Go Into The Story

Writing and the Creative Life: “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek”

Wisdom on creativity from Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung.

Daily Dialogue — June 29, 2018

Steve Andrews: What’re they gonna do with that thing, Dave? Lieutenant Dave: The Air Force is sending a Globemaster in. They’re flying it…

Go Into The Story Interview: Stephany Folsom

My in-depth interview with the screenwriter currently working on Toy Story 4.

Subplots: Part 4

A series on a critical narrative element in any screenplay.

Spec Script Deal: “Last Christmas”

Universal Pictures acquires romance spec script “Last Christmas” written by Emma Thompson and Bryanny Kimmings. From Deadline:

The Business of Screenwriting: Anatomy of a Deal (Part 1)

I’ve sold several pitches in Hollywood. This was the first.

Daily Dialogue — June 28, 2018

Guy Fleegman: I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all. Gwen DeMarco: They are so cute. Guy Fleegman: Sure, they’re cute now, but in a…

Go Into The Story Interview: Aaron Guzikowski

My in-depth interview with the screenwriter whose credits include Prisoners, the Sundance TV series “The Red Road”, and the upcoming film…

Subplots: Part 3

A series on a critical narrative element in any screenplay.

Script To Screen: “Five Easy Pieces”

The famous ‘hold the chicken’ scene from Five Easy Pieces (screenplay by Carole Eastman, story by Carole Eastman and Bob Rafelson).

Daily Dialogue — June 27, 2018

E.T.: Come? Elliott: Stay.

“Flipping the Script: How to Navigate the Ups and Downs of the Spec Script Market”

A recent MovieMaker magazine article on the state of spec scripts in Hollywood.

Go Into The Story Interview: Ava DuVernay

My in-depth interview with filmmaker whose credits include the movie Selma, the documentary 13th, and the TV series “Queen Sugar”.

Screenwriting 101: Lindsay Devlin

“A lot of people think movies are just sort of, ‘Anybody can do it. Anybody can be a screenwriter.’ But it’s a tough, tough craft. It’s…

Daily Dialogue — June 26, 2018

“Oh, God, it’s moving right toward you!”

Reader Question: Are there movies where the Protagonist is the Nemesis?

Is it possible for the Protagonist to also be the story’s Nemesis?

Go Into The Story Interview: Justin Marks

My in-depth interview with the screenwriter of The Jungle Book and creator/executive producer of the hit Starz TV series “Counterpart”.

On Writing

“If you want to really hurt you parents, and you don’t have the nerve to be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts. I’m not kidding…

Daily Dialogue — June 25, 2018

Christopher Johnson’s Son: How many moons does our planet have? Christopher Johnson: Seven. Christopher Johnson’s Son: This planet only has…

You’re welcome.

(1) Both he and I are committed to doing what we can to support writers outside the Hollywood system have a chance to work their way inside…

Screenwriting News (June 18-June 24, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Reader Question: Is there a rule as to how many “cuss words” can be used in a script?

Delving into the sometimes mysterious world of the MPAA ratings system.

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”

A 6 part series on the 2005 Academy Award winning screenplay.

Video: Franklin Leonard — “How I accidentally changed the way movies get made”

The founder of the Black List on how Hollywood’s “conventional wisdom” is often mostly convention… and not wisdom.

Daily Dialogue — June 24, 2018

Grimm: [dressed as a clown, reveals he has bombs strapped to his chest] Let’s not mess with me today, okay. I’m robbing the bank. Bank…