Go Into The Story

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: The Six Word Test

If you’re having trouble finding the focus of your story, try this test.

Video: 10 Screenwriting Tips from Paul Schrader

Advice from the screenwriter of such notable movies as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ, and First Reformed.

Page One: “Big Eyes” (2014)

Written by Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski

Since I’ve already put a spotlight on my favorite dialogue in the script (see Themes response), I’m…

The only thing I do know is that we have to be kind. Please, be kind. Especially when we don't know what's going on.

I’m going to focus on what I think is the central theme of the story: Time.

The journey she takes – comprised of her many mini-journeys involving jumping from one universe to another – is the journey she needs to…

In terms of character archetypes, I’m inclined to assess the key characters -- Waymond | Alpha…

Not so much Joy | Jobu. They hold firmly to the nemesis mask throughout until that wonderful scene (119-121) where Evelyn and Joy have a…

One of the reasons I recommend this script to my students is it falls into a category of what I…

What I want to focus on is the structure of the plot because it’s both unconventional and conventional.

2023 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 24

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

Script Analysis: “Everything Everywhere All At Once” — Part 5: Dialogue

A week-long analysis of the movie which won 7 Oscars including Best Original Screenplay. Download. Read. Discuss.

Page One: “Belfast” (2021)

Written by Kenneth Branagh

2023 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 23

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

Script Analysis: “Everything Everywhere All At Once” — Part 4: Themes

A week-long analysis of the movie which won 7 Oscars including Best Original Screenplay. Download. Read. Discuss.

Great Scene: “Being John Malkovich”

Craig is introduced to the 7 1/2 floor of his future place of employment.

The Business of Screenwriting: Hip pocket representation

The gray area between being signed by an agent or manager… and kinda signed.

Page One: “The Beaver” (2011)

Written by Kyle Killen

Thanks for that.

Which is to say, Waymond can exist as a Second Protagonist ... a Mentor ... a Trickster ... an Attractor, either intermittently or even…

2023 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 22

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

Script Analysis: “Everything Everywhere All At Once” — Part 3: Characters

A week-long analysis of the movie which won 7 Oscars including Best Original Screenplay. Download. Read. Discuss.

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Snacks

It’s like maybe fifteen years ago and I’m reading an interview with noted playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon. And in this interview…

Hollywood Tales

“[Paul] Schrader probed the edges of Hollywood, working as a reader at Warners for fifteen dollars a synopsis and teaching himself…

Page One: “Beginners” (2010)

Written by Mike Mills

For as much of a wild ride the script (and movie) create ...

The major impression I come away with after reading the script is this: It's amazing that this movie got made. A24 and the other funding…

Blake, I found the script pretty "trackable," but I saw the movie before reading the script.

Re dual protagonists: Who do you see as the two Protagonists? As I say, there's no right way to use archetypes in analyzing scripts. In my…

2023 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 21

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

Script Analysis: “Everything Everywhere All At Once” — Part 2: Plot

A week-long analysis of the movie which won 7 Oscars including Best Original Screenplay. Download. Read. Discuss.