Go Into The Story

Daily Dialogue — October 2, 2015

“I believe in America. America has made my fortune.” — The Godfather (1972), screenplay by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, novel by Mario Puzo The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Opening Lines. Today’s suggestion by Rob Peterson. Trivia: According to Mario Puzo, the character of Johnny Fontane was

Movie Analysis: “Casablanca” — Themes

Another in our bi-weekly series in which we analyze movies currently in release. Why? To quote the writing mantra I coined over 5 years ago: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. You will note which one comes first. Here are my reflections from that post about the importance of

Interview (Part 4): Julia Hart — “The Keeping Room”

Over the weekend, an outstanding indie movie opened in select theaters in North America: The Keeping Room, written by Julia Hart, directed by Daniel Barber, and starring Brit Marling and Hailee Steinfeld. I interviewed Julia back in February 2013 and will be reprising that series this week, a terrific conversation

Spec Script Deal: “Hammerspace”

Warner Bros. acquires science fiction spec script “Hammerspace” written by Mike Van Waes. From THR: The story is set in motion when a terminally ill teenager, while searching for answers about his missing father, finds a mysterious key that unlocks a portal to an alternate animated dimension, releasing an unexpected

Classic 40s Movies: The Entire Series

September has been Classic 40s Movies Month at Go Into The Story. Here are links to all of the movies reviewed during the last 30 days: Act of Violence Arsenic and Old Lace Bicycle Thieves Brief Encounter Casablanca Double Indemnity Five Graves to Cairo Here Comes Mr. Jordan His Girl

Classic 40s Movie: “The Big Sleep”

September was Classic 40s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Ipsita Barik. Title: The Big Sleep Year: 1946 Writers: Screenplay by William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett and Jules Furthman, Novel by Raymond Chandler Lead Actors: Humphrey DeForest Bogart, Lauren Bacall Director: Howard Hawks Plot Summary: Private detective Philip Marlowe

Daily Dialogue — October 1, 2015

“Oh America. I wish I could tell you that this was still America but you can’t have a country without people.” — Zombieland (2009), written by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Opening Lines. Today’s suggestion by Aurelien Laine. Trivia: The script, originally a

My Interviews with 20 Nicholl Fellowship Screenwriting Winners

My Interviews with 34 Nicholl Fellowship Screenwriting Winners The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition is the most important of all screenplay contests. Founded in 1986, it is administered by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and previous winners have included Allison Anders, Susannah Grant, Ehren Kruger, Michael A.

Interview (Part 3): Julia Hart — “The Keeping Room”

Over the weekend, an outstanding indie movie opened in select theaters in North America: The Keeping Room, written by Julia Hart, directed by Daniel Barber, and starring Brit Marling and Hailee Steinfeld. I interviewed Julia back in February 2013 and will be reprising that series this week, a terrific conversation

Movie Analysis: “Casablanca” — Characters

Another in our bi-weekly series in which we analyze movies currently in release. Why? To quote the writing mantra I coined over 5 years ago: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. You will note which one comes first. Here are my reflections from that post about the importance of

Classic 40s Movie: “Now, Voyager”

September is Classic 40s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Melissa Privette. Title: Now, Voyager Year: 1942 Writers: screenplay by Casey Robinson, novel by Olive Higgins Prouty Lead Actors: Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains Director: Irving Rapper IMDb Plot Summary: Boston spinster blossoms under therapy and finds

Great Scene: “Alien”

Scenes that totally surprise a viewer — those can be great scenes. And memorable. I still remember when I watched Alien in a theater, leaping out of my seat when I first experienced this scene. I’ve included the preceding bit of business to warm you up. INT. MESS The entire

Daily Dialogue — September 30, 2015

“Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and

2015 Nicholl Fellowships In Screenwriting Winners!

Today the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science announced five winners of the 2015 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. They are: * Elizabeth Chomko, What They Had * Andrew Friedhof, Great Falls * Anthony Grieco, Best Sellers * Sam Regnier, Free Agent * Amy Tofte, Addis Abeka The Nicholl is the most prestigious of all

Interview (Part 2): Julia Hart — “The Keeping Room”

Over the weekend, an outstanding indie movie opened in select theaters in North America: The Keeping Room, written by Julia Hart, directed by Daniel Barber, and starring Brit Marling and Hailee Steinfeld. I interviewed Julia back in February 2013 and will be reprising that series this week, a terrific conversation

Movie Analysis: “Casablanca” — Plot

Another in our bi-weekly series in which we analyze movies currently in release. Why? To quote the writing mantra I coined over 5 years ago: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. You will note which one comes first. Here are my reflections from that post about the importance of

Help send two female directors to Sundance 2016

Cassian Elwes. Lynette Howell. Christine Vachon. Three producers who have a pronounced effect on the independent movie culture. Their producing credits include All Is Lost, Big Eyes, Boys Don’t Cry, Far From Heaven, The Place Beyond the Pines, and Dallas Buyers Club among many other notable titles. For the

Screenwriting 101: Neil Simon

“I think the best ideas come together at the same time. In other words, the most interesting characters plus a very interesting conflict. If I just have one without the other, then I’m not sure where the thing is going. Those kinds of conflict always interest me. When people

Daily Dialogue — September 29, 2015

“I was 12 going on 13 the first time I saw a dead human being.” — Stand By Me (1986), screenplay by Raynold Gideon & Bruce A. Evans, novella by Stephen King The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Opening Lines. Today’s suggestion by Mark Jackson. Trivia: As with most

Spec Script Deal: “The Wind at Spanish Needle”

Nigel Sinclair and Guy East’s White Horse Pictures acquires the rights to drama western spec script “The Wind at Spanish Needle” written by Simon Nagel. Logline: An old, blind gunslinger treks across the Mojave Desert to a mountain peak in the Sierras to reunite with the love of his

Interview (Part 1): Julia Hart — “The Keeping Room”

Over the weekend, an outstanding indie movie opened in select theaters in North America: The Keeping Room, written by Julia Hart, directed by Daniel Barber, and starring Brit Marling and Hailee Steinfeld. I interviewed Julia back in February 2013 and will be reprising that series this week, a terrific conversation

Movie Analysis: “Casablanca”

Another in our bi-weekly series in which we analyze movies currently in release. Why? To quote the writing mantra I coined over 5 years ago: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. You will note which one comes first. Here are my reflections from that post about the importance of

Classic 40s Movie: “Kind Hearts and Coronets”

September is Classic 40s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from James Calder. Title: Kind Hearts and Coronets Year: 1949 Writers: Robert Hamer and John Dighton (screenplay), Roy Horniman (novel, Israel Rank) Lead Actors: Dennis Price, Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Valerie Hobson Director: Robert Hamer Plot Summary: Louis Mazzini,

Daily Dialogue — September 28, 2015

“For as long as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster.” — Goodfellas (1990), screenplay by Nicholas Pileggi & Martin Scorsese, book by Nicholas Pileggi The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Opening Lines. Today’s suggestion by Jack Freedman. Trivia: The movie’s line “As far back

Go Into The Story Week In Review: September 21-September 27, 2015

Links to this week’s most notable posts: Classic 40s Movie: Act of Violence Classic 40s Movie: Here Comes Mr. Jordan Classic 40s Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life Classic 40s Movie: Key Largo Classic 40s Movie: Stray Dog Classic 40s Movie: The Best Years of Our Lives Classic 40s