Go Into The Story

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 18(B): Four Kinds of Tragedy

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again…

Scene Description Spotlight: “(500) Days of Summer”

One of the best moments in the delightful film (500) Days of Summer is the morning-after-having-sex-with-Summer-big-dance-bit.

Page One: “Dirty Girl” (2010)

Written by Abe Sylvia

Go Into The Story Interview: Scott Derrickson

My in-depth 2018 conversation with co-writer and director of the Marvel movie Doctor Strange as well as horror movies The Exorcism of Emily…

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 18(A): Complication and Denouement

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again…

Script To Screen: “Air Force One”

The movie version of this pivotal scene is much different than the script.

Page One: “Dinner for Schmucks” (2010)

Screenplay by David Guion & Michael Handelman

Go Into The Story Interview: Lisa Joy

My 2014 in-depth conversation with the creator and co-executive producer of the HBO series Westworld, the Amazon series Fallout, and…

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 17: Plot and Episode

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again…

The Business of Screenwriting: Spec scripts aren’t just for aspiring screenwriters

You may think a spec script is something only relevant to aspiring screenwriters. Not true.

Page One: “The Descent” (2005)

Written by Neil Marshall

Spec Script Deal: “Hurt People”

Netflix acquires legal thriller spec script “Hurt People” written by Melissa London Hilfers. Via Deadline:

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 16: Recognition

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again…

Script To Screen: “Airplane!”

A memorable scene from the 1981 comedy featuring the actress who played June Cleaver on Leave It To Beaver, screenplay by Jim Abrahams &…

Page One: “Denial” (2016)

Screenplay by David Hare, book by Deborah Lipstadt

Writing Aids: 90 Words for “looks” and 115 Words for “walks”

Movies are primarily a visual medium. Therefore as screenwriters, we need to think visually… and write visually.

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 15(C): The Example of Good Portrait Painters

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again…

Screenwriting 101: John August

“Sometimes it’s like, you wrote one really good sentence. You may never get called out for it, the props for it you deserve, but you know…

Page One: “Den of Thieves” (2018)

Screenplay by Christian Gudegast, story by Christian Gudegast & Paul T. Scheuring

Script to Screen: “The Graduate”

This memorable montage from the 1967 movie The Graduate, screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry, novel by Charles Webb.

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 15(B): The Unraveling of the Plot

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again…

On Writing

“Why do writers write? Because it isn’t there.”

Page One: “Deep Star Six” (1989)

Written by Lewis Abernathy and Geof Miller

Go Into The Story Interview: Harris McCabe

My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 15(A): Four Qualities of a Tragic Hero

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again…