Go Into The Story

Page One: “Flashdance” (1983)

Screenplay by Tom Hedley and Joe Eszterhas, story by Tom Hedley

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 28

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: What to Write and Not to Write [Part 1]

“It takes hard work to create a new plot, so beware of the one which comes too easily.”

Great Scene: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”

The famous Black Night scene.

Page One: “First They Killed My Father” (2017)

Screenplay by Loung Ung & Angelina Jolie, based on the book “First They Killed My Father” by Loung Ung

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 27

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Kinds Of Stories That Sell [Part 5]

“The amateur must always remember that people go to the motion picture theater to forget their troubles and become young again in a world…

“Perfectly Happy, Even Without Happy Endings”

Several people sent me a link to this NYT article and for good reason: It has some ideas screenwriters should definitely contemplate…

Page One: “The Firm” (1993)

Screenplay by David Rabe and Robert Towne & David Rayfiel, novel by John Grisham

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 26

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Kinds Of Stories That Sell [Part 4]

“Few people like to cry, but every one likes to laugh. Therefore, the story with many laughs has a hundred fold better chance than the one…

The Business of Screenwriting: The Power of “No”

As a screenwriter, you need to be prepared to say this word: “No.”

Page One: “Firestorm” (1998)

Written by Chris Soth

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 25

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Kinds Of Stories That Sell [Part 3]

“The exhibitor wants the sort of story that can be exploited from the box office point of view, for a photoplay that does not lend itself…

Great Scene: “Moneyball”

How the song “The Show” nails a key theme in the story.

Page One: “Fingernails” (2023)

Written by Christos Nikou & Sam Steiner & Stavros Raptis

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 24

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Kinds Of Stories That Sell [Part 2]

“In writing for a producer, try to conform to the type of picture he has been making.”

Screenwriting 101: Robert Benton

“David [Newman] and I felt that the line dividing a criminal and an upright citizen is much more subtle than most people realize, and…

Page One: “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool” (2017)

Screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh, based on a book by Peter Turner

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 23

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Kinds Of Stories That Sell [Part 1]

“It should be remembered that in literature and drama alike there is an artistic side and a practical side. Often the real masterpiece lies…

On Writing

“You must stay drunk on writing so reality may not destroy you.”

Page One: “The Fifth Element” (1997)

Screenplay by Luc Besson & Robert Mark Kamen, story by Luc Besson