Go Into The Story

Go into yourself. Go into your story.

“There is only one thing to do. Go into yourself. Examine your reason for writing. Discover whether it is rooted in the depths of your heart, and find out whether you would rather die than be forbidden to write. Above all, ask yourself in the stillest hour of the night,

Interview: Kelly Marcel (2011 Black List)

One of the best ways to learn the craft is read what professional screenwriters have to say about it. To that end for the next few weeks, I will be featuring interviews I have conducted with Black List screenwriters. Today: Kelly Marcel wrote the 2011 Black List screenplay Saving Mr.

Script Analysis: “Nightcrawler” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Today: A scene-by-scene breakdown of the movie script Nightcrawler. Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series

Classic 30s Movie: “Duck Soup”

May is Classic 30s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from David Joyner. Movie Title: Duck Soup Year: 1933 Writers: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Arthur Sheekman, Nat Perrin Lead Actors: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont Director: Leo McCarey Plot Summary: The small country of

Screenwriting 101: Jon Boyer

“A bad script written is still better than an amazing one that isn’t.” — Jon Boyer For hundreds more Screenwriting 101 posts, go here.

Daily Dialogue — May 24, 2016

“LOOK UPON ME! I’LL SHOW YOU THE LIFE OF THE MIND!” — Barton Fink (1991), written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: The Coen Brothers. I will be teaching my popular 1 week online class “The Coen Brothers and the Craft of Storytelling”

The Coen Brothers and the Craft of Storytelling

I have two favorite contemporary filmmakers. In terms of mainstream commercial films, there is Pixar. For independent movies, there are the Coen brothers. Both are hugely successful in what they do, commercially and critically. That’s why I’m thrilled to follow up the popular Pixar class I teach with

Interview: Seth Lochhead (2006 Black List)

One of the best ways to learn the craft is read what professional screenwriters have to say about it. To that end for the next few weeks, I will be featuring interviews I have conducted with Black List screenwriters. Today: Seth Lochhead’s original screenplay Hanna made the Black List

Script Analysis: “The Big Short” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Today: A scene-by-scene breakdown of the movie script The Big Short. Here is my take on this exercise from a

Classic 30s Movie: “Vampyr”

May is Classic 30s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Megaen Kelly. Title: Vampyr Year: 1932 Writers: Screenplay by Christen Jul and Carl Theodor Dreyer, based on a story by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu Lead Actors: Julian West, Jan Hieronimko, Rena Mandel and Sybille Schmitz Director: Carl Theodor

On Writing

“If I didn’t know the ending of a story, I wouldn’t begin. I always write my last line, my last paragraph, my last page first.” — Katherine Anne Porter

Daily Dialogue — May 23, 2016

“The world is full o’ complainers. An’ the fact is, nothin’ comes with a guarantee. Now I don’t care if you’re the pope of Rome, President of the United States or Man of the Year; somethin’ can all go wrong. Now go on ahead, y’know, complain, tell

How To Read A Screenplay: Parts 1–7

There is reading a screenplay. And there is reading a screenplay. If you really want to understand a script — story structure, characters, themes, the whole enchilada — here is a 7-part series providing an immersive approach to do just that. For Part 1: The First Pass, go here. For Part

Video: “Everybody Dies, But Not Everybody Lives”

For many people, Sunday is a time for reflection. Here is a video to do just that: Joseph Campbell said the central theme of the Hero’s Journey is this: Follow your bliss. Discover what your rapture is and do that. This video by Prince Ea makes that point in

Screenwriting News (May 16-May 22, 2016)

This week’s writing deals and movie project news. Joe Ballarini writing adaptation of YA novel “Charlie Paris and the Young Ambassadors” for Fox 2000. Jared Butler and Lars Norberg scripted thriller “Misfortune” with Envision Media Arts, John Cusack to star. Brandon Camp writing remake/reboot of “Benji” for Blumhouse

Werner Herzog’s Filmmaking MasterClass

How would you like to take a filmmaking master class with famed writer-director (Aguirre, the Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo) and documentary filmmaker (Grizzly Man) Werner Herzog? You can this summer. Check it out. Go here for more information.

Interview (Audio): Shane Black

Episode 272: The Writers Panel features an interview with Shane Black whose writing credits include Lethal Weapon, The Last Boyscout, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Iron Man 3, and his newest movie which he also directed The Nice Guys. Go here to listen to the interview.

Daily Dialogue — May 22, 2016

Older Stilwell: Hi, Dottie. You remember? “You’re gonna lose!” Older Dottie: Stillwell, angel! My goodness! Where’s your mom? Older Stilwell: Mom died… a few years ago. Older Dottie: Oh, I’m sorry. She was a real nice lady, and a damn fine ball player. Older Stilwell: Yeah. When

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Coen Brothers

The Daily Dialogue theme next week: Coen Brothers. Fargo (1996) Poster via ChetArt In honor of the fact I will be teaching one of my favorite classes — Coen Brothers and the Craft of Storytelling — beginning a week from Monday on May 30, let’s wallow in the wonder which is

Reader Question: Shouldn’t a writer figure out the craft on their own?

A question from @AndrewMcDermot1: Is there really no point where screenwriters should be encouraged to work some of this stuff out for themselves? Andrew’s tweet is in response to this post which raised the haunting specter of screenplay paradigms. And if you troll online screenwriting sites for no more

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 239th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other things of writerly interest. Cannes 2016: Buyers on the Hunt for the Next YA Franchise. Cannes 2016: Huayi Brothers CEO Outlines How Hollywood Can Make Hit Films for China’

Audio: David Foster Wallace 2005 commencement address — “This is water”

Eleven years ago today, David Foster Wallace delivered this commencement address to the graduating class at Kenyon College. If you’ve never listened to it, do it right now. It is brilliant. Other resources: The David Foster Wallace Audio Project David Foster Wallace Books 30 Free Essays & Stories by

Interview: Daniel Waters on “Heathers”

Paul Rowlands has a site called Money Into Light and he’s recently run a two-part interview with Daniel Waters, screenwriters of such movies as The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Hudson Hawk, Batman Returns, Demolition Man, and the cult hit Heathers. In the conversation, Waters reflects back on Heathers

Daily Dialogue — May 21, 2016

Woody: Buzz? Buzz Lightyear? You’re not worried, are you? Buzz: Me? No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Are you? Woody: Now Buzz, what could Andy possibly get that is worse than you? Andy: [from downstairs] Oh, oh, what is it? What is it? Wow, a puppy! — Toy Story

Reader Question: What’s your opinion about signing release forms for material submissions?

A reader question via email from Mark: Hi Scott, Fantastic website! I can write pretty good loglines. As a result, a number of producers request material. At lease half or more require signing release and agreement forms. While I’ve signed them in the past, I now try to avoid