Go Into The Story

Reader Question: How to approach writing a villain Protagonist?

Three keys to crafting a Bad Guy who is your story’s Protagonist.

Interview (Part 2): Juliet Giglio and Keith Giglio

My conversation with the screenwriting couple whose first novel The Summer of Christmas has just been released to the public.

Great Scene: “Inception”

Cobb wakes up. He’s home. Finally, home. But… is it real?

Screenwriting 101: Pen Densham

“You have to look at being a story-writer and let that passion create stories, and see where there’s a place you might be able to find…

Page One: “Once” (2007)

Written by John Carney

Story Summaries: From Loglines to Beat Sheets

Learn six different types of story summaries and how to use them to develop your scripted projects. My one-week online class starts Monday…

Interview (Part 1): Juliet Giglio and Keith Giglio

My conversation with the screenwriting couple whose first novel The Summer of Christmas has just been released to the public.

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Characters

Not every character is created equal, but how we treat each one is equally important.

On Writing

“Show, Don’t Tell. It’s coaching, not teaching. Be specific. If you can’t paint a picture of it, it’s an abstraction. If you can paint a…

Page One: “On the Basis of Sex” (2018)

Written by Daniel Stiepleman

Sundays with Sidney Lumet’s “Making Movies”

A weekly series featuring reflections on filmmaking by one of the truly great movie directors.

Go Into The Story Interview: Leigh Cesiro and Erica Matlin

My interview with 2021 Black List writers for their script Cruel Summer.

“What if I’m writing a script, but want to start another one?”

Time to stack projects… or is this simply an example of the Shiny Object Syndrome?

Video: “How I Wrote Whiplash”

Writer-director Damien Chazelle reflects on his Oscar-winning 2014 movie.

Page One: “The Old Man & the Gun” (2018)

Written by David Lowery, based on the New Yorker article by David Grann

“Give me Heart concept every time.” That’s a note worth tacking up onto the wall. Thanks, J!

Keep reading scripts. We learn from all of them, no matter how good or bad.

Video: “Anaphora and Epistrophe”

Another in the terrific screenwriting series Raising the Stakes.

Interview (Part 6): Leigh Cesiro and Erica Matlin

My interview with 2021 Black List writers for their script Cruel Summer.

Conflict in Scene-Writing

As a screenwriter, it’s important to get in touch with your inner Conflict-O-Meter to ensure your scenes convey compelling drama.

Great Scene: “The Matrix”

“You take the blue pill, the story ends… you take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland.”

Page One: “Okja” (2017)

Screenplay by Bong Joon Ho and Jon Ronson, story by Bong Joon Ho

Judy, here is the first page of the American Graffiti script.

The script may be “old” stylistically, but it still holds up as a movie.

Megan, as I say:

Begin with character. End with character. Find the story in between.

The Protagonist’s Journey as Fate

“What we call fate comes not from outside us but from within.”

Interview (Part 5): Leigh Cesiro and Erica Matlin

My interview with 2021 Black List writers for their script Cruel Summer.