Go Into The Story

Page One: “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977)

Screenplay by Christopher Wood and Richard Maibaum, characters by Ian Fleming

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…

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:

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…

Page One: “The Nun” (2018)

Screenplay by Gary Dauberman, story by James Wan & Gary Dauberman

Screenwriting Mantra: “Go into the story and find the animals”

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

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.

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.”

Page One: “The Last Castle” (2001)

Screenplay by David Scarpa and Graham Yost, story by David Scarpa

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month (2010–2024)

Over 400 story concepts pulled from news reports free for you to use.

Spec Script Deal: “Dyersville

Netflix and Higher Ground acquire crime thriller spec script “Dyersville” written by Will Hettinger. Via Deadline:

Screenwriting 101: Jay Presson Allen

“I’ve always been interested in the why of human behavior. I think most dramatic writers are natural psychologists.”

Page One: “The Boxtrolls” (2014)

Screenplay by Irena Brignull & Adam Pava, novel by Alan Snow, story adapted by Anthony Stacchi & Phil Dale

30 Things About Screenwriting: Learn the craft

Being a screenwriter is much more than just writing a script.

Go Into The Story Interview: Justin Piasecki

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

On Writing

“Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too.”

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 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…

Go Into The Story Interview: Laura Stoltz

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

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…

Page One: “Boomerang” (1992)

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

Screenwriting Mantra: Get the damn thing done!

The one unalterable truth about writing a first draft.

Interview (Part 6): Laura Stoltz

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

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…

Page One: “Menace II Society” (1993)

Screenplay by Tyger Williams, story by Allen Hughes & Albert Hughes