Go Into The Story

J, I'm more of a "need" guy myself!

Sometimes want and need coalesce, but there are occasions when the story isn't finished until the Protagonist has confronted their need…

Conscious Goal, Unconscious Goal

A deeper examination of a character’s Want and Need.

Character Type: Prostitute

“There is an implied question for any movie viewer about a primary character who is a Prostitute: ‘Could I do that? Can I imagine myself in…

How To Read A Screenplay (Part 4): Subplots, Relationships and Character Functions

There are multiple layers to any story. The more you dig, the deeper your understanding.

The Business of Screenwriting: There is always another way

Between writing assignments, I wrote a spec script. It’s a contained thriller called “Legacy,” about a child psychiatrist who ends up on a…

Page One: “Beaches” (1988)

Screenplay by Mary Agnes Donoghue, novel by Iris Rainer

Pixar and Visual Storytelling

A tiny bit of business in the movie Up reminds us that movies are primarily a visual medium.

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 28

Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

How To Read A Screenplay (Part 3): Plotline Points and Sequences

There are multiple layers to any story. The more you dig, the deeper your understanding.

Script to Screen: “No Country For Old Men”

The coin toss scene from No Country For Old Men (2007), screenplay by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, one of the most riveting moments in the…

Page One: “Battle of the Sexes” (2017)

Written by Simon Beaufoy

Reader Question: What’s the best way to approach pitching?

There’s not one way to pitch, but this way works.

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 27

Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

How To Read A Screenplay (Part 2): The Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

There are multiple layers to any story. The more you dig, the deeper your understanding.

Screenwriting 101: John Milius

“I had a wonderful teacher, Irwin Blacker, and he was feared by everyone at the school because he took a very interesting position. He gave…

Page One: “Barbershop” (2002)

Screenplay by Don D. Scott, Marshall Todd, story by Mark Brown

Interview: Brad Riddell and Sandy Sternshein

A Go Into The Story Q&A with the co-writers and co-directors of the new indie comedy Later Days.

Screenwriting and Historical Accuracy

When writing a movie based on actual historical events, how accurate does a screenwriter have to be?

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 26

Billy Wilder. Cameron Crowe. Conversation and creative insight.

How To Read A Screenplay (Part 1): The First Pass

There are multiple layers to any story. The more you dig, the deeper your understanding.

On Writing

“The whole “Can I call myself a writer?” question I found so odd, as if it’s some sort of identity that is separate from the actual act of…

Page One: “Bad Boys” (1995)

Screenplay by Michael Barrie& Jim Mulholland and Doug Richardson, story by George Gallo

Sundays with Stephen King’s “On Writing”

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

The Theology of Cinema: Sin

“Theologically speaking, we can think of sin in two ways: (1) The act of committing a transgression, breaking some sort of moral or…

Great Scene: “Thelma & Louise”

The memorable ending of the 1991 movie.