Go Into The Story

My take on key characters and their respective archetypes functions:

Protagonist: Ruben. It's his story, the story is told through his POV, all the characters are associated with his psychological journey.

Thanks for that, Laura.

The thing I'm struck by with regard to the plot is how long Ruben resists change. As I noted in Part 1, the plot feels unconventional…

2021 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge!

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

Script Analysis: ‘Sound of Metal’ — Part 3: Characters

Read the script for this award-winning drama set in the world heavy metal music.

Great Scene: “Se7en”

One of the most darkly compelling endings in recent movie history.

Page One: ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’ (2005)

Written by Judd Apatow, Steve Carell

Update: 2020–2021 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 3 New Scripts, 35 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Script Analysis: ‘Sound of Metal’ — Part 2: Plot

Read the script for this award-winning drama set in the world heavy metal music.

Screenwriting 101: Chuck Wendig

“Whenever you encounter the urge to info-dump, pause. Take a deep breath. Then ask: what does the audience need to know? Like, what…

Page One: ‘The Third Man’ (1949)

Screen play by Graham Greene

How about Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, Miss Havisham in Great Expectations, The Bride in Kill…

There are definitely fewer examples, part of that is due to the fact that it’s only recently that there has begun to be an equivalence of…

This is an interesting script in that it starts off in a pretty conventional manner, at least in…

For example, Ruben doesn't officially settle into the new world (the deaf camp) until after 40. A script reader trained on a certain how to…

The Six Word Test

If you’re having trouble finding the focus of your story, try this test.

Script Analysis: ‘Sound of Metal’ — Part 1: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Read the script for this award-winning drama set in the world heavy metal music.

On Writing

“Evan Connell said once that he knew he was finished with a short story when he found himself going through it and taking out commas and…

Page One: ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)

Screenplay by Ted Tally, novel by Thomas Harris

60 Second Screenwriter: What’s an elevator pitch?

A video series addressing key screenwriting concerns in sixty seconds.

Go Into The Story Interview: Jane Therese

My interview with the 2020 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Great Scene: “This is Spinal Tap”

“These go to 11.”

Page One: ‘Roxanne’ (1987)

Screenplay by Steve Martin, play by Edmond Rostand

Update: 2020–2021 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 5 New Scripts, 32 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Interview Part 6: Jane Therese

My interview with the 2020 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Interview (Written): Sian Heder

A conversation with the writer-director of the movie CODA which has debuted this weekend at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.

Page One: ‘RoboCop’ (1987)

Written by Edward Neumeier, Michael Miner

Q&A: Diverso

A conversation with the folks leading an outfit providing opportunities in the film and television business for underrepresented writers.