Go Into The Story

Movie Script Scene-By-Scene Breakdown: “Nine Days”

A breakdown of the screenplay for the 2020 drama fantasy starring Winston Duke and Zazie Beetz and winner of that year’s Sundance Film…

Great Scene: “Moneyball”

How the song “The Show” nails a key theme in the story.

Page One: “Pawn Sacrifice” (2014)

Screenplay by Steven Knight, story by Stephen J. Rivele & Christopher Wilkinson and Steven Knight

Interview (Part 1): Sophia Lopez

My interview with 2021 Black List writer for her script A Hufflepuff Love Story.

Movie Script Scene-by-Scene Breakdown: “Encounter”

A breakdown of the screenplay for the 2021 science fiction thriller starring Riz Ahmed and Octavia Spencer.

Story Type: Buddy Picture

In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and…

Screenwriting 101: Laura Kosann

“I have found that what gets people’s attention is the script where you are truly laying your heart out on the table. Those are the ones…

Page One: “Passing” (2021)

Written by Rebecca Hall, based on the novel by Nella Larsen

Reflections on 5th Annual Black List / Women In Film Feature Writers Lab

Writers who participated in this year’s Black List / Women in Film Feature Writer’s Lab retreat reflect on their experience.

Movie Script Scene-by-Scene Breakdown: “Annette”

A breakdown of the screenplay for the award-winning 2021 musical drama starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard.

Non-Linear Storytelling in ‘Pulp Fiction’

“Tarantino, whether intended it or not, hit upon non-linearity as the only way he could tell one particular storyline involving the fates…

On Writing

“Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”

Page One: “Paths of Glory” (1957)

Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick & Calder Willingham and Jim Thompson, novel by Humphrey Cobb

We’re on the road to… somewhere.

A really long bridge… story outlines… and YOU!

Go Into The Story Interview: Stefan Jaworski

My interview with 2021 Black List writers for his script Mercury.

Great Scene: “When Harry Met Sally…”

An excellent example of how to handle exposition in a scene.

Video: “The Midpoint”

Another in the excellent screenwriting series Raising the Stakes.

Page One: “ParaNorman” (2012)

Written by Chris Butler

The First Draft is a Journey of Discovery

“As a writer, when you put something down, you make something happen.”

Interview (Part 6): Stefan Jaworski

My interview with 2021 Black List writers for his script Mercury.

5-Part Series: Set Pieces

A scene or set of scenes with a big idea, feel and/or scope to them, often associated with major plot points, and always about…

“How I Wrote The Social Network”

A video in which the movie’s screenwriter talks his creative process.

Page One: “The Parallax View” (1974)

Screenplay by David Giler and Lorenzo Semple Jr., novel by Loren Singer

Writing Mantra: On the other hand…

One of the best ways for writers to combat the dreaded Voices Of Negativity.

Interview (Part 5): Stefan Jaworski

My interview with 2021 Black List writers for his script Mercury.