Go Into The Story

Screenwriting 101: Amy Tofte

“I came from a day-job world as a writer and I know that there are a lot of people out there where they’re trying to write when they can. I…

Page One: “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” (2019)

Written by Joe Talbot & Rob Richert, story by Jimmie Fails & Joe Talbot

A Character-Driven Approach to Plot

My annual series of one-week online classes offering a comprehensive take on screenwriting theory begins Monday, September 6th with Core I…

Reflections of the 2021 Black List New Zealand Feature Writer’s Lab Participants

Writers who participated in this year’s inaugural Black List New Zealand Feature Writer’s Lab reflect on their experience.

Movie Story Type: Contained Thriller

In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and…

On Writing

“You can only write regularly if you’re willing to write badly. Accept bad writing as a way of priming the pump, a warm-up exercise that…

Page One: “The Iron Lady” (2011)

Written by Abi Morgan

Sundays with Stephen King’s “On Writing”

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

Interview: Lisa Joy

Several conversations with the writer-director of the movie Reminiscence.

The Theology of Cinema: Faith

“Faith is better understood as a verb than as a noun, as a process than as a possession. It is on-again-off-again rather than…

Ending a Sequence with a Question

An effective way to drive the narrative forward by piquing the script reader’s curiosity: What’s going to happen next?

Page One: “The Irishman” (2019)

Screenplay by Steven Zaillian, based upon the book by Charles Brandt

Reader Question: How to go about the query letter process?

“Is there any direction as to how to go about the query process? Should I target a few dream-list agencies or should I paint the town with…

From Zero Draft… to Hero Draft

“There are no mistakes. There are CHOICES. We have a scene. Or a character. Or a dialogue exchange. Whatever we’re writing, it represents…

Studies in Voice-Over Narration: “Double Indemnity”

Part 2 of a five-part series on movies where voice-over narration works.

Interview (Written): Matt Lieberman

A Q&A with the screenwriter of the current hit movie Free Guy.

Page One: “The Invitation” (2015)

Written by Phil Hay & Matt Manfredi

If you’re stuck in your writing…

A modest suggestion on how to find inspiration on the page.

The Importance of Theme in Writing a Screenplay About an Historical Figure

“You may very well have to shape the details and contour of your central character’s life-story to make it a movie. As they say in…

“Where am I going?”

A great question for a Protagonist to answer.

Writing and the Creative Life: Seeing… Hearing…

One day a while ago, I was out with my family for a walk in the neighborhood. As we returned home, I noticed a speed limit sign in the…

Page One: “The Heat” (2013)

Written by Katie Dippold

Ant, I would say do pretty much the same thing, only because TV scripts are shorter, anywhere from…

2, 4, 7, 14

Pitching Advice: Create a “Pitch Persona”

When you pitch a TV or movie project, your ability to perform in the room is critical.

Reader Question: How do you know when your script is ready to send out?

Tough question, especially for writers who may NEVER think a story is “done.”