Go Into The Story

Page One: “Saltburn” (2023)

Written by Emerald Fennell

2023 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 3 New Scripts, 31Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Writing Tip: The Low-Down on High Concept

A high concept screenplay must have a clean, simple, and basic idea.

Page One: “Rustin” (2023)

Screenplay by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black, story by Julian Breece

The Business of Screenwriting: I can do that!

A writer rises to meet the challenge of any story.

Script To Screen: “Jackie Brown”

A scene from the 1997 movie Jackie Brown, written by Quentin Tarantino, based on an Elmore Leonard novel.

Page One: “A Million Miles Away” (2023)

Screenplay by Bettina Gilois and Hernán Jiménez and Alejandra Márquez Abella, based on a boook by José M. Hernández

What can a writer learn reading a script while watching that movie?

An in-depth analysis of the opening sequence in The Shawshank Redemption demonstrates the value of this learning exercise.

2023 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts, 28 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Page One: “Killers of the Flower Moon” (2023)

Screenplay by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, based on the book by David Grann

“What should I do if a project sells similar to a script I’m writing?”

Before you jump, step back from the ledge, and consider the following.

Script To Screen: “Jacob’s Ladder”

A truly creepy scene from the 1990 movie Jacob’s Ladder, written by Bruce Joel Rubin.

Page One: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (2023)

Written by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller & Dave Callaham

2023 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 1 New Script, 26 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Screenwriting 101: Billy Wilder

“When I started in America I couldn’t speak any English, so I did need a collaborator. I was lucky to find some very good ones and I found…

Page One: “The Miracle Club” (2023)

Screenplay by Jimmy Smallhorne & Timothy Prager & Joshua D. Maurer, story by Jimmy Smallhorne

A Character-Driven Approach to Screenwriting

Beginning in January, I will be teaching a series of one-week online classes which will immerse you in a unique storytelling methodology…

On Writing

“Don’t overcrowd the narrative. Characters should be individualized, but functional — like figures in a painting. Think of Hieronymus…

Page One: “Jules” (2023)

Written by Gavin Steckler

Writing Tip: Screenplays Are Stories, Not Formulas

“If you go in with formula, you come out with formula.”

2023 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts, 25 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Page One: “A Haunting in Venice” (2023)

Screenplay by Michael Green, based upon the novel “Hallowe’en Party” by Agatha Christie

“Screenplays don’t have to read like an instruction manual for a refrigerator.”

A couple of Chris Miller tweets reminded me of a William Goldman quote … and a solid piece of screenwriting advice.

Spec Script Deal: “Undying”

Netflix acquires thriller spec script “Undying” written by Ben Ketai. Via Deadline:

Page One: “Freud’s Last Session” (2023)

Screenplay by Matt Brown and Mark St. Germain, based on the play by Mark St. Germain