internal obstacles, and are the obstacles creating conflict? Is the conflict creating dramatic tension? Is the dramatic tension heightened by behavior and subtext? Is the exposition
Daily Dialogue — June 3, 2104 BONNIE: (putting her on) Ain’t you ashamed? Tryin’ to steal an old lady’s automobile. CLYDE: (with the same put-on) I been thinkin’ about buyin’ me one. BONNIE: Bull. You ain’t got money for dinner, let alone buy no car. CLYDE: (still the battle of wits going
Black List Live! Staged Reading Free Ticket Contest Giveaway! Yes, this event is so monumental, it’s worth a headline with two exclamation points! What is the Black List Live! Staged Reading? I first posted about it here in talking about this year’s upcoming Los Angeles Film Festival which happens June 11-June 19, 2014: A first time
The Fault In Our Stars: Q&A (Part 1) with screenwriters Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber Based on the John Green novel, the movie version of The Fault in Our Stars is creating quite a buzz in social media as it approaches its opening in theaters in North America this weekend. So I reached out to the film’s screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
How James Cameron Wrote Three ‘Avatar’ Sequels Simultaneously Via /film: When you follow up the biggest hit in box office history, audiences expect something great. They expect something even greater from the director of two of the best sequels of all time, Terminator 2: Judgement Day and Aliens. So Cameron took his sweet time making sure the scripts
Movie Trailer: “Cold in July” Screenplay by Nick Damici, Jim Mickle, novel by Joe R. Lansdale In 1980s East Texas, two fathers pitted against each other in revenge must band together to uncover a darker truth. IMDB Release Date: 23 May 2014 (U.S.) Comment Archive
30 Days of Screenplays, Day 2: “Prisoners” Why 30 screenplays in 30 days? Because whether you are a novice just starting to learn the craft of screenwriting or someone who has been writing for many years, you should be reading scripts. There is a certain type of knowledge and understanding about screenwriting you can only get from
On Writing “The nearest I have to a rule is a Post-It on the wall in front of my desk saying “Faire et se taire” (Flaubert), which I translate for myself as ‘Shut up and get on with it.’” — Helen Simpson Via @AdviceToWriters
Daily Dialogue — June 2, 2104 Colin: I’ll stab someone with an ice pick if it gets me dinner with you. Madolyn: Here, this is my card. Colin: Nah, I don’t need that. I’m a detective. I’ll find you. [elevator door begins to close — Colin reaches out] No, I’m just kidding,
Go Into The Story Week In Review: May 26-June 1, 2014 Links to the week’s most notable posts: 12 Invaluable Tips for First-Time Filmmakers 2014 Black List Screenwriters Lab submission period now open 30 Days of Screenplays: Week 1 scripts 30 Days of Screenplays, Day 1: The Way Way Back Bill Murray: Trickster Extraordinaire Classic 90s Movie: Being John
Movie Analysis (Part 7): “Gravity” This week, I’m going through the script for the movie Gravity, excerpting every scene that touches on its primary ‘small’ story: Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) dealing with her grief related to the death of her young daughter. I laid out my rationale for this exercise in Part 1 of
Interview: Tasia Valenza From TV series to videogames, voice-over acting to commercials, Tasia Valenza has had a long and successful career in the entertainment business. In that time, there have been many changes, but one thing has remained constant: Movie trailers almost always feature male voice-overs. In fact, Tasia is one
