Go Into The Story

Keys to Handling Exposition

Take my 1-week online class to learn ways to make exposition entertaining. Begins Monday, September 16, 2024.

Page One: “Exorcist II: The Heretic” (1977)

Written by William Goodhart, based on characters created by William Peter Blatty

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 9

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

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Continuity (Part 1)

“The continuity writer visualizes the story in a series of scenes.”

On Writing

“First you have nothing, and then, astonishingly, after ripping out your brain and your heart and betraying your friends and ex-lovers and…

Page One: “Excalibur” (1981)

Screenplay by Rospo Pallenberg and John Boorman, adaptation by Rospo Pallenberg, book by Thomas Malory

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 8

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

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Story Synopsis

“The first step in preparing a photoplay is to put it into plain English telling the entire plot in from 500 to 1,500 words. This is called…

Screenwriting 101: Nikole Beckwith

“I think if you’re inviting people into a story, you should invite them into all parts of that story. I tried to inhabit each character as…

Page One: “Evolution” (2001)

Screenplay by David Diamond & David Weissman and Don Jakoby, story by Don Jakoby

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 7

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

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Action [Part 5]

“Never take your audience off the path of the real plot.”

Great Scene: “Little Miss Sunshine”

Read how screenwriter Michael Arndt scripted Olive’s dance routine in his Oscar-winning screenplay.

Page One: “Evil Dead” (2013)

Screenplay by Fede Alvarez & Rodo Sayagues, based on the motion picture “The Evil Dead”, written by Sam Raimi

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 6

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

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Action [Part 4]

“Action may be mental as well as physical.”

The Business of Screenwriting: The Art of Stacking Projects

Note: This is a reprint of an article from 2012.

Page One: “The Evil Dead” (1981)

Written by Sam Raimi

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 5

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

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Action [Part 3]

“One method of heightening the suspense is by foreshadowing coming events without actually giving the secret away.”

The Black List Helped Reshape Hollywood. Can It Change Publishing?

The Black List expands into novels and fiction-writing.

Page One: “Event Horizon” (1997)

Written by Philip Eisner

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 4

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

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Action [Part 2]

“Never let anything superfluous creep into your plot. Never stop the progress of events to explore blind alleys.”

Screenwriting 101: Ron Bass

“I’ve always felt that writing was communication — not showing off how articulate you are, or showing off your vocabulary. It’s about…