Go Into The Story

The Value of Three Scripts

You write, you learn. And three scripts is a good starting point for grasping the craft.

“Raising the Stakes” video series

The entire three-year series of screenwriting videos from Black List screenwriter Jonathan Stokes.

Rita, first off, congratulations on winning Best of Show.

Thanks!

Page One: “A Star Is Born” (2018)

Screenplay by Eric Roth and Bradley Cooper & Will Fetters, based on 1954 screenplay by Moss Hart, based on 1976 screenplay by John Gregory…

Quentin Tarantino: “When I read ‘Hard Times,’ I could see what a script could be.”

The filmmaker talks about the impact the script for the 1975 movie had on him.

Conscious Goal, Unconscious Goal

A deeper examination of a character’s Want and Need.

Great Scene: “The Babadook”

A nighttime visit from The Babadook.

Interview (Video): Lisa Joy

From Season 12 of the PBS series “On Story.”

Page One: “St. Elmo’s Fire” (1985)

Written by Joel Schumacher & Carl Kurlander

Gary, you may find this series I featured on my blog on the Heroine's Journey.

https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/the-heroines-journey-2a7131b69fbb

Page One: “Spotlight” (2015)

Written by Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy

Writing and the Creative Life: Creativity-In-Action

“Creativity requires more than a dream. In many cases, people struggle to turn their dreams into a reality not because they lack ambition…

Handling Rejection

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

Writing Mantra: “The story rules”

The first and last commandment of writing.

How to Generate and Critique Story Ideas (Part 5): Gender-Bending

Changing the gender isn’t a minor thing, rather it can alter the entire landscape of a story.

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…

How to Generate and Critique Story Ideas (Part 4): Titles

A great title can lead to a great story idea and a great script. It can suggest a plot, key characters, the central conceit and story…

What is your daily writing “workout” routine?

Some advice from A Quiet Place screenwriters Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.

The Business of Screenwriting: Act Two Blues

The weird synergy between the Protagonist’s challenges in the middle of their story… and that writer’s life.

Page One: “The Spirit of St. Louis” (1957)

Screen play by Billy Wilder and Wendell Mayes, adaptation by Charles Lederer, based on a book by Charles A. Lindbergh

Video: How Professional Screenwriters Outline

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

How to Generate and Critique Story Ideas (Part 3): Images

Take a clue from Alfred Hitchcock whose movie North by Northwest had its origin with a single image of a scene he had in mind.

5 Keys to the Screenwriting Craft

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

Great Scene: “Rushmore”

What a terrific movie Rushmore (1998) is. Co-written by Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson, who also directed the film, it’s a stellar follow-up…

Page One: “Speed Racer” (2008)

Written by The Wachowskis, animated series by Tatsuo Yoshida