Go Into The Story

A spec script will not sell unless it has a strong story concept

If you write a spec script based upon the first story idea that comes into your mind, that script likely won’t sell.

Script Analysis: “The White Tiger” — Part 6: Takeaways

A week-long analysis of this Oscar-nominated screenplay. Download. Read. Discuss.

Scene Description Spotlight: “Some Like It Hot”

Many older screenplays from the 40s and 50s are written in a style that makes them hard to read — loaded with directing notes, lots of…

Interview (Video): John Logan

From Season 11 of the PBS series “On Story”.

Spec Script Deal: “The Tradition”

Netflix acquires romantic comedy spec script “The Tradition” written by Nico Godinez Miller and Grant Mellon. Via Deadline:

I want to focus on the story's central theme (trapped) and several sides of dialogue which refer to…

The greatest thing to come out of this country in its 10,000-year history... the rooster coop. They can see and smell the blood. They know…

In my view, the central theme of the movie is this: Trapped.

The relationship he willingly enters into with Ashok is one of master-servant. This lifts him out of one trap (poverty) into another trap…

Story Type: Buddy Picture

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

Screenwriting “Hats”

Sometimes when a writer is writing a screenplay, we have to wear other “hats”: Director, Actor, Editor, Producer.

Script Analysis: “The White Tiger” — Part 5: Dialogue

A week-long analysis of this Oscar-nominated screenplay. Download. Read. Discuss.

Writing and the Creative Life: Is the key to creativity “unlearning”?

What if everything we have learned in our lives has actually diminished our creativity?

Page One: “Mulan” (1998)

Screenplay by Rita Hsiao & Chris Sanders & Philip LaZebnik & Raymond Singer & Eugenia Bostwick-Singer, based on a story by Robert D. San…

“Get the damn thing done!”

The one unalterable truth about writing a first draft.

Screenwriting “Hats”: Editor

When we write a screenplay, I like to think of the process as one in which we wear several “hats”. Primarily, of course, we wear our Writer…

Script Analysis: “The White Tiger” — Part 4: Themes

A week-long analysis of this Oscar-nominated screenplay. Download. Read. Discuss.

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

Part 11: Slipping a script.

Page One: “Mud” (2012)

Written by Jeff Nichols

Using five primary character archetypes -- Protagonist, Nemesis, Attractor, Mentor, Trickster …

Balram is clearly the story's Protagonist. The story tracks his metamorphosis from lowly servant to a "player." The story is told from her…

Interview (Audio): Premise Podcast

An hour-long conversation with me.

Screenwriting “Hats”: Actor

When we write a screenplay, I like to think of the process as one in which we wear several “hats”. Primarily, of course, we wear our Writer…

Script Analysis: “The White Tiger” — Part 3: Characters

A week-long analysis of this Oscar-nominated screenplay. Download. Read. Discuss.

Great Scene: “Casablanca”

One of the most memorable movie scenes ever… but have you read the script?

Page One: “Norma Rae” (1979)

Screenplay by Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr.

When thinking of the story's plot, I am reminded of J.

Separation --> Initiation --> Return

Balram's journey is a hero's journey, albeit one in which he slays his master.

He has an advantage, actually two. First, no one thinks much of Balram, certainly not suspecting him of doing much of anything with his…