Go Into The Story

The Business of Screenwriting: “If it ain’t got no soul, it ain’t gonna sell”

The time the legendary musician Taj Mahal laid words of wisdom on me.

Page One: “A Most Violent Year” (2014)

Written by J.C. Chandor

Writing Tip: What if you fall out of love with a script?

Reader question: “What about a script you fall out of love with after 2–3 drafts, and just can’t finish? Put it aside for now or just push…

Go Into The Story Interview: Vanar Jaddou

My conversation with the 2020 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Great Scene: “Thelma & Louise”

The memorable ending of the 1991 movie.

Page One: “Monster’s Ball” (2001)

Written by Milo Addica & Will Rokos

Pound Out That First Draft This Summer!

Go from FADE IN to FADE OUT in my upcoming online writing workshop. Starts July 21st!

Screenwriting 101: Lena Dunham

“It’s amazing to me that Hollywood persists in writing these two-dimensional female characters who don’t really exist. No wonder it’s hard…

Go Into The Story Interview: Bill Holderman and Erin Simms

My conversation with the co-writers (Holderman and Simms) and director (Holderman) of the comedy Book Club.

Page One: “Monster” (2003)

Written by Patty Jenkins

The Disunity to Unity Arc

Reflections on The Lion King and Simba’s physical and psychological journey.

Go Into The Story Interview: Spencer Harvey and Lloyd Harvey

My conversation with the Australian-based brother and sister writing duo who won the 2016 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.

On Writing

“It begins with a character, usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a…

Page One: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (1975)

Written by Graham Chapman & John Cleese & Eric Idle & Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones & Michael Palin

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…

Screenwriting 101: Patrick S. Duncan

“Every time I write, I find myself going through a form of self-examination that is almost a kind of therapy. By creating and examining my…

Go Into The Story Interview: Julia Hart

My conversation with the filmmaker whose credits include The Keeping Room, Miss Stevens, Fast Color, and I’m Your Woman.

Page One: “Miss Sloane” (2016)

Written by Jonathan Perera

Script Analysis: “Joker” — 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: Byron Hamel

My conversation with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Great Scene: “Good Will Hunting”

The bar scene. Will’s classic putdown. And a spin on the ‘meet cute’.

Page One: “Miller’s Girl” (2024)

Written by Jade Halley Bartlett

Writing Tip: We’re on the road to… somewhere.

A really long bridge… story outlines… and YOU!

On Writing

“The only thing worth writing about is the conflict in the human heart.”

Why You Should Write Three Pages of Garbage Every Morning

“Freewriting forces you to keep moving forward, keep creating, without a thought given to quality.”