Go Into The Story

2022 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 5

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Interview (Part 6): Karin delaPeña Collison

My interview with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

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…

Video: Three Writing Tips from Dan Harmon

Plus, the inception of a TV series called Poopy Doo.

Page One: “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (1997)

Screenplay by Kevin Williamson, novel by Lois Duncan

2022 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 4

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Interview (Part 5): Karin delaPeña Collison

My interview with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Script Analysis: “Short Term 12” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

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

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…

Page One: “Hustlers” (2019)

Written by Lorene Scafaria, inspired by a magazine article by Jessica Pressler

2022 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 3

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Interview (Part 4): Karin delaPeña Collison

My interview with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Script Analysis: “Roma” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

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

The Business of Screenwriting: What to do if your movie sucks

“I don’t care how expensive your shrink is or how good they are, when confronted with a story — your story — as a movie and it both sucks…

Page One: “Hustle & Flow” (2005)

Written by Craig Brewer

2022 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 2

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Interview (Part 3): Karin delaPeña Collison

My interview with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Script Analysis: ‘Rocketman’ — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

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

Great Scene: “A Quiet Place”

In a brief respite from the monster’s violence, Evelyn and Lee confront the pain of the past as it exists in the present… and their…

Page One: “The Hurt Locker” (2008)

Written by Mark Boal

2022 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 1

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Interview (Part 2): Karin delaPeña Collison

My interview with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Script Analysis: “Promising Young Woman” —Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

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

Screenwriting 101: Terrence Rattigan

“The screenplay is the child not only of its mother, the silent film, but also of its father, the drama.”

Page One: “The Hunt for Red October” (1990)

Screenplay by Larry Ferguson and Donald E. Stewart, novel by Tom Clancy