Go Into The Story

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 30: “Michael Clayton”

Why 30 screenplays in 30 days?

Spec Script Deal: “Naked is the Best Disguise”

Studio 8 with a pre-emptive acquisition of science fiction thriller spec script “Naked is the Best Disguise” written by Graham Moore. Via…

Daily Dialogue — March 2, 2018

Ariadne: Why are they all looking at me? Cobb: Because my subconscious feels that someone else is creating this world. The more you change…

Reader Question: Is it true that only 2% of independent films get distribution?

Background on the ever-changing indie film landscape… and is that HOPE on the horizon?

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 29: “Gladiator”

Why 30 screenplays in 30 days?

2018 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 1

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

The Business of Screenwriting: Everything you wanted to know about specs [Part 4]

Part 4: The Buyers — Studios and Financiers

Daily Dialogue — March 1, 2018

Officer: Come on, get everybody to clean this mess up now. Robbie: We’ve just arrived, sir. Can you tell us what we’re supposed to be…

Dustin, let me say this up front: You can always play it safe re format, follow conventional wisdom…

Re original TV pilots: Your path of least resistance is do what’s expected re format. Again, you don’t HAVE to break from the norm with…

Reader Question: Do I HAVE to use INT/EXT — LOCATION — DAY/NIGHT in scene headings?

Wherein we consider selling scripts, shooting scripts, and writing whatever the hell we want to tell our stories the best way possible.

2018 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: 1 Day and Counting!

This is it, your chance to embrace Creativity Meets Productivity!

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 28: “The King’s Speech”

Why 30 screenplays in 30 days?

Script To Screen: “Donnie Darko”

A scene from the 2001 movie Donnie Darko, written and directed Richard Kelly.

Daily Dialogue — February 28, 2018

Steve Jobs: You know what LISA stood for? Lisa Brennan: What? Steve Jobs: The computer. Do you know what LISA stood for? Lisa Brennan: I’m…

Tweetstorm: On Story Notes

“The unknowable will always feel more interesting/unsettling. Because we’re programmed to want to know.”

2018 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: 2 Days and Counting!

Your chance to take on Procrastination and Perfectionism.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 27: “(500) Days of Summer”

Why 30 screenplays in 30 days?

Screenwriting 101: Barbara Stepansky

“When I write scenes, I want to make sure that it drives the plot forward. If a scene doesn’t have a cause and effect built into it, it…

Daily Dialogue — February 27, 2018

Young Birdman: It’s a beautiful day. Forget about the Times… everyone else has. Come on. Stand up! So you’re not a great actor. Who cares…

Character Development Keys

Starting March 5, my 1-week online class not only immerses you in five key archetypes, you also use them to workshop one of your stories.

Zero Draft Thirty: Story Prep

In March, write a draft of an original movie or TV script.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 26: “Little Miss Sunshine”

Why 30 screenplays in 30 days?

On Writing

“Convince yourself that you are working in clay, not marble, on paper, not eternal bronze.”

Daily Dialogue — February 26, 2018

Jesse: There’s these breeds of monkeys, right, and all they do is have sex, all the time, you know? And they turn out to be the least…

Screenwriting News (February 19-February 25, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.