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Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 4: Poetry and the Development 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…

“Good isn’t good enough. You have to be great.”

If you’ve been paying attention to the business of Hollywood, you’re probably aware that Skydance is taking over Paramount.

Page One: “Commando” (1985)

Screenplay by Steven E. de Souza, story by Jeph Loeb & Matthew Weisman and Steven E. de Souza

Interview (Part 2): Brent Delaney

My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 3: Medium, Objects, Manner

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: Guillermo Arriaga

“I have no education at all in screenwriting. But when I have read all these manuals of screenwriting, they say things that I will never…

Page One: “Coming to America” (1988)

Screenplay by David Sheffield & Barry W. Blaustein, story by Eddie Murphy

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 3: Medium, Objects, Manner

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

Interview (Part 1): Brent Delaney

My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 2: Moral Character, Types, Tragedy and Comedy

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

“If you’re going to be a writer, there’s nothing I can say to stop you.”

Page One: “Coming Home” (1978)

Screenplay by Waldo Salt and Robert C. Jones, story by Nancy Dowd

Reader Question: Do all Protagonists need a character arc?

A character’s ‘arc’ is a big buzzword in Hollywood development circles.

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 1: Structure and Imitation

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: “The American”

The opening incident in the 2010 movie The American, starring George Clooney, screenplay by Rowan Joffe, based on a novel by Martin Booth.

Page One: “The Comedian” (2016)

Screenplay by Art Linson & Jeffrey Ross and Richard LaGravenese and Lewis Friedman, story by Art Linson

Script To Screen: “American Beauty”

One of the most memorable scenes from the 1999 movie American Beauty, written by Alan Ball, a plastic bag dancing in the wind.

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Introduction: The Nature and Purpose of the Arts

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

Great Scene: “Fight Club”

One of the most effective ways to begin a script is to start at the ending. And one of the best scenes that opens with the ending is in the…

Page One: “Come to Daddy” (2019)

Written by Toby Harvard

Script To Screen: “American Pie”

The infamous apple pie scene.

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 28

Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

Writing and the Creative Life: “The best way to have a good idea…”

…is to have lots of ideas.” Those are the words of Linus Pauling, chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator, the only…

Page One: “Colette” (2018)

Screenplay by Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland & Rebecca Lenkiewicz, story by Richard Glatzer

Great Scene: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

One of the most memorable scenes in one of the most memorable John Hughes movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986).