Go Into The Story

Interview (Part 2): Jennifer Archer

My interview with the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Great Scene: “It’s A Wonderful Life”

George Bailey and Mary Hatch have an intense telephone conversation.

Screenwriting 101: Jack Epps, Jr.

“Every project I’ve been on, I’ve done major rewrites. Multiple rewrites before we would send a draft to the producers or director…

Page One: “The Batman” (2022)

Written by Matt Reeves & Peter Craig, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Such a wonderful movies, I agree, Rebecca.

Have you seen the alternate ending?

2023 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 16

Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

Interview (Part 1): Jennifer Archer

My interview with the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Great Scene: “The Great Escape”

When I was a kid, I loved this movie.

On Writing

“You can tell a story in no time, but it is another matter to live one.”

Page One: “Tár” (2022)

Written by Todd Field

Story as psychological journey

“The psychological rule says that when an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside, as fate. That is to say, when the…

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “The Menu”

The entire 6-part series delving into the critically acclaimed horror-thriller. Download. Read. Discuss.

Great Scene: “Goodfellas”

“Funny how? What’s funny about it?”

Video: Anthony McCarten

A BAFTA screenwriting lecture presentation with the screenwriter of such movies as The Theory of Everything and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Page One: “The Northman” (2022)

Written by Sjón & Robert Eggers

Brian, I teach a week-long class online called The Coen Brothers and the Craft of Storytelling.

https://screenwritingmasterclass.com/product/craft-coen-brothers-and-the-craft-of-storytelling/

“Don’t think… feel”

With writing, there are times to think… and times to feel.

Script Analysis: “The Menu” — Part 6: Takeaways

A week-long analysis of the screenplay for the critically acclaimed horror-thriller. Download. Read. Discuss.

2023 Scene-Writing Challenge: Week 3

Here are all of Week 3’s prompts for this year’s Scene-Writing Challenge.

Video: David Koepp in conversation with Lawrence Kasdan

The two notable screenwriters talk about the craft of writing, Hollywood, and Koepp’s novel Aurora.

Page One: “Nope” (2022)

Written by Jordan Peele

My favorite side of dialogue is when the Chef introduces his “masterpiece”:

CHEF SLOWIK

That's a great exchange, Brian, and well worth citing here.

Thanks for that take!

I watched the movie.

To me, the central theme is vapidity. Apart from Margot, each of the diners puts on airs and is self-absorbed, but there’s nothing of…

So I took a few minutes to go through the script to track the timing of the various courses of the…

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