Go Into The Story

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 3

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

Video: Ava DuVernay

The screenwriter of I Will Follow, Middle of Nowhere, When They See Us, and Queen Sugar shares insights into her creative process.

Great Scene: “The Exorcist”

“Regan sits up and with a nightmare slowness, a fraction at a time, her head begins to turn, swiveling like a mannequin’s and creaking with…

Page One: “Us” (2019)

Written by Jordan Peele

Reflections on Carl Jung: Are We Related to the Infinite or Not?

Carl Jung’s theory of individuation is directly applicable to the Protagonist’s journey in a screenplay.

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 2

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

Video: Dustin Lance Black

The screenwriter of Milk, J. Edgar, and When We Rise shares insights into his creative process.

Screenwriting 101: Richard Price

“This is the immutable law of the business: The only screenplays that aren’t tampered with are the ones that aren’t made. A movie is not a…

Page One: “Uncut Gems” (2019)

Written by Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie

Style = Voice

Style goes beyond mere “scene description.” My one-week online class focuses on expressing your voice on the page. It begins Monday…

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 1

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

Video: John August

The screenwriter of Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Aladdin shares insights into his creative process.

On Writing

“I think the first task for the aspiring novelist is to read tons of novels. Sorry to start with such a commonplace observation, but no…

Page One: “Twilight” (2008)

Screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, novel by Stephenie Meyer

Sundays with Stephen King’s “On Writing”

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

What do you want the audience to feel…

…when they walk out of the theater at the end of your movie?

Script To Screen: “Field of Dreams”

Ray meets his father… and they have a game of catch in the final scene from this 1989 movie, screenplay by Phil Alden Robinson, novel by…

The Theology of Cinema: Predestination

“The story you write about your Protagonist is in some ways predestined, the specific combination of the character’s life circumstances…

Page One: “The Truth About Cats and Dogs” (1996)

Written by Audrey Wells

Movie Story Type: Ticking Clock

There are genres (e.g., Action, Comedy, Drama). Cross genres (e.g., Action-Thriller, Comedy-Science Fiction). Sub-genres (e.g., Romantic…

How They Write A Script: Alvin Sargent

“I think too many people are too organized; they’ve got it all worked out, instead of hearing their characters first. Get the goop out…

Great Scene: “The Matrix”

“You take the blue pill, the story ends… you take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland.”

Interview (Video): Isaac Asimov

Several interviews throughout the years with the author of over 500 books.

Page One: “Trumbo” (2015)

Screenplay by John McNamara, based on a by by Bruce Cook

Advice From Pro Screenwriters on Pitching

Four writers provide the low-down on how to prepare and pitch in Hollywood.