Go Into The Story

Page One: “Meet the Parents” (2000)

Screenplay by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg, story by Greg Glienna & Mary Ruth Clarke, 1992 screenplay by Greg Glienna & Mary Ruth Clarke

Script To Screen: “Lincoln”

A memorable scene from the 2012 movie Lincoln, written by Tony Kushner.

Screenwriting Tip: Think Concepts

The foundation of a good script is a strong story concept.

Page One: “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” (2015)

Screenplay by Guy Ritchie & Lionel Wigram, story by Jeff Kleeman & David C. Wilson and Guy Ritchie & Lionel Wigram, based on the television…

Writing Tip: Find Your Writer’s Voice

I hear this a lot in conversations with writers, but mostly with managers, agents, and producers. They’re looking for writers who cover a…

Script To Screen: “Little Miss Sunshine”

The climax of the 2006 movie Little Miss Sunshine, written by Michael Arndt.

Page One: “Malcolm X” (1992)

Written by Arnold Perl & Spike Lee, based on “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Alex Hayley & Malcolm X

Writing Mantra: “The story rules”

The first and last commandment of writing.

Screenwriting 101: Richard Matheson

“I’ve always written visually when I write novels or short stories. I can see it as I write it; therefore, the reader can see it, and…

Page One: “Macbeth” (2015)

Screenplay by Todd Louiso & Jacob Koskoff and Michael Lesslie, play by William Shakespeare

Handling Rejection

It can motivate… debilitate… or take a long time to see its meaning.

On Writing

“Every great or even every very good writer makes the world over according to his own specifications. It’s akin to style, what I’m talking…

Page One: “The Lost City of Z” (2016)

Screenplay by James Gray, book by David Grann

Hollywood studios are already proving they learned nothing from the writers’ strike

From the Los Angeles Times, a great column by Culture Critic Mary McNamara.

Screenwriting Tip: 5 Keys to the Craft

Think Concepts. Watch Movies. Read Scripts. Write Pages. Live Life.

Page One: “Love & Basketball” (2000)

Written by Gina Prince-Bythewood

Writing Tip: What is the connection between the Protagonist and the inciting incident?

“The inciting incident raises this question of the Protagonist’s journey: ‘Why does this story have to happen to this character at this…

Page One: “Lost Highway” (1997)

Written by David Lynch & Barry Gifford

How Professional Screenwriters Outline

A compilation of outlining approaches featuring screenwriters and filmmakers including Vince Gilligan, Quentin Tarantino, Alex Garland…

2023 Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference

I’m moderating two panels, participating in a roundtable, and leading a post-screening Q&A for the world premiere of the documentary The…

Screenwriting Tip: Tarantino, Sorkin, and Dialogue as Purpose

Analysis of long dialogue-centric scenes in The Social Network and Pulp Fiction reveals that underneath the entertaining conversations lies…

Page One: “The Lorax” (2012)

Screenplay by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio, book by Dr. Seuss

Opening and Closing Image

Another in the terrific screenwriting series Raising the Stakes.

Screenwriting Tip: What makes a movie a big budget and a small budget

There are critical choices a writer can make at the script stage which directly influence a project’s budget… and its potential viability…

Page One: “The Lookout” (2007)

Written by Scott Frank