Go Into The Story

Andrew Stanton, Part 5: “The Clues to a Great Story” (TED Talk)

This last Sunday, our featured video interview was a TED Talk given by Andrew Stanton, one of the key members of Pixar’s ‘brain trust’ whose screenwriting credits include Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Wall-E and the current live action movie

Spec Script Sale: “Swindle”

Paramount acquires action heist spec script “Swindle” written by Enzo Mileti and Scott Wilson. Logline: N/A. Writers are repped by ICM. By my count, this is the 24th spec script sale of 2012. This time last year, 19 specs had sold. Spec script sales are up 26% year-to-

GITS Q&A: Screenwriter Greg Russo (“Down,” “Autobahn”)

Screenwriter Greg Russo has written and sold not one, but two spec scripts: “Down” and “Autobahn.” Greg was kind enough to do exclusive GITS interviews about both projects as well as screenwriting in general. Here is some background about Greg: Russo has original thriller project “Down” at Relativity, hoping to

Great Character: Alexis Zorba (“Zorba the Greek”)

One of my absolute favorite movie characters of all-time: Alexis Zorba from the 1964 movie Zorba the Greek [screenplay by Mihalis Kakogiannis, based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis. Played by Anthony Quinn, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, Zorba is the story’s ‘heart’

Daily Dialogue — March 16, 2012

“I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?” — The Writer (Richard Dreyfus), Stand By Me (1986), screenplay by Raynold Gideon & Bruce A. Evans, based on a novella by Stephen King The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is

Writing Question: How do you come up with character names?

This is one of those questions I love to see professional writers answer because the responses are so interesting. For example, here’s q quote form Paddy Chayefsky: “Names are fun. In Hospital I used a lot of mystery writers. Had a nurse named Christie. A doctor is named Chandler.

GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Michael Clayton”

This week’s selection started with an observation from screenwriter F. Scott Frazier in a response to a GITS reader to the recently published Screenwriters Roundtable: Hey, definitely check out the script for MICHAEL CLAYTON. I feel like I learned more from that script about how to physically write scenes

Robert Altman’s first film: “Modern Football”

From IndieWire: Look closely and you will find traces of Robert Altman’s signature cinematic approach in the just-discovered footage of his lost early film “Modern Football.” Produced in 1951 for the Kansas City film company Calvin, the 26-year-old Altman amusingly strings together the daily life of

“Universal themes” in Pixar movies

From a discussion in my current “Pixar and the Craft of Storytelling” class, Ben O’Rourke raised the subject of affect images: images that bypass logic and thinking and hit us right in the gut. My response: “Affect images” is an interesting idea connecting to writing of any sort, but

Q&A: Screenwriter Justin Rhodes (“Second Sun”)

Back in July 2011, I posted this: Warner Bros. acquires sci-fi spec script “Second Sun” from writer Justin Rhodes. Per Hollywood Reporter: Story is an adventure set on another planet with twists. Rhodes is repped by ICM and manager Kevin Donahue. Some background on Justin: Justin Rhodes writes, directs,

Andrew Stanton, Part 4: “The Clues to a Great Story” (TED Talk)

This last Sunday, our featured video interview was a TED Talk given by Andrew Stanton, one of the key members of Pixar’s ‘brain trust’ whose screenwriting credits include Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Wall-E and the current live action movie

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 Hollywood, lunch has virtually nothing to do with food… but everything else. What happens at a Hollywood lunch meeting? * You schmooze: You swap a

Daily Dialogue — March 15, 2012

Merrick holds an elegant, silvertipped walking stick across his lap, and admires a ring that only fits his little finger. MERRICK: Thank you for your kind gifts. I can’t say enough about this ring. And this walking stick is ever so dashing. So much more elegant than my old

Reader questions?

It’s been awhile since I opened it up for your questions. Before you jump in, you should check out this page which has over 200 Q&A’s covering a lot of territory. If you don’t see your subject handled there or want to drill down even

In a script, every word matters

I did stand-up for two years. Over 500 gigs. I don’t recommend it for everybody — especially if you’re not funny — but some of the best lessons I’ve learned in life, I stumbled upon while standing on stage attempting to make people laugh. I was thinking about

Q&A: Screenwriters Jeremiah Friedman & Nick Palmer (“Family Getaway,” “The Bodyguard”)

Back in September 2010, I posted this announcement about newcomers Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer who sold their spec script “Family Getaway” to Warner Bros. and are writing the remake of the movie The Bodyguard. Turns out the guys are fans of the blog and have been reading it for

Andrew Stanton, Part 3: “The Clues to a Great Story” (TED Talk)

This last Sunday, our featured video interview was a TED Talk given by Andrew Stanton, one of the key members of Pixar’s ‘brain trust’ whose screenwriting credits include Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Wall-E and the current live action movie

Script To Screen: “Election”

From the 1999 movie Election (screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor, based on a novel by Tom Perrotta). Setup: Jim [Matthew Broderick] is in charge with counting votes for student council president. INT. JIM'S CLASSROOM -- DAY JIM counts out the last of the ballots, mouthing the numbers

Daily Dialogue — March 14, 2012

FORREST: Hello. My name’s Forrest Gump. He opens a box of chocolates and holds it out for the nurse. FORREST: You want a chocolate? The nurse shakes her head, a bit apprehensive about this strange man next to her. FORREST: I could eat about a million and a half

Two paths: Write what they’re buying or sell them your dream

Let’s consider this a response to a reader question because I get this type of inquiry pretty regularly from aspiring screenwriters via email. It takes different forms: What type of stories should I focus on? I have a lot of story ideas: How do I know which one to

Spec Script Sale: “The Good Samaritan”

Paradox partners with South Creek Pictures and Bavariapool to acquire legal drama “The Good Samaritan” from writer Peter Dowling. From Variety: …centers on an up-and-coming assistant D.A. prosecuting a fatal hit-and-run case with inconclusive evidence. Dowling is repped by APA. By my count, this is

The Bitter Script Reader goes viral!

I am proud to say I was one of TBSR’s earliest promoters, so clearly I must take credit for this web series idea. Hey, you want an education in how Hollywood works? That’s how it works! For more information, go here. Comment Archive

Disney/ABC TV writing program names 8 winners

Per THR: The Disney/ABC Television Group in association with the WGA West have chosen eight 2012 participants for its annual writing program. The writers are Erinne Dobson (Orleans, Mass.), Cindy Fang (Fremont, Calif.), Shannon Fopeano (Orleans, Mass.), Jason George (Memphis), Eric Haywood (Milwaukee), Ryan Maldonado (Miami), Raamla Mohamed (Los

Q&A: Screenwriter F. Scott Frazier (“The Numbers Station,” “Line of Sight,” “Autobahn”)

Since 2010, screenwriter F. Scott Frazier has sold four spec scripts. That’s right four. I asked Scott to do an interview and he kindly agreed. Here is a brief bio Scott sent to provide some idea of his background: I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and have

Spec Script Sale: “Olympus Has Fallen”

Millennium acquires action spec script “Olympus Has Fallen” from writers Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt. Described as “a big action movie that’s set in the White House.” Rothenberger & Benedikt are repped by Devra Lieb and Dan Vantresca, and managed by Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment. By my count, this is