Go Into The Story

Daily Dialogue — October 5, 2018

Dorothy Michaels: Thank you, Gordon. Well, I cannot tell you all how deeply moved I am. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would…

2018 Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference Schedule

The annual event in Austin, Texas runs from October 25 through November 1 and I’ll be there for my 5th appearance.

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 9

There are conventions. There are expectations. There are patterns. But the simple fact is… THERE ARE NO SCREENWRITING RULES!

Is My Screenplay Big Enough to Be a Movie, Part 4: Conflict

This is a fundamental question screenwriters must ask themselves at all stages of a screenplay’s development and writing. Why? Because it’s…

The Business of Screenwriting: OWA

Three little letters: OWA. But they mean big things for Hollywood screenwriters. What do these letter stand for?

Daily Dialogue — October 4, 2018

“Hey, I want you to know something. I know who you are. You’re my friend. You’re my brother. But like a really cool brother, you know? Like…

Tweetstorm: Eric Heisserer on Pitching

If you are an aspiring screenwriter, Twitter is an amazing resource. Eric Heisserer (Arrival, Lights Out, Hours, A Nightmare on Elm Street…

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 8

There are conventions. There are expectations. There are patterns. But the simple fact is… THERE ARE NO SCREENWRITING RULES!

Is My Screenplay Big Enough to Be a Movie, Part 3: Set Pieces

This is a fundamental question screenwriters must ask themselves at all stages of a screenplay’s development and writing. Why? Because it’s…

Script To Screen: “Joe Versus the Volcano”

A key scene toward the beginning of the 1990 movie Joe Versus the Volcano, written and directed by John Patrick Shanley.

Daily Dialogue — October 3, 2018

“Eyes, look your last! Arms, take your last embrace! and lips, Oh you The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss A dateless bargain…

Is My Screenplay Big Enough to Be a Movie, Part 3: Set Pieces

This is a fundamental question screenwriters must ask themselves at all stages of a screenplay’s development and writing. Why? Because…

Scene Description Spotlight: “Wall-E”

I have discussed the writing style of the Pixar film Wall-E before: here, here, and here. On the subject of scene description, here’s a…

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 7

There are conventions. There are expectations. There are patterns. But the simple fact is… THERE ARE NO SCREENWRITING RULES!

Is My Screenplay Big Enough to Be a Movie, Part 2: Characters

This is a fundamental question screenwriters must ask themselves at all stages of a screenplay’s development and writing. Why? Because it’s…

Screenwriting 101: Lori Evans Taylor

“I love going to the movies. But having two kids, I don’t get to the movies much. If I’m going to go see a movie in a theater it has to…

Daily Dialogue — October 2, 2018

Brad: Do you remember crayola crayons? There was this one color… what was it called… oh, yeah. Blizzard blue. That was my favorite color in…

Style = Voice

Style goes beyond mere ‘scene description’. It goes to Narrative Voice. My one-week online class Core IV: Style begins Monday, October 8.

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 6

There are conventions. There are expectations. There are patterns. But the simple fact is… THERE ARE NO SCREENWRITING RULES!

Is My Screenplay Big Enough to Be a Movie, Part 1: Story Concept

This is a fundamental question screenwriters must ask themselves at all stages of a screenplay’s development and writing. Why? Because it’s…

On Writing

“The writer is both a sadist and a masochist. We create people we love, and then we torture them. The more we love them, and the more…

Daily Dialogue — October 1, 2018

Riggan slams Mike up against the wall.

There *is* not set process.

That said, as far as learning the craft of screenwriting, here is one approach:

Screenwriting News (September 24— September 30, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Video: 2018 Courier 12 Screenwriters Conference

Five panels covering writing comedy, web series, TV, screenwriting, and the hit movie A Quiet Place.