Go Into The Story

Script Analysis: “Hustlers” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

Screenwriting Mantra: Minimum Words, Maximum Impact

The origin and importance of one of the best screenwriting mantras… ever!

60 Second Screenwriter: What’s a log line?

A video series addressing key screenwriting concerns in sixty seconds.

Page One: “The Mitchells vs the Machines” (2021)

Written by Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe, Peter Szilagyi (story coordinator), Alex Hirsch (story consultant)

Update: 2021–2022 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 1 New Script, 28 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Script Analysis: “Honey Boy” — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

Why You Should Write Three Pages of Garbage Every Morning

“Freewriting forces you to keep moving forward, keep creating, without a thought given to quality.”

Screenwriting 101: Rob Meyer

“It’s easy to spend a lot of time worrying about how other people are doing, why you’re not succeeding, and so on. That stuff’s a real…

Page One: “The Lost Daughter” (2021)

Written by Maggie Gyllenhaal, based on a novel by Elena Ferrante

When in doubt, just write.

Just. Write.

Hero’s Journey as Psychological Journey

When we think of the Hero’s Journey, what comes to mind is a geographical adventure. The Heroine starts out in their Ordinary World…

Script Analysis: “Hell or High Water” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

How They Write A Script: Nancy Meyers

“My first draft was exactly 250 pages. I didn’t have brads deep enough, long enough to get through the script.”

On Writing

“I think procrastination can be a really helpful creative tool. So when I procrastinate, I try to do it with intention. I’m like, “For the…

Page One: “The Descendants” (2011)

Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, novel of Kaui Hart Hemmings

Sundays with Stephen King’s “On Writing”

A series featuring reflections on writing from the famed author’s memoir.

Script Analysis: “Hanna” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

60 Second Screenwriter: What is “high concept?”

A video series addressing key screenwriting concerns in sixty seconds.

Video: 10 Screenwriting Tips from M. Night Shyamalan

Advice from the writer-director of The Sixth Sense and Split.

Page One: “The Departed” (2006)

Screenplay by William Monahan, based on the 2002 screenplay Mou gaan dou by Alan Mak and Felix Chong

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rule’: Action Paragraphs — 3 Lines Max

There are conventions. There are expectations. There are patterns. But the simple fact is… THERE ARE NO SCREENWRITING RULES!

Script Analysis: “Green Book” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic…

Spec Script Deal: “Homecoming”

Lionsgate acquires comedy drama spec script “Homecoming” written by Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana, and Jana Savage. Via Deadline:

Interview (Video): Guillermo del Toro and Kim Morgan

A conversation with the co-screenwriters of the movie Nightmare Alley.

Page One: “Deliverance” (1972)

Screenplay by James Dickey, novel by James Dickey