Go Into The Story

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…

Page One: “The Godfather Part III” (1990)

Written by Mario Puzo & Francis Ford Coppola

30 Things About Screenwriting: Break your story in prep

Let me begin with this acknowledgement: There is no right way to write. Each writer is different. Each story is different. There is no…

On Writing

“Writing is a process of discovery. The biggest enemy is being satisfied. That’s when you have to be most suspicious.”

Page One: “Girls Trip” (2017)

Screenplay by Kenya Barris & Tracy Oliver, story by Erica Rivinoja and Kenya Barris & Tracy Oliver

30 Things About Screenwriting: Similar but different

Or Precedent and Analogy. However you refer to it, it’s how Hollywood operates.

Spec Script Deal: “Final Score”

Fifth Season and Makeready acquire crime thriller spec script “Final Score” written by Will Hettinger. Via Deadline:

Page One: “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (2011)

Screenplay by Steven Zaillian, novel by Stieg Larsson

30 Things About Screenwriting: Living and writing in L.A.

Let me say up front, there are advantages for a screenwriter to live in or near Los Angeles. Here are a few key ones:

Spec Script Deal: “Three Hitmen and a Baby”

Lionsgate acquires action comedy spec script “Three Hitmen and a Baby” written by Dave Matalon and Matt Altman. Via Deadline:

Page One: “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” (2005)

Written by Terence Winter

30 Things About Screenwriting: Stacking projects

One key to the craft: Learn how to manage several projects at once.

Spec Script Deal: “Love of Your Life”

Amazon MGM acquires drama spec script “Love of Your Life” written by Julia Cox. Via Deadline:

Page One: “Geostorm” (2017)

Written by Dean Devlin & Paul Guyot

30 Things About Screenwriting: Know your genre

If you want to write in a genre, you’re wise to immerse yourself in it.

Spec Script Deal: “Out There”

Netflix acquires science fiction thriller spec script “Out There” written by Shane Van Dyke, Carey Van Dyke and Ian Levy. Via Deadline:

Page One: “The Gentlemen” (2019)

Screenplay by Guy Ritchie, story by Guy Ritchie & Ivan Atkinson & Marn Davies

30 Things About Screenwriting: Facing the odds

How to sustain creativity in the face of considerable odds against success.

The Business of Screenwriting: Trailer Moments, Set Pieces and Bits Of Business (BOBs)

You may have read countless screenwriting books. Attended seminars. Taken courses. But I doubt if you have stumbled across these three…

Page One: “Halloween” (1978)

Screenplay by John Carpenter and Debra Hill

Create a Compelling Protagonist

Workshop and develop your story’s Protagonist in my one-week online class which begins Monday, November 4th.

30 Things About Screenwriting: When something happens… something ELSE happens

The dynamic dual nature of a screenplay universe.

Page One: “The Hills Have Eyes” (1977)

Written by Wes Craven

30 Things About Screenwriting: Immerse Yourself in Cinema

If you want to write movies, you need to love movies. And that love ought to manifest itself in a thorough, longstanding, and passionate…

Great Scene: “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”

Many of the best movie scenes are payoffs to plot elements that have been set up earlier in the story. Often the set-up and payoff involves…