Go Into The Story

Page One: “Ocean’s 8” (2018)

Screenplay by Gary Ross & Olivia Milch story by Gary Ross, based upon characters created by George Clayton Johnson & Jack Golden Russell

Spec Script Deal: “Doppelgänger”

Skydance acquires thriller spec script “Doppelgänger” written by Aneesh Chaganty and Dan Frey. Via Deadline:

On Writing

“It’s fashionable now to object on principle to the idea that writing is hard. Writing isn’t hard, this camp says; working in coal mines is…

Page One: “On the Rocks” (2020)

Written by Sofia Coppola

Script Analysis: “All Is Lost” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

Go Into The Story Interview: Lindsay Michel

My interview with 2022 Black List writer for her script Caravan.

Page One: “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge” (1985)

Written by David Chaskin, characters by Wes Craven

Script Analysis: “After the Wedding” — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

Go Into The Story Interview: Kevin Sheridan

My interview with 2022 Black List writer for his script Colors of Authority.

Page One: “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors” (1987)

Screenplay by Wes Craven and Bruce Wagner and Frank Darabont and Chuck Russell, story by Wes Craven and Bruce Wagner, characters by Wes…

Script Analysis: “The Aeronauts” — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

Go Into The Story Interview: Ben Jacoby

My conversation with the screenwriter whose credits include The First Omen and The Whisper Man.

Page One: “A Nightmare on Street: The Dream Child” (1989)

Screenplay by Leslie Bohem, story by John Skipp & Craig Spector and Leslie Bohem, characters by Wes Craven

Script Analysis: “Nightcrawler” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

Go Into The Story Interview: Daniel Hanna

My conversation with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Page One: “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)

Written by Wes Craven

The Importance of Character Names

A well-chosen character name can reflect their personality.

Script Analysis: “CODA” — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

On Writing

“Poets need not go to Niagara to write about the force of falling water.”

Page One: “Night of the Living Dead” (1968)

Screenplay by John Russo & George Romero

Set-up and Payoffs

One of the most important narrative elements screenwriters have available to us is set-ups and payoffs. The basic idea is this: We…

Screenwriting 101: Stephany Folsom

“I always have one project I’m working on in the background that I really don’t care if anybody ever sees or if it ever gets made. Of…

Script Analysis: “The Imitation Game” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

Page One: “Night of the Demons” (1988)

Written by Joe Augustyn

Write a Worthy Nemesis

Workshop your story’s antagonist character in my 1-week online course. Begins Monday, August 4, 2025. Plus, it’s on