Go Into The Story

Page One: “Made in Heaven” (1987)

Written by Bruce A. Evans & Raynold Gideon

Ctrl, Alt, Del: Three Act Structure

It’s right there on your keyboard!

Go Into The Story Interview: Brian Arnold

My interview with 2021 Black List writer.

Screenwriting 101: Brian De Palma

“The problem with writing a movie is you’ve got to have a great idea. I loved the idea for Femme Fatale and it came very quickly. Dressed…

Page One: “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015)

Written by George Miller and Brendan McCarthy and Nick Lathouris

Carl Jung on the structure of dreams

Subconscious stories revealed in our sleep in four acts.

Go Into The Story Interview: Jennifer Archer

My interview with the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

On Writing

“We’re all born with an imagination. Everybody gets one. And I really believe — this is just from years of daily writing — that good…

Page One: “The Lunchbox” (2013)

Screenplay by Ritesh Batra

Screenwriting Tip: Free Association

Sometimes if you’re stuck in your writing, it’s best just to cut loose.

Screenwriting 101: Pen Densham

“Joseph Campbell’s studies of myths, legends, and religions suggested that exactly the same story components cropped up in every culture…

Go Into The Story Interview: Julia Yorks

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

Page One: “Lucy in the Sky” (2019)

Screenplay by Brian C. Brown & Elliott DiGuiseppi & Noah Hawley, story by Brian C. Brown & Elliott DiGuiseppi

The Business of Screenwriting: It’s not just about the script

Yes, you should focus on your spec script, but there’s much more to learn.

Interview (Part 6): Julia York

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

On Writing

“Talent is cheap. What matters is discipline.”

Page One: “Lucky Number Slevin” (2006)

Written by Jason Smilovic

Writing and the Creative Life: Need writing inspiration? Go to an airport.

All those arrivals and departures represent a non-stop flow of stories.

Interview (Part 5): Julia York

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

The Business of Screenwriting: “God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason”

I’m at lunch with our agents in Beverly Hills. It’s February, 1987. The deal where Universal Pictures bought our spec script K-9 is…

Page One: “London Boulevard” (2010)

Screenplay by William Monahan, novel by Ken Bruen

Theme as Moments

“It should not be surprising that what we most often and most vividly remember about a movie are its key moments. It should also not be…

Interview (Part 4): Julia Yorks

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

Screenwriting 101: Pen Densham

“You have to look at being a story-writer and let that passion create stories, and see where there’s a place you might be able to find…

Page One: “Love, Simon” (2018)

Screenplay by Elizabeth Berger & Isaac Aptaker, based upon the novel “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli