Go Into The Story

Spec Script Deal: “Time Zone”

Amazon Studios acquires science fiction action thriller spec script “Time Zone” written by Bill Marsilii and Terry Rossio. Via Deadline:

Script Analysis: ‘The Father’ — Part 4: Themes

Read the script for this Oscar-winning drama dealing with the mental decline of a family’s patriarchal figure.

The Business of Screenwriting: Everything You Wanted to Know About Specs

Part 17: Write What They’re Buying

Page One: “12 Years a Slave” (2013)

Screenplay by John Ridley, based on “Twelve Years a Slave” by Solomon Northup

Go Into The Story interview (Part 3): Steven E. de Souza

An in-depth conversation with the legendary Hollywood screenwriter who has had an enormous influence on the modern action movie.

Script Analysis: ‘The Father’ — Part 3: Characters

Read the script for this Oscar-winning drama dealing with the mental decline of a family’s patriarchal figure.

Spec Script Deal: “Black Choke”

HBO Max acquires neo-noir action thriller spec script written by Doug Simon. Via Deadline:

Great Scene: “When Harry Met Sally…”

An excellent example of how to handle exposition in a scene.

Page One: “Jerry Maguire” (1996)

Written by Cameron Crowe

Writing Mantra: On the other hand…

One of the best ways for writers to combat the dreaded Voices Of Negativity.

Go Into The Story interview (Part 2): Steven E. de Souza

An in-depth conversation with the legendary Hollywood screenwriter who has had an enormous influence on the modern action movie.

Script Analysis: ‘The Father’ — Part 2: Plot

Read the script for this Oscar-winning drama dealing with the mental decline of a family’s patriarchal figure.

Screenwriting 101: Billy Wilder

“An actor entering through the door, you’ve got nothing. But if he enters through the window, you’ve got a situation.”

Two prominent things struck me upon reading the script.

There have been several movies which have dealt with the issue of dementia, but the way in which The Father uses cinematic devices such as…

Page One: “12 Monkeys” (1995)

Screenplay by David Webb Peoples & Janet Peoples, inspired by the film ‘La Jetée’ written by Chris Marker

2021 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge!

One month. Fade In. Fade Out. Write an entire zero draft.

Go Into The Story interview: Steven E. de Souza

An in-depth conversation with the legendary Hollywood screenwriter who has had an enormous influence on the modern action movie.

Script Analysis: ‘The Father’ — Part 1: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Read the script for this Oscar-winning drama dealing with the mental decline of a family’s patriarchal figure.

On Writing

“I don’t know which it is writers welcome the most: praise or interruptions. Writers, to a man, to a woman, welcome any reason, any excuse…

Page One: “The Spectacular Now” (2013)

Screenplay by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber, novel by Tim Tharp

Sundays with Stephen King’s “On Writing”

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

Discovery Writing and Efficient Writing

Another way of thinking about writing and rewriting.

Scene Description Spotlight: “Jerry Maguire”

“A beat of silence, then noise returns to its normal commercial roar. A couple of fleas have been swatted off the carcass of an immense…

The Theology of Cinema: Doubt

We can not know Light without Dark. Nor can we know Good without Evil. Likewise we can not truly understand Faith without Doubt.

Page One: “Sorry to Bother You” (2018)

Written by Boots Riley