Page One: ‘Basic Instinct’ (1992)

Written by Joe Eszterhas

As a screenwriter, you want your first page to lure the reader to turn to the second page. This establishes a pattern you want the reader to replicate all the way to Fade Out. This Page One accomplishes that goal… in spades. There’s a reason the script sold for a reported $3M.

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

For more Page One posts, go here.

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