Go Into The Story

TED Talk (Part 9): J.J. Abrams

In 2007, J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost, Super 8) gave a TED Talk. I’m sure many of you have seen it. However, like many great presentations…

Daily Dialogue — February 15, 2019

GZA: Want some tea? RZA: Yea, splash me. GZA: It’s all herbals, man. No caffeine. RZA: That’s what I’m talking about. No caffeine. Caffeine…

Script Analysis: “BlacKkKlansman” — Part 4: Themes

Read the Oscar-nominated screenplay and analyze it this week.

Interview (Part 4): Wenonah Wilms

My interview with the 2018w Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Go Into The Story Master Class in Paris

For any Europe-based GITS fans, I will be leading a three-day immersion in character driven screenwriting in Paris — March 20–22, 2019.

The Business of Screenwriting: There’s a green light…

I’m attending a fundraiser for my son’s elementary school. It’s an alternative private school on the Westside, an institution that prides…

Daily Dialogue — February 14, 2019

“Here you go, boys. Good Morning, America.”

Script Analysis: “BlacKkKlansman” — Part 3: Characters

Read the Oscar-nominated screenplay and analyze it this week.

Interview (Part 3): Wenonah Wilms

My interview with the 2018 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

TED Talk (Part 8): J.J. Abrams

In 2007, J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost, Super 8) gave a TED Talk. I’m sure many of you have seen it. However, like many great presentations…

Script To Screen: “Panic Room”

From the 2002 thriller Panic Room, written by David Koepp.

Daily Dialogue — February 13, 2019

Mr. Wolfe: Jimmy. Jimmy: Uh-huh. Mr. Wolfe: Do me a favor. Thought I smelled some coffee back there. Would you make me cup? Jimmy: Uh…

Cameron, I echo your sentiments.

Real life doesn’t often lay out in three acts, but what the screenwriters did with BlacKkKlansman is find a solid Beginning / Middle / End…

Script Analysis: “BlacKkKlansman” — Part 2: Plot

Read the Oscar-nominated screenplay and analyze it this week.

Interview (Part 2): Wenonah Wilms

My interview with the 2018 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

TED Talk (Part 7): J.J. Abrams

In 2007, J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost, Super 8) gave a TED Talk. I’m sure many of you have seen it. However, like many great presentations…

Screenwriting 101: James Cameron

“People ask me all the time, ‘What would your advice be to a young filmmaker?’ It used to be, pick up a camera and start making a movie…

Daily Dialogue — February 12, 2019

Carter hands Edward an article about Kopi Luwak, Edward’s favorite coffee.

Script Analysis: “BlacKkKlansman” — Part 1: Scene By Scene Breakdown

Read the Oscar-nominated screenplay and analyze it this week.

Interview (Part 1): Wenonah Wilms

My interview with the 2018 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

TED Talk (Part 6): J.J. Abrams

In 2007, J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost, Super 8) gave a TED Talk. I’m sure many of you have seen it. However, like many great presentations…

On Writing

“In writing, habit seems to be a much stronger force than either willpower or inspiration. Consequently there must be some little quality…

Daily Dialogue — February 11, 2019

Tom: I’ll have a decaf coffee. Trudi: I’ll have a decaf espresso. Morris Frost: I’ll have a double decaf cappuccino. Ted: Give me…

Sylvia, sorry to hear about you stint in Hollywood.

I always advise people interested in pursuing screenwriting: Movies don’t owe anybody a living. So either live frugally. Keep a job and…

Great analysis, Mark.

Re your concern: You can use psychological writing. If you’re judicious, you can dip INTO a character’s inner world and express that in…