Go Into The Story

Hollywood Actors and Writers vs. the Studios: 1933 vs. 2023

A Depression-era standoff between newly formed unions and studio moguls pivoted around a new technology: talkies! Some lessons for the age…

Script To Screen: “Rocky”

A memorable scene from Rocky written by Sylvester Stallone.

Interview: Christopher Nolan

The writer-director of the surprise box office hit Oppenheimer in a 20+ minute conversation about the movie.

Page One: “The Good Nurse” (2022)

Screenplay by Krysty Wilson-Cairns, based on a book by Charles Graeber

Studios, Theaters Brace for Tentpole Havoc If Strikes Linger Into Fall

Cinema owners are scrambling to figure out whether the major Hollywood studios will make drastic changes to their upcoming release…

Script To Screen: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”

As a salute to Halloween, how about a cut from the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Interview: Greta Gerwig

The co-writer and director of the smash hit Barbie has a half-hour conversation with the hosts of the ReelBlend podcast.

Page One: “Goldfinger” (1964)

Screenplay by Richard Maibaum & Paul Dehn, novel by Ian Fleming

“AI” Hype as Pretext for Labor Misclassification

Beware the risks of using shiny “AI” sleight-of-hand to simply re-define labor and pay it less.

Script Analysis: “Babylon” — Part 5: Dialogue

A week-long analysis of the screenplay for the Oscar nominated movie.

Script To Screen: “Rushmore”

The revenge sequence from Rushmore written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson.

Something is Better Than Nothing

“No matter what you write, good or bad, it’s an improvement to a blank page.”

Page One: “Gods and Monsters” (1998)

Screenplay by Bill Condon, novel by Christopher Bram

WGA Update: “Writing is Our Home”

A message from WGA Negotiating Committee Co-Chair Chris Keyser.

Script Analysis: “Babylon” — Part 4: Themes

A week-long analysis of the screenplay for the Oscar nominated movie.

Story Summaries: From Loglines to Beat Sheets

Learn six different types of story summaries and how to use them to develop your scripted projects. My one-week online class starts Monday…

How to Write While Holding Down a Job

Some practical advice to engender productivity even while working full-time.

Page One: “Glengarry Glen Ross” (1992)

Screenplay by David Mamet, based on a stage play by David Mamet

The ‘Barbenheimer’ effect should scare the studios into ending the strike

“The business may have changed, but two simple facts remain: If you want to make money in the movie business, you need to make movies. And…

Script Analysis: “Babylon” — Part 3: Characters

A week-long analysis of the screenplay for the Oscar nominated movie.

Script To Screen: “Saving Mr. Banks”

A fun scene from the 2013 movie Saving Mr. Banks, written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith.

The Call To Adventure’s Psychological Subtext

At the beginning of the story, the Protagonist is just making do. Then something happens which jumbles their life… and their journey…

Page One: “Girl With a Pearl Earring” (2003)

Screenplay by Olivia Hetreed, novel by Tracy Chevalier

‘Idiots’: Wall Street Analysts Unload on Hollywood

Sympathy is in short supply for the town’s CEOs as earnings season kicks off.

Script Analysis: “Babylon” — Part 2: Plot

A week-long analysis of the screenplay for the Oscar nominated movie.