Go Into The Story

Three-Act Structure as Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis

How we can apply this theory of dialectics to the story-crafting process.

Screenwriting 101: Monica Beletsky

“What is a pilot story? A pilot story is when a character’s normal life is changed forever by an outsider or outside force. The lead tries…

Page One: “The Bourne Supremacy” (2004)

Screenplay by Tony Gilroy, novel by Robert Ludlum

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 3

This is the 14th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Interview (Part 1): Greg Roque

My interview with 2022 Black List writer for his script Jerry!.

Theme = Meaning

More than just the moral or premise of the story, theme can best be understood to be about what a story MEANS.

On Writing

“Young writers often confuse dialogue with conversation, under the assumption that the closer you get to reality, the more convincing you…

Page One: “Born on the Fourth of July” (1989)

Screenplay by Oliver Stone & Ron Kovic, book by Ron Kovic

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 2

This is the 14th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work…

Go Into The Story Interview: Lexie Tran

My interview with 2022 Black List writer for her script It’s a Wonderful Story.

The Theology of Cinema: Grace

“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us.”

Interview (Video): Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Since The Big Lebowski is being re-released in select theaters on April 16th, here is a 1998 interview with the cinematic duo about the…

Page One: “The Book of Eli” (2010)

Written by Gary Whitta

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 1

This is the 14th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work…

Interview (Part 6): Lexie Tran

My interview with 2022 Black List writer for her script It’s a Wonderful Story.

Hollywood Tales

Orson Welles, famed for his obsessive perfectionism, once spent an entire day making alterations to a garbage dump — “Move that ketchup…

Interview (Audio): Alex Convery

An hour-long conversation with the screenwriter of the movie Air.

Page One: “The Bonfire of the Vanities” (1990)

Screenplay by Michael Cristofer, novel by Tom Wolfe

2023 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 31

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Interview (Part 5): Lexie Tran

My interview with 2022 Black List writer for her script It’s a Wonderful Story.

There are no useless ideas

“If it is true that the best way to come up with a good idea is to generate lots of them, that means we will intersect with plenty of ideas…

Is the key to creativity “unlearning”?

What if everything we have learned in our lives has actually diminished our creativity?

Page One: “Bombshell” (2019)

Written by Charles Randolph

2023 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 30

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Interview (Part 4): Lexie Tran

My interview with 2022 Black List writer for her script It’s a Wonderful Story.