Go Into The Story

“Saving Private Ryan”: Minute By Minute Breakdown

A podcast analysis with MovieRob and me about the dramatic scene: What to do with the German POW “Steamboat Willie”

Page One: “Jack Reacher” (2012)

Written for the screen by Christopher McQuarrie, based on the book “One Shot” by Lee Child

2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 6

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

Screenwriting 101: Paddy Chayefsky

“If it should occur to you to cut, do so. That’s the first basic rule of cutting. If you’re reading through and stop, something is wrong…

Spec Script Deal: “I Can See You’re Angry”

Miramax acquires comedy spec script “I Can See You’re Angry” written by Brandon Cohen. Via Deadline:

Page One: “It’s Kind of a Funny Story” (2010)

Screenplay by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, novel by Ned Vizzini

2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 5

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

Go Into The Story Interview: Filipe Coutinho and Ben Mehlman

My interview with 2021 Black List writers for their script Whittier.

On Writing

“Writing is like meditation or going into an ESP trance, or prayer. Like dreaming. You are tapping into your unconscious. To be fully…

Page One: “It” (2017)

Screenplay by Chase Palmer & Cary Joji Fukunaga and Gary Dauberman, based on the novel by Stephen King

2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 4

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

Screenwriting 101: Andrew Bujalski

“Write out the scene the way you hear it in your head. Then read it and find the parts where the characters are saying exactly what you…

Scene Description Spotlight: “Jerry Maguire”

“A beat of silence, then noise returns to its normal commercial roar. A couple of fleas have been swatted off the carcass of an immense…

Page One: “Isle of Dogs” (2018)

Screenplay by Wes Anderson, story by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola & Jason Schwartzman and Kunichi Nomura

2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 3

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

Scene Description Spotlight: “Inglourious Basterds”

Today let’s consider the narrative voice of a drama: Inglourious Basterds (2009), written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.

On Writing

“The best time for planning a book is while you’re doing the dishes.”

Page One: “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978)

Screenplay by W.D. Richter, novel by Jack Finney

2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 2

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

Go Into The Story Interview: Wendy Britton Young

My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Writing and the Creative Life: The Creative Personality

Creative Personality as comprised of 10 dichotomies. How many do you have?

Page One: “The Interview” (2014)

Screenplay by Dan Sterling, story by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg & Dan Sterling

2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 1

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

Interview (Part 6): Wendy Britton Young

My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

Scene Description Spotlight: “The Hangover” (2009)

Today, we check out The Hangover, screenplay by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore.