Go Into The Story

Movie Analysis: “Edge of Tomorrow”

I wanted to knock out some thoughts on Edge of Tomorrow as quickly as possible because based on its so-so box office, I’m afraid the movie won’t be in theaters here in the States too much longer… which is a shame because it’s perhaps the best

Interview [Part 1]: Misan Sagay, Screenwriter, “Belle”

Misan Sagay is a screenwriter whose credits include The Secret Laughter of Women, starring Colin Firth, and Their Eyes Were Watching God, starring Halle Berry. Misan’s most recent writing project is Belle, an historical drama starring Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson and Gugu Mbatha-Raw playing the title role. Today

“Star Wars” sorted alphabetically

From /film: The internet has allowed fans to distribute a wealth of videos dissecting their favorite films that otherwise wouldn’t exist. Sometimes the OCD of obsessive fandom results in something so insane that you just need to see it just to know someone spent the time to create it.

Interview [Audio]: Tony Gilroy [BAFTA Lecture]

BAFTA (The British Academy of Film and Television Arts) has been hosting a wonderful lecture series the last few years, featuring some of the best screenwriters in the U.S. and U.K. If you go here, you can listen to 72 minutes of Tony Gilroy (Bourne Identity, Michael Clayton)

Movie Trailer: “Guardians of the Galaxy”

In the far reaches of space, an American pilot named Peter Quill finds himself the object of a manhunt after stealing an orb coveted by the villainous Ronan. Screenplay by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman, comic book by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning IMDB Release Date: 1 August 2014 (USA)

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 9: “The Queen”

Why read 30 screenplays in 30 days? Because whether you are a novice just starting to learn the craft of screenwriting or someone who has been writing for many years, you should be reading scripts. There is a certain type of knowledge and understanding about screenwriting you can only get

On Writing

“There are a million things that are distracting you and a million excuses and if you want an excuse not to write, you will find it.” — Henry Bean

Daily Dialogue — June 9, 2014

Samantha: Thanks for getting my undies back. Jake: Thanks for coming over. Samantha: Thanks for coming to get me. Jake: Happy Birthday, Samantha. Make a wish. Samantha: It already came true. — Sixteen Candles (1984), written by John Hughes The Daily Dialogue theme for this week: Birthday. Trivia: The movie’s

Go Into The Story Week In Review: June 2-June 8, 2014

Links to the week’s most notable posts: 30 Days of Screenplays, Day 2: Prisoners 30 Days of Screenplays, Day 3: Jane Eyre 30 Days of Screenplays, Day 4: Spring Breakers 30 Days of Screenplays, Day 5: Dallas Buyers Club 30 Days of Screenplays, Day 6: A Serious Man 30

Update: Black List Live! Staged Reading Free Ticket Contest Giveaway!

An update on the upcoming inaugural Black List Live! staged reading. Here are the details: A first time event taking place at the Festival this year is The Black List Live! A Staged Reading. The Festival is teaming up with The Black List to program a staged reading of an

The Fault In Our Stars: Q&A with screenwriters Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber

Based on the John Green novel, the movie version of The Fault in Our Stars is creating quite a buzz in social media as it approaches its opening in theaters in North America this weekend. So I reached out to the film’s screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber

Screenwriting News (June 2-June 8, 2014)

Todd Alcott and Holly Golden sell “Medusa” pitch to Sony Pictures Animation. Bryan Bertino adapting science fiction thriller short film “Abe” for MGM. David DiGilio adapting the remake of South African thriller iNumber Number for Universal Pictures. Jen Kleiner adapting true story “Switching Time” for Aaron Magnani Productions with Kleiner

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 8: “The Social Network”

Why read 30 screenplays in 30 days? Because whether you are a novice just starting to learn the craft of screenwriting or someone who has been writing for many years, you should be reading scripts. There is a certain type of knowledge and understanding about screenwriting you can only get

THR Comedy Showrunner Roundtable

Via THR: How early is too early to talk about male ejaculate? As it turns out, 11 a.m. on a spring morning at the SmokeHouse restaurant in Burbank was as fine a time as any to address the appropriate stand-in synthetics for semen (hair conditioner is a must-

Interview [Video]: Dustin Lance Black

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has started a documentary series called Academy Originals. Here is an interview with screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who won an Academy Award for his script Milk. It’s a fascinating look at his prep-writing process which leads to his “vomit” (first)

Daily Dialogue — June 8, 2014

Ned: You can stand here with me if you want but you’ll have to agree not to talk about the heat. Matty: I’m a married woman. Ned: Meaning what? Matty: Meaning I’m not looking for company. Ned: Then you should have said I’m a happily married

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Birthday!

The Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Birthday! That’s right! Let’s celebrate the joy and good cheer present in movie birthday scenes! Or maybe not! Dig down into your memories and see what birthday scenes you can come up with for a possible Daily Dialogue post next week.

Documentary: “Through the Eyes of Forrest Gump”

For all you Forrest Gump fans, here is a 30-minute doc on the movie: FYI in honor of the movie’s 20th anniversary, Paramount is re-releasing Forrest Gump in theaters starting September 5. For more information, check out this Indiewire article. Comment Archive

Spec Script Sale: “Safe Core”

26 Films acquires action thriller spec script “Safe Core” written by Elliott San. Logline: N/A Date Sold: May 22, 2014 San is repped by WME and Energy Entertainment. This is an option deal. By my count, this is the 28th spec script sale in 2014 There were 49 spec

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 137th installment of Saturday Hot Links. Today: The Original Versions of Three Classic Rock Songs Edition! “All Along The Watchtower” by Bob Dylan “All Along The Watchtoer” by Jimi Hendrix Hollywood: Reboots, Remakes, Redos. The simplest secret to happiness you’ll ever find. L.A. is seeing

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 7: “Amour”

Why 30 screenplays in 30 days? Because whether you are a novice just starting to learn the craft of screenwriting or someone who has been writing for many years, you should be reading scripts. There is a certain type of knowledge and understanding about screenwriting you can only get from

Interview [Written]: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller pretty much do it all: TV (How I Met Your Mother), movie directing (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street), and screenwriting (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Cloudy with a Chance of

Daily Dialogue — June 7, 2104

“My name is Frank Taylor, I’m a co-pilot for Pan Am. I’d like to cash this check here, then… I’d like to take you out for a steak dinner.” — Catch Me If You Can (2002), screenplay by Jeff Nathanson, book by Frank Abagnale Jr. and Stan

“Supermensch” and me

So Mike Myers decides to make his directorial debut doing a documentary about a fellow named Shep Gordon. You may not have heard of him… but tons of people in the entertainment business have. Here is the trailer from Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon which opens in select theaters

Spec Script Sale: “Understand”

Twentieth Century Fox acquires science fiction spec script “Understand” written by Eric Heisserer, based on a short story by Ted Chiang. From Deadline: Deal comes after the record breaking Cannes deal Paramount made to acquire North American and China rights to Story of Your Life, also a project that 21