Go Into The Story

Page One: “Signs” (2002)

Written by M. Night Shyamalan

Or sonata form: Exposition. Development. Recapitulation. You might enjoy this:

https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/aristotle-and-three-act-structure-dbe671abe543

The Protagonist’s Journey Word Cloud Logline Challenge

Write a logline based on the descriptions of movies and television series featured in The Protagonist’s Journey … and win a free…

Reflections on Carl Jung: Are We Related to the Infinite or Not?

The more I study Carl Jung, the more I discover his ideas about psychology have a direct relevance to screenwriting (specifically) and…

60 Second Screenwriter: What are some tips on rewriting a script?

A video series addressing key screenwriting concerns in one minute.

On Writing

“I really like having a community of trusted collaborators who can help me figure out very early whether material is alive and whether I’m…

Page One: “Shoot the Moon” (1982)

Written by Bo Goldman

Sundays with Sidney Lumet’s “Making Movies”

A series featuring reflections on filmmaking by one of the truly great movie directors.

What makes a movie a big budget and a small budget?

There are critical choices a writer can make at the script stage which directly influence a project’s budget… and its potential viability…

Video: “9 Rules For Good Exposition”

Another in the excellent screenwriting series Raising the Stakes.

Page One: “Rain Man” (1988)

Screenplay by Ron Bass and Barry Morrow, story by Barry Morrow

The Curse of Shiny Object Syndrome

“It’s not quite ADD/ADHD. It’s more that a new idea captures your imagination and attention in such a way that you get distracted from the…

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Adopt a Different Writing Persona

This is a first in this humble blog’s history: Another Dumb Little Writing Trick That Work, only this one isn’t my idea, but from some…

Script To Screen: “Fight Club”

The ending to the 1999 movie Fight Club, screenplay by Jim Uhls, novel by Chuck Palahniuk.

Video: A Tribute to Director Steven Spielberg

From the Director’s Guild archives.

Page One: “Something Wicked This Way Comes” (1983)

Screenplay by Ray Bradbury, based on his novel

2022 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 30

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

What do you want the audience to feel…

…when they walk out of the theater at the end of your movie?

Writing and the Creative Life: What are you afraid of?

The single greatest inhibitor to creativity is fear. Do you recognize any of these voices?

Page One: “So I Married an Axe Murderer” (1993)

Written by Robbie Fox

2022 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 29

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Writing Advice from Matt Stone and Trey Parker

A video from a surprise appearance at NYU Film School.

Story Type: Ticking Clock

There are genres (e.g., Action, Comedy, Drama). Cross genres (e.g., Action-Thriller, Comedy-Science Fiction). Sub-genres (e.g., Romantic…

The Business of Screenwriting: They don’t think like you

Hollywood executives can have a different way of seeing the world.

Page One: “Solaris” (2002)

Screenplay by Steven Soderbergh, novel by Stanislaw Lem