Go Into The Story

Scene Description Spotlight: “Titanic”

Before Avatar went on to gross $2.72B worldwide, writer-director James Cameron created another movie phenomenon called Titanic (1997) which…

Go Into The Story Interview: Michele Atkins

My interview with the screenwriter whose screenplay won a 2016 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting.

Page One: “The Lego Movie” (2014)

Screenplay by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, story by Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman and Phil Lord & Christopher Miller

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 15

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Screenwriting 101: Spenser Cohen

“Stories are an emotional medium. People always say, write what you know, and I think it’s write what you know emotionally. Sometimes I’ll…

Go Into The Story Interview: Elijah Bynum

My interview with the screenwriter whose scripts Mississippi Mud and Hot Summer Nights both were named to the 2013 Black List.

Page One: “Law Abiding Citizen” (2009)

Written by Kurt Wimmer

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 14

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Scene Description Spotlight: “There’s Something About Mary”

There are many funny scenes in the Farrelly brothers’ movie There’s Something About Mary (1988), but the “franks or beans” scene is right…

On Writing

“If someone’s on a soapbox saying this is what I am or, more accurately, this what I think you should be, I run for the hills. But if…

Page One: “The Last Temptation of Christ” (1988)

Screenplay by Paul Schrader, novel by Nikos Kazantzakis

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 13

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Screenwriting 101: Larry Cohen

“When Larry Cohen is writing a screenplay, there are certain things he will not do. He will not rely on an outline. Over the years, he has…

Go Into The Story Interview: Cameron Fay

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Until You.

Page One: “The Last Station” (2009)

Screenplay by Michael Hoffman, based on the novel by Jay Parini

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 12

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Interview (Part 6): Cameron Fay

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Until You.

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…

Page One: “The Last Picture Show” (1971)

Screenplay by Larry McMurtry and Peter Bogdanovich, based on the novel by Larry McMurtry

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 11

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Interview (Part 5): Cameron Fay

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Until You.

“Come to the edge”

Going beyond the edge of the Old World into the New World can be a terrifying experience, but a necessary one for the transformation…

Page One: “Last Holiday” (2006)

Screenplay by Jeffrey Price & Peter S. Seaman

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 10

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Interview (Part 4): Cameron Fay

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Until You.