Go Into The Story

Interview (Video): Eric Roth

A pair of conversations with the screenwriter of Forrest Gump, A Star is Born, and Dune.

Page One: “The Wrestler” (2008)

Written by Robert Siegel

There are no screenwriting rules

There are guidelines, conventional wisdom, patterns, and principles… but no rules.

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 10

Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Ace in the…

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…

Writing and the Creative Life: Look… don’t overlook

As writers in order for us to have any hope of securing a meaningful degree of understanding of a story universe and its characters, we…

Page One: “The Wild Bunch” (1969)

Screenplay by Walon Green, Sam Peckinpah, story by Roy N. Sickner

Writing Dialogue

There are many intangibles about the craft of screenwriting. Much of that derives from the fact that story itself is organic. Stories —…

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 9

Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Ace in the…

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: “American Beauty” (1999)

Written by Alan Ball

Do It Because You Love It

Back in 2012, a longtime reader of the blog forwarded me some numbers in a post I titled: Facing the Odds. I included his observations in…

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 8

Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17…

Video: Mike White

The screenwriter of School of Rock and Nacho Libre shares insights into his creative process.

Great Scene: “No Country For Old Men”

“You need to call it. I can’t call it for you. It wouldn’t be fair. It wouldn’t even be right.”

Page One: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (1966)

Screenplay by Ernest Lehman, play by Edward Albee

Interview (Video): So Zoom In

An hour-long conversation with me.

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 7

Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17…

Video: David Seidler

The screenwriter who won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The King’s Speech shares insights into his creative process.

Screenwriting 101: Reid Carolin

“Honestly, I just love the process of creating anything. Writing is great because if you love stories, and you know how much stories have…

Page One: “The White Tiger” (2021)

Written for the screen by Ramin Bahran, based on a book by Aravind Adiga

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 6

Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17…

How They Write A Script: Terry Southern

The screenwriter of an amazing array of movies including Candy, The Magic Christian, Dr. Strangelove, Easy Rider, Casino Royale, and…

Video: Aline Brosh McKenna

The screenwriter of The Devil Wears Prada, 27 Dresses, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend shares insights into her creative process.

On Writing

“Stories can entertain, sometimes teach or argue a point. But for me the essential thing is that they communicate feelings. That they…