Go Into The Story

The Business of Screenwriting: “God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason”

I’m at lunch with our agents in Beverly Hills. It’s February, 1987. The deal where Universal Pictures bought our spec script K-9 is…

Page One: “London Boulevard” (2010)

Screenplay by William Monahan, novel by Ken Bruen

Theme as Moments

“It should not be surprising that what we most often and most vividly remember about a movie are its key moments. It should also not be…

Interview (Part 4): Julia Yorks

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

Screenwriting 101: Pen Densham

“You have to look at being a story-writer and let that passion create stories, and see where there’s a place you might be able to find…

Page One: “Love, Simon” (2018)

Screenplay by Elizabeth Berger & Isaac Aptaker, based upon the novel “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli

Screenwriting Tip: Test Your Story Concept

5 questions to ask about a story idea to assess its viability as a scripted project.

Interview (Part 3): Julia Yorks

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

On Writing

“Don’t quit. It’s very easy to quit during the first ten years. Nobody cares whether you write or not, and it’s very hard to write when…

Page One: “Love & Other Drugs” (2010)

Screenplay by Charles Randolph and Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz

Reader Question: Can a Protagonist evolve into an Antagonist?

“I prefer to look at it in Jungian terms: The Protagonist’s shadow has emerged from latency and because the Protagonist has not confronted…

Interview (Part 2): Julia Yorks

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

Screenwriting 101: Frank Darabont

“The whole industry of ‘we can make you a screenwriter.’ I have ambivalent feelings because, ultimately, even though there is some benefit…

Page One: “Lone Survivor” (2013)

Written by Peter Berg, book by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson

Screenwriting Tip: Stacking projects

One key to the craft: Learning how to manage multiple projects at once.

Interview (Part 1): Julia Yorks

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

On Writing

“Writing is easy. Being a writer is murder.”

Page One: “The Lone Ranger” (2013)

Screenplay by Justin Haythe and Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, screen story by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio and Justin Haythe

Break your story in prep

My only Prep: From Concept to Outline workshop of 2025 begins June 2nd.

Go Into The Story Interview: James Acker

My interview with the 2020 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Screenwriting 101: Frank Darabont

“Don’t get into this business if it’s about trying to make a million-dollar sale. We’ve got plenty of assholes around trying to achieve…

Page One: “Live by Night” (2016)

Screenplay by Ben Affleck, novel by Dennis Lehane

The Coen Brothers, Storytelling, and Fate

A poem by Ethan Coen reveals a key clue to the brothers’ story sensibilities.

Scene Description Spotlight: “Zombieland”

One of the most important things a writer wants to do when they begin a script is establish the story’s tone — and this is nowhere more…

20 Tips from Martin Scorsese

The writer-director of Mean Streets, Goodfellas, The Age of Innocence, and Casino with reflections on cinematic storytelling.