Go Into The Story

Screenwriting 101: Carter Blanchard

“I might have been generous before, saying that they’re going to read the first act. I would hope most of them do, and I’m sure no one’s…

Page One: “Hackers” (1995)

Written by Rafael Moreu

30 Things About Screenwriting: Story as Psychological Journey

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”

On Writing

“A character has to be ignorant of the future, unsure about the past, and not at all sure what he’s supposed to be doing.”

Page One: “Gunpowder Milkshake” (2021)

Written by Navot Papushado & Ehud Lavski

30 Things About Screenwriting: “Movies don’t owe anybody a living”

The original quote is about music, but it pertains to all entertainment.

“How can I possibly find the time to write?” Try this approach.

You can write 2 feature spec scripts per year … by writing 1 page per day.

Page One: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” (2022)

Screenplay by Guillermo del Toro and Patrick McHale, screen story by Guillermo del Toro and Matthew Robbins, based on the book “Pinocchio”…

30 Things About Screenwriting: If you write a great script…

…Hollywood will find you.

Screenwriting 101: Shane Black

“The feeling of finishing the script, the first draft, was the high. Everything that followed — though of interest, and sometimes slightly…

Page One: “The Guest” (2014)

Written by Simon Barrett

30 Things About Screenwriting: Imagematic writing

Good screenwriting is visual writing. After all, movies are: Motion. Pictures.

On Writing

“Mystery is the essential element of every work of art.”

Page One: “Green Room” (2015)

Written by Jeremy Saulnier

30 Things About Screenwriting: “Don’t think. Feel.”

With writing, there are times to think… and times to feel.

Some Inspiration for You

I rediscover the very first draft of K-9 and I’m reminded of this singular truth: Good things CAN happen!

Page One: “Green Lantern” (2011)

Screenplay by Greg Berlanti & Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim and Michael Goldenberg, screen story Greg Berlanti & Michael Green & Marc…

30 Things About Screenwriting: “Beginning. Middle. End.”

Consider the universality of narrative in three movements.

Report from the Austin Film Festival and Writers Conference

Observations from an event I describe as “Woodstock for screenwriters.”

Page One: “Grease” (1978)

Screenplay by Bronte Woodard , based on the original musical by Jim Jacob and Warren Casey

30 Things About Screenwriting: Get the damn thing done!

The one unalterable truth about writing a first draft.

Great Scene: “Tampopo”

If you haven’t seen the 1985 Tampopo, written and directed by Jûzô Itami, do yourself a favor and check it out. Starring the great Ken…

Page One: “GoldenEye” (1995)

Screenplay by Jeffrey Caine and Bruce Feirstein, story by Michael France, characters by Ian Fleming

30 Things About Screenwriting: Feet on the ground… head in the clouds

A twist on a familiar adage speaks to the business of writing.

Screenwriting 101: Shane Black

“I studied William Goldman’s writing style, especially the scripts for Marathon Man and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I found both of…