Go Into The Story

Screenwriting Tip: Pressurize the scene

It’s one of the first rules of comedy and it pertains across all genres: You can make a scene more interesting by putting pressure on the characters. The pressure can be subtle and specific to a scene such as in the movie Psycho where Marion, who has stolen $40,

Dispatch From The Quest: Troy Klith

Over the course of the 24 weeks I am working with the writers in The Quest, each will write a weekly dispatch to share with the GITS community. There are several reasons for doing this, the main one educational: Hopefully you will learn something of value for your own understanding

Interview: Will Simmons — Part 3

Will Simmons made a splash when he wrote the 2012 Black List script “Murder City” which was subsequently acquired by Aldamisa Entertainment. He also has two other projects in the works: “Romeo,” a modern day re-imagining of Shakespeare’s play, and “Defenders,” a science fiction thriller pitch bought by

Spec Script Sale: “Sorta Like a Rock Star”

Fox Searchlight acquires the drama spec script “Sorta Like a Rock Star” written by Amanda Harwood and Laura Sandler, based on a Matthew Quick novel. From Deadline: The protagonist is Amber Appleton, a high school senior who secretly lives in the back of a school bus, a situation that arose

Go On Your Own Quest — Week 6: Scene

The 2013 version of The Quest is into Week 6. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by because you can Go On Your Own Quest by following the structure of The Quest to dig into screenwriting theory [Core — 8 weeks], figure out your story [Prep — 6 weeks], and write

Movie Trailer: “Zaytoun”

Written by Nader Rizq Beirut, 1982: a young Palestinian refugee and an Israeli fighter pilot form a tentative bond in their attempt to make their way across war-torn Lebanon back to their home. IMDB Release Date: 26 December 2012 (UK)

Scene Description Spotlight: “Basic Instinct”

Let’s say you’re writing a sexy thriller. Per the concept of narrative voice, you should write scene description that is… well… sexy and thrilling. This approach paid off handsomely for screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, who in 1992 wrote a spec script called “Basic Instinct” that sold for $3M, the

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. Logline: Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation for his daughter’s

Daily Dialogue — August 21, 2013

Oskar Schindler: I could have got more out. I could have got more. I don’t know. If I’d just… I could have got more. Itzhak Stern: Oskar, there are eleven hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them. Oskar Schindler: If I’d made more

@MysteryExec calls out screenwriters

Those of you who traverse the online screenwriting universe on Twitter likely know about the whole @Mystery community (e.g., @MysteryVP, @MysteryStarlet, @MysteryProducer). Their ‘dean,’ as far as I can tell, is @MysteryExec. I started following him in 2011 and I can produce this post as evidence to that fact.

Dispatch From The Quest: Sandy Leviton

Over the course of the 24 weeks I am working with the writers in The Quest, each will write a weekly dispatch to share with the GITS community. There are several reasons for doing this, the main one educational: Hopefully you will learn something of value for your own understanding

Interview: Will Simmons — Part 2

Will Simmons made a splash when he wrote the 2012 Black List script “Murder City” which was subsequently acquired by Aldamisa Entertainment. He also has two other projects in the works: “Romeo,” a modern day re-imagining of Shakespeare’s play, and “Defenders,” a science fiction thriller pitch bought by

In Memoriam: Elmore Leonard (1925–2013)

Reported today that writer Elmore Leonard died at the age of 87. Just a few of his novels and short stories that were turned into movies and TV series: 3:10 to Yuma (1957, 2007), Get Shorty (1995), Jackie Brown (1997), Out of Sight (1998), and “Justified” (2010–2014). Leonard

Go On Your Own Quest — Week 6: Scene

The 2013 version of The Quest is into Week 6. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by because you can Go On Your Own Quest by following the structure of The Quest to dig into screenwriting theory [Core — 8 weeks], figure out your story [Prep — 6 weeks], and write

Special Screening: “Short Term 12”

For you L.A. folks — the KCET Cinema Series starts its fall season tonight at 7pm with the Sundance favorite SHORT TERM 12, which will feature a Q&A with writer-director Destin Cretton and cast following the screening. The quarterly series is hosted by nationally recognized film expert

Movie Trailer: “Antboy”

Anders Ølholm (writer), Torbjørn Rafn (storyline) & Nikolaj Arcel (storyline), Kenneth Bøgh Andersen (books) 12-year-old Pelle is bitten by an ant and develops superpowers. Aided by comic book nerd Wilhelm, Pelle creates a secret identity as superhero Antboy. When a super villain The Flea enters the scene, Antboy

Scene Description Spotlight: “There’s Something About Mary”

There are many funny scenes in the Farrelly brothers’ movie There’s Something About Mary, but the “franks or beans” scene is right up there as one of the most memorable: INT. BATHROOM - TWILIGHTTed dabs his head with a tissue, then moves to the toilet. As he TAKES A LEAK

Screenwriting 101: Chris Borrelli

“It’s something you should always be doing, in my opinion. You should always be open to ideas and stories. I have an idea file. I look back over it and it’s 400 pages long of different ideas.” — Chris Borrelli (GITS Interview, May 31, 2013) Comment Archive

Daily Dialogue — August 20, 2013

“You’re a liar! Makin’ two kids run around to do the work ‘coz you’re too scared to do it yourself! Makin’ me tell her it’s over ‘coz you’re too scared! You said you loved her and you lied! You gave up on her and she gave

Plot = Structure

A screenplay is a unique literary form. It both tells a story and serves as a blueprint to make a movie. As such, understanding structure is a critical component to the craft. Check out the observations of these screenwriting veterans: “The reality is that the single most important thing contributed

Dispatch From The Quest: Waka Brown

Over the course of the 24 weeks I am working with the writers in The Quest, each will write a weekly dispatch to share with the GITS community. There are several reasons for doing this, the main one educational: Hopefully you will learn something of value for your own understanding

Interview: Will Simmons — Part 1

Will Simmons made a splash when he wrote the 2012 Black List script “Murder City” which was subsequently acquired by Aldamisa Entertainment. He also has two other projects in the works: “Romeo,” a modern day re-imagining of Shakespeare’s play, and “Defenders,” a science fiction thriller pitch bought by

Bad Robots Teaser: “Stranger”

This just went up today from Bad Robot Productions (J.J. Abrams prod co): I guess if you want to tease something, why not play the ultimate existential question of being card: Who am I? Plus doesn’t hurt ending with some dude with his mouth sewn shut. HT to

Go On Your Own Quest — Week 6: Scene

The 2013 version of The Quest starts Week 6 today. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by because you can Go On Your Own Quest by following the structure of The Quest to dig into screenwriting theory [Core — 8 weeks], figure out your story [Prep — 6 weeks], and write

Movie Trailer: “A.C.O.D.”

http://movies.yahoo.com/video/c-o-d-trailer-1-192016059.html?format=embed&player_autoplay=false Screenplay by Ben Karlin, Stu Zicherman A grown man is still caught in the crossfire of his parents 15 year divorce. He discovers he was unknowingly part of a study on divorced