Go Into The Story

This was my favorite movie at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.

https://www.indiewire.com/2021/01/apples-25-million-plus-coda-acquisition-smashes-sundance-sales-record-1234613190/

The Protagonist’s Journey: Narrative Imperative

An excerpt from my forthcoming book The Protagonist’s Journey: An Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling.

Script Analysis: “CODA” — Part 1: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

A week-long analysis of this movie which was a big hit at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Download. Read. Discuss.

60 Second Screenwriter: Should I make a short film?

A video series addressing key screenwriting concerns in one minute.

On Writing

“I had been writing for fifteen years and getting nowhere. Everything I had written was derivative, influenced by others. Then finally I…

Page One: “Elle” (2016)

Screenplay by David Birke, novel by Philippe Djian

140 Scene-Writing Prompts

At a fundamental level, screenwriting is scene-writing. Use these prompts to improve your scene-writing chops.

Go Into The Story Interview: Byron Hamel

My interview with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Script Analysis: “The Lighthouse” — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

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

Video: 20 Screenwriting and Directing Tips from Steven Spielberg

A compilation of clips featuring the storytelling insights of one of cinema’s most notable filmmakers.

Page One: “Elizabethtown” (2005)

Written by Cameron Crowe

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Transcribe Screenplays

If it worked for Felix Mendelssohn and F. Scott Fitzgerald…

Interview (Part 6): Byron Hamel

My interview with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Script Analysis: “La La Land” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

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

Interview (Video): James L. Brooks

A nearly 90-minute conversation with the noted writer whose credits include TV series The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi, as well movies…

Page One: “The Electric Horseman” (1979)

Screenplay by Robert Garland, screen story by Paul Gaer and Robert Garland, based on a story by Shelly Burton

Update: 2021–2022 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 5 New Scripts, 37 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Interview (Part 5): Byron Hamel

My interview with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Script Analysis: “Knives Out” — 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: Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling (Part 3)

“Every storytelling exercise should begin by asking: Who is my audience and what is the message I want to share with them? Each decision…

Page One: “Edward Scissorhands” (1990)

Screenplay by Caroline Thompson, story by Tim Burton & Caroline Thompson

Sundays with Stephen King’s “On Writing”

A series featuring reflections on writing from the famed writer’s memoir.

Interview (Part 4): Byron Hamel

My interview with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

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:

Learning the Craft

What is the craft? It’s not just writing a screenplay.