Go Into The Story

Laura, I think that analysis works really well in terms of plot.

I’m really glad we’re discussing F v F this week because it pulls us away from a mindless addiction to what happens where per page count…

Gary, you did a magnificent job with your breakdown.

I agree the story has more of a four-act structure. Look forward to cracking that open in Part 2: Plot.

Laura, although I am an advocate of three-act structure, practically speaking, I teach four-act…

Disunity — Deconstruction — Reconstruction — Unity

Tolani, great to have you here.

F v F does that. If you followed STC, the script would get dinged by not having the ‘break into Act Two’ on P. 25. The script is 141 pages…

Jerry, thanks for these observations.

But the brainstorming is key, I find.

One Day Online Masterclass

The London Screenwriters’ Festival to broadcast live online and on demand my 2018 masterclass with proceeds going to charity.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 29

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Script Analysis: “Ford v Ferrari” — Part 3: Characters

Read and analyze the script for the Oscar-winning action drama.

Great Scene: “Good Will Hunting”

The bar scene. Will’s classic putdown. And a spin on the ‘meet cute’.

Daily Dialogue — April 29, 2020

“You wanna see something? You wanna see Johnny go? Oh, he can really go. He can really screw it on.”

Go Into The Story Interview: Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

A conversation with the hosts of the new podcast The Screenwriting Life.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 28

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Script Analysis: “Ford v Ferrari” — Part 2: Plot

Read and analyze the script for the Oscar-winning action drama.

Screenwriting 101: Tom Benedek

“There is opportunity out there. The hunger for filmed entertainment is voracious. Fluctuations at the studios and TV companies are…

Daily Dialogue — April 28, 2020

George Hanson: How long did you boys say it was gonna take you to get down there? Captain America: Oh, about two or three days. George…

Dialogue-Writing Workshop

My one-week online workshop focusing on writing dialogue begins May 4.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 27

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Script Analysis: “Ford v Ferrari” — Part 1: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Read and analyze the script for the Oscar-winning action drama.

On Writing

“Rejection has value. It teaches us when our work or our skillset is not good enough and must be made better. This is a powerful…

Daily Dialogue — April 27, 2020

Miner: We didn’t have much, just some tough, dry land. Miner’s Wife: It belonged to his grandpa. Miner: It was ours. Until a land…

Writing Action vs. Action Writing

“If we think of what we write in describing what transpires in any given scene as action, we are more likely to lean into the visual…

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 26

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “Waves”

The entire 6 part series delving into the lauded indie drama.

Interview: Noah Baumbach

A 67-minute video featuring the writer-director as part of the BAFTA Screenwriters’ Lecture Series.

Daily Dialogue — April 26, 2020

President Merkin Muffley: Hello?… Uh… Hello D- uh hello Dmitri? Listen uh uh I can’t hear too well. Do you suppose you could turn the music…