Go Into The Story

Interview (Part 1): Charmaine Colina

My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

On Writing

“No scene is ever about the words being spoken.”

Page One: “Jaws 2” (1978)

Written by Carl Gottlieb and Howard Sackler, based upon characters created by Peter Benchley

J.B., as my father used to say, "Moderation in all things."

Yes, *do* take care of yourself. Get your sleep. But also respect your creative nature and allow yourself the freedom to follow that…

"wandered into the woods of storyland."

Great to intersect with you again, John! Do you ever get up to Chicago? If so, let's do lunch!

"a beautiful mess."

Keep writing!

2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 9

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting 101: Paddy Chayefsky

“Artists don’t talk about art. Artists talk about work. If I have anything to say to young writers, it’s stop thinking of writing as art…

Scene Description Spotlight: “The Matrix”

Still for my money, one of the best scripts for action-writing. The Wachowskis use the basic elements of visual writing — strong verbs and…

Page One: “Jarhead” (2005)

Screenplay by William Broyles Jr., book by Anthony Swofford

2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 9

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 8

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Scene Description Spotlight: “Lethal Weapon”

There have been many forces of nature impacting screenplay style over the years, but there are only a very few actual screenwriters to whom…

Go Into The Story Interview: Jeremiah Friedman & Nick Palmer

In September 2010, Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer who sold their spec script “Family Getaway” to Warner Bros. Turns out, there were fans…

Page One: “Jagged Edge” (1985)

Written by Joe Eszterhas

2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 7

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity

Writing and the Creative Life: The Curse of Shiny Object Syndrome

“It’s not quite ADD/ADHD. It’s more that a new idea captures your imagination and attention in such a way that you get distracted from the…

“Saving Private Ryan”: Minute By Minute Breakdown

A podcast analysis with MovieRob and me about the dramatic scene: What to do with the German POW “Steamboat Willie”

Page One: “Jack Reacher” (2012)

Written for the screen by Christopher McQuarrie, based on the book “One Shot” by Lee Child

2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 6

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting 101: Paddy Chayefsky

“If it should occur to you to cut, do so. That’s the first basic rule of cutting. If you’re reading through and stop, something is wrong…

Spec Script Deal: “I Can See You’re Angry”

Miramax acquires comedy spec script “I Can See You’re Angry” written by Brandon Cohen. Via Deadline:

Page One: “It’s Kind of a Funny Story” (2010)

Screenplay by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, novel by Ned Vizzini

2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 5

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Go Into The Story Interview: Filipe Coutinho and Ben Mehlman

My interview with 2021 Black List writers for their script Whittier.