Go Into The Story

Page One: “Green Book” (2018)

Written by Nick Vallelonga & Brian Currie) & Peter Farrelly

As much as I may be tempted to highlight, “SPRAY AND PRAY,” or the more inspirational, “Be willing…

MURI (CONT’D)

My theory is that good stories have multiple themes.

In The Tomorrow War, here are some of the key themes:

I have this theory that there is something going on in terms of character archetypes in stories.

The Protagonist represents a forward-moving dynamic, a character or characters most often driven by a conscious goal.

In many respects, the plot structure for The Tomorrow War echoes the tripartite structure of The…

Separation. Initiation. Return.

Spec Script Deals Analysis 2021: Top Sales

Continuing our week long analysis of spec script deals from 2021, today we look at the biggest payoffs (at least as reported by various…

Script Analysis: “The Tomorrow War” — Part 5: Dialogue

A week-long analysis of the science fiction script and movie. Download. Read. Discuss.

Screenplays are stories, not formulas

William Goldman has famously written, “Screenplays are structure.” That is true in a tangible sense because at some point, a script becomes…

Writing and the Creative Life: Why Staring Into Space Is an Important Strategy for Success

“In the shower we are simply staring into space, washing our hair on autopilot. We aren’t checking our messages or Twitter feed, or writing…

Page One: “The Goonies” (1985)

Screenplay by Chris Columbus, story by Steven Spielberg

2021 Spec Script Deals Analysis: Agents & Managers

We continue our week-long analysis of spec script deals in 2021. Today: Agents and Managers.

Script Analysis: “The Tomorrow War” — Part 4: Themes

A week-long analysis of the science fiction script and movie. Download. Read. Discuss.

There is no right way to write

Learn all you can, but ultimately it’s about your Stories and your Creative Self.

The Business of Screenwriting: Going From Suck to Non-Suck

Screenwriters experience persistent suckitude. The key: Go to non-suck.

Page One: “The Goodbye Girl” (1977)

Written by Neil Simon

2021 Spec Script Sales Analysis: Buyers

Yesterday, we looked at 2021 spec script deals by genre. Today, we break down the numbers per streamers, major studios, mini-majors…

Script Analysis: “The Tomorrow War” — Part 3: Characters

A week-long analysis of the science fiction script and movie. Download. Read. Discuss.

Script To Screen: “A Quiet Place”

The horrifying opening incident is a master class in demonstrating how to use individual paragraphs of scene description to individual…

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Adopt a different writing persona

This is a first in this humble blog’s history: Another Dumb Little Writing Trick That Work, only this one isn’t my idea, but from some…

Page One: “Good Will Hunting” (1997)

Written by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck

2021 Spec Script Deals Analysis: Genres

By my count, Hollywood studios, production companies, and financiers acquired 34 spec scripts in 2021. During this week, I’ll be breaking…

Script Analysis: “The Tomorrow War” — Part 2: Plot

A week-long analysis of the science fiction script and movie. Download. Read. Discuss.

Reader Question: What are three good “how to” scripts to read?

Three essential scripts for learning the craft.

Screenwriting 101: Paul Thomas Anderson

“Writing can happen really fast if you’ve done your research about the setting, time and the characters.”

Page One: “Godzilla” (2014)

Screenplay by Max Borenstein, story by Davie Callaham