Go Into The Story

Daily Dialogue — July 5, 2019

“You needn’t take it any further, sir. You’ve proved to me that all this ultraviolence and killing is wrong, wrong, and terribly wrong…

Creative Writing Tips from Metallica

Three lessons from the heavy metal band’s songwriting process.

Black List writers on the craft: Story Prep (Part 4)

“I get a general idea of what the beginning, the middle and the end will be. Then I want to plow through the first draft as quickly as…

The Business of Screenwriting: You will fuck up

Take it to the bank, folks. This is a lock cinch guarantee.

Daily Dialogue — July 4, 2019

“Now all the images of horror, the demons of your mind crowd in on you to destroy you.”

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback.

Again thanks. I appreciate your comments. Very helpful in feeding my thought process.

Podcast: “One Heat Minute”

If you’re a fan of the movie Heat, you’ve got to check this out.

Black List writers on the craft: Story Prep (Part 3)

“I’ve found that I’m a terrible outliner. Whenever I outline a story, it invariably changes while I’m writing the script. That’s just the…

Great Scene: “Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back”

Luke confronts a phantasm of Darth Vader… and his own Shadow.

Daily Dialogue — July 3, 2019

Amélie: [whispering] I like to look for things no one else catches.

Thank you, Steven, for your feedback.

Also, thanks for your many responses over the last several months. I find them to be a thoughtful contribution to the ongoing conversation…

A Blog About This Blog

Soliciting your feedback about the future of Go Into The Story.

Black List writers on the craft: Story Prep (Part 2)

“You have to have a grasp on the characters because the characters will create the plot.”

Screenwriting 101: David Turpin

“What I would say about screenwriting, in general, is that you can get an awful lot of guidance and an awful lot of help on how to…

Daily Dialogue — July 2, 2019

“I have a message for Germany. That you are all going to die. And I want you to look deep into the face of the Jew who’s going to do it…

Campbell talks about the Hero’s Journey not being about attainment but reattainment.

For example in the Pixar movie Up, Carl was as a child passionate about becoming an adventurer. His journey to South America and ensuing…

Aristotle and Three Act Structure

“A whole [story] is what has a beginning and middle and end.”

Black List writers on the craft: Story Prep (Part 1)

“I’ll consume everything from biographies and memoirs to archival news clipping and documentaries. It’s about mastering a field of study…

On Writing

“There is much, much in all of us, but we do not know it. No one ever calls it out in us, unless we are lucky enough to know intelligent…

Daily Dialogue — July 1, 2019

“He is broken. More than broken, he is alone. Now his only friend is grief. In any case… suffering. Endless suffering. The kind of…

Metamorphosis and Movies

“In the end something has changed. If nothing has changed, it isn’t a story.”

Script To Screen: “The Third Man”

Occasionally, I like to feature excerpts from screenplays from eras gone by. First, I happen to love all movies, including old ones…

The Importance of Subplots

A five-part series on a movie’s many mini-stories.

Video: The Coen Brothers’ Art of The Minor Character

An eight-minute video essay on the famous filmmaking sibling’s attention to detail for all of the characters they create.

Daily Dialogue — June 30, 2019

Harry: [about Ray] So he’s having a really nice time? Ken: Well, I’m having a really nice time. I’m not sure it’s really his cup of tea…