Go Into The Story

“Effective Feedback: The Little Known Secret To Pixar’s Creative Success”

Four keys to feedback which can help move a project forward.

A story’s “second music”

We may think of a screenplay universe as being comprised of two worlds.

Spec Script Deal: “Bad Dog”

Lionsgate acquires comedy spec script “Bad Dog” written by Jeff Bushell. From Deadline:

How to Generate and Critique Story Ideas (Part 8): Franchise

If there is one word that is almost assured of getting a Hollywood movie studio president of production all aglow, it is probably the word…

Script To Screen: “The Talented Mr. Ripley”

From the 1999 movie The Talented Mr. Ripley, screenplay by Anthony Minghella, novel by Patricia Highsmith.

Daily Dialogue — June 12, 2019

“AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

When I broke into the business back in the Paleolithic era (1987), the rule of thumb was 2 pages…

I think a lot of this has to do with digital technology. For the last three decades, digital filmmaking allows for super easy editing. No…

Joseph Campbell word for word on The Hero’s Journey

Verbatim transcript from the excellent interview series “The Power of Myth.”

Reader Question: “What about screenplay page count?”

And is it okay to cheat margins and spacing to cut pages?

Instead of a ‘plot point’…

Think ‘plop point’.

How to Generate and Critique Story Ideas (Part 7): Think International

Over the last three decades, the share of movie revenue has flipped: It used to be 70% domestic, 30% foreign. Now it’s 30% domestic, 70%…

Screenwriting 101: Justin Rhodes

“I think concept is the most important aspect of the whole process. Dialogue can be improved, set pieces can be improved…

Daily Dialogue — June 11, 2019

Mr. Braddock: Ben, what are you doing? Benjamin: Well, I would say that I’m just drifting. Here in the pool. Mr. Braddock: Why? Benjamin…

2019 Willamette Writers Conference

My schedule at the Portland, Oregon event August 2–4.

Facing the Blank Page

Reflections on the start of the writer’s journey.

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “Eighth Grade”

The entire 6 part series on the hit movie.

How to Generate and Critique Story Ideas (Part 6): Genre-Bending

Bending a story’s genre offers even more opportunities to recycle concepts as there are eight different primary genres.

On Writing

“I would say to young playwrights, especially, don’t worry so much about the story. There are no original stories. All the stories have…

Daily Dialogue — June 10, 2019

“Doodie! Doodie!”

Screenwriting News (June 3-June 10, 2019)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Immerse Yourself in Cinema

If you want to write movies, you need to love movies. And that love ought to manifest itself in a thorough, longstanding and passionate…

Script To Screen: “The Social Network”

The final scene from the 2010 movie The Social Network, screenplay by Aaron Sorkin, based on a book by Ben Mezrich.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Kinds Of Stories That Sell [Part 1]

“It should be remembered that in literature and drama alike there is an artistic side and a practical side. Often the real masterpiece…

Interview (Video): Sean Baker

A video of the writer-director’s speech as part of the 2017 BAFTA screenwriting lecture series.

Daily Dialogue — June 9, 2019

Jaime Escalante: You think you got it, Johnny? Think you have the answer? Tito: Juan is X, Carlos is Y, Pedro is X + Y. Is Pedro bisexual…