Go Into The Story

Interview (Part 2): Ward Kamel

My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Page One: “Home Alone” (1990)

Written by John Hughes

Interview (Part 1): Ward Kamel

My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

On Writing

“There are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before.”

Page One: “The Hollars” (2016)

Written by Jim Strouse

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

Wherein we consider selling scripts, shooting scripts, conventional wisdom, and writing whatever the hell we want.

Go Into The Story Interview: Leigh Cesiro and Erica Matlin

My interview with 2021 Black List writers for their script Cruel Summer.

Page One: “Day of the Fight” (2023)

Written by Jack Huston

You may have made "errors" in your assessments, but I'll bet you learned a lot about what works and…

Thanks for sharing and best of luck with your writing.

Michael, I've made a lot of mistakes in my sojourn through Hollywood over the years, but one thing…

As for your experience, you hit one a major plus from being a script reader: "you learn what moves a script up the ladder ... things you…

The Narrative Imperative of the Hero’s Journey

“The adventure they are ready for is the adventure they get.”

Go Into The Story Interview: Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber

Screenwriting duo whose movie writing credits include (500) Days of Summer, The Spectacular Now, The Fault in Our Stars, and The Disaster…

Page One: “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” (2024)

Screenplay by Mark Burton, story by Nick Park & Mark Burton

Script Readers: Hollywood’s Threshold Guardians

They may not get a lot of respect, but they are important to writers.

Download Each of the 2025 Oscar Nominated Screenplays

Your chance to read and study 10 Academy Award nominated scripts.

Page One: “Transformers One” (2024)

Screenplay by Eric Pearson and Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari, story by Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari

Your characters want you to tell their story

Lean into your characters. After all, it’s their story.

On Writing

“Writing is a craft that requires both talent and acquired skills. You learn by doing, by making mistakes and then seeing where you went…

Page One: “Thelma” (2024)

Written by Josh Margolin

THR 2025 Writers Roundtable

The Hollywood Reporter’s annual sit-down with six screenwriters with notable films from the previous year.

The Business of Screenwriting: Hip pocket representation

The gray area between being signed by an agent… and kinda signed.

Page One: “Anora” (2024)

Written by Sean Baker

Screenwriting 101: Leigh Brackett

“I sort of went off into corners and wept a few times at things that made me very unhappy. I think the hardest thing about adapting to…

Great Scene: “Barbie”

In a quiet, reflective moment, Barbie experiences something of what it means to be a human.

Page One: “Small Things Like These” (2024)

Written by Enda Walsh, book by Claire Keegan