Go Into The Story

Actually, a video surfaced just this month in which Kubrick explains the ending of 2001:

You can read the text of his comments here.

That’s a good question, Ashley, and difficult to answer in theory, I’d have to see it in context to…

That’s a theoretical example. The first thing that comes to mind from a movie — and I can’t find the specific scene online — is the film…

Reader Question: What advice for someone wanting to give writing a full-time shot?

First and foremost, you have to want it. I mean really want it. The competition is fierce. Think of it this way: Any time you aren’t…

Happy Birthday, Carl Jung: Screenwriting Guru!

Swiss psychotherapist and founder of analytical psychology Carl Jung was born today in 1875. He died in 1961 at the age of 85.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 24: “Moonrise Kingdom”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

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…

Daily Dialogue — July 26, 2018

Tom is listening to headphones. Summer enters the elevator and Tom actively puts on a show to ignore her. Summer hears the music.

Reader Question: How to balance scene description which is minimal yet descriptive?

This question in response to my tweet featuring this screenwriting mantra: “Minimum Words. Maximum Impact.”

“Each scene must be a drama in itself”

This advice from silent movie era screenwriter Jeanie Macpherson still resonates today.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 23: “Flight”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Script To Screen: “Ghostbusters”

The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man scene.

Daily Dialogue — July 25, 2018

“You promised! You promised we’d be together! You said we’d grow old together!”

What is the point of the scene?

Begin the scene-writing process by asking this fundamental question.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 22: “Mud”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Screenwriting 101: Jack Epps, Jr.

“What is really hard is that you have a draft and an intention of what you wanted to write when you started. Now, you’ve finished your…

Daily Dialogue — July 24, 2018

Elevator Passenger: Cool Spidey outfit. Spider-Man: Thanks. Elevator Passenger: Where did you get it? Spider-Man: I made it.

Screenwriting Theory

Plot. Concept. Character. Style. Dialogue. Scene. Theme. Time.

“Turn on. Tune in. Drop out.”

Wherein we appropriate the words of Timothy Leary for some writing advice.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 21: “Monsters University”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

On Writing

“Most writers I know all have similar personalities in many ways. We’re all kind of confident, but also a wreck, and anxious, but also…

Daily Dialogue — July 23, 2018

“Sorry, wrong floor.”

“You just muscle it out”

Advice on writing the first draft from writer-director Darren Aronofsky.

Screenwriting News (July 16-July 22, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 20: “Short Term 12”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Video: Amy Berg, Sera Gamble, Gillian Horvath, Kimberly Jesicka, Lauren LeFranc, Monica…

A 90 minute conversation with “All Female Showrunners’ Panel.”