Go Into The Story

Interview (Part 4): Scott Derrickson

My interview with the co-writer and director of the hit Marvel movie Doctor Strange as well as horror movies The Exorcism of Emily Rose and…

Screenwriting Lessons: “The Social Network” — Part 4: Subplots

A five-part series exploring lessons we can glean from Aaron Sorkin’s script.

Joy and Misery in the Pixar Script

Pixar scripts operate from heightened emotion. We identify with the characters because we understand how they feel.

Spec Script Deal: “I Am Yours”

Paramount Pictures acquires thriller spec script written by Ryan Belenzon and Jeffrey Gelber. Via Deadline:

The Business of Screenwriting: Everything you wanted to know about specs

Part 19: The value of a spec script… even if it doesn’t sell.

Daily Dialogue — June 14, 2018

“I cooked artichokes with hollandaise sauce which is melted butter that’s been whipped into a frenzy with egg yolks until it’s died and…

Reader Question: How to handle the passage of time in a script?

Time management can be a big concern in a screenplay.

Interview (Part 3): Scott Derrickson

My interview with the co-writer and director of the hit Marvel movie Doctor Strange as well as horror movies The Exorcism of Emily Rose and…

Screenwriting Lessons: “The Social Network” — Part 3: Theme

A five-part series exploring lessons we can glean from Aaron Sorkin’s script.

Great Scene: “Die Hard”

Compare script to screen for the explosive rooftop sequence.

Daily Dialogue — June 13, 2018

“The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one…

Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages.

I came up with this screenwriting mantra eight years ago. Still works.

Interview (Part 2): Scott Derrickson

My interview with the co-writer and director of the hit Marvel movie Doctor Strange as well as horror movies The Exorcism of Emily Rose and…

Screenwriting Lessons: “The Social Network” — Part 2: Narrative Framework

A five-part series exploring lessons we can glean from Aaron Sorkin’s script.

Screenwriting 101: Michael Werwie

“I’m a big fan of outlining even though I hate doing it. It doesn’t have to be 50 pages, but I think it’s helpful to know the signposts…

Daily Dialogue — June 12, 2018

“And the dream breaks into a million, tiny little pieces which leaves you with a choice. You can either stick with it which is unbearable…

Facing the Blank Page

Reflections on the start of the writer’s journey.

Interview (Part 1): Scott Derrickson

My interview with the co-writer and director of the hit Marvel movie Doctor Strange as well as horror movies The Exorcism of Emily Rose and…

Screenwriting Lessons: “The Social Network” — Part 1: Compelling Protagonist

A five-part series exploring lessons we can glean from Aaron Sorkin’s script.

On Writing

“If something inside of you is real, we will probably find it interesting, and it will probably be universal. So you must risk placing real…

Daily Dialogue — June 11, 2018

“I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a…

Screenwriting News (June 4-June 10, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “The Florida Project”

The entire 6 part series delving into the critically acclaimed indie film.

Great Scene: “Fight Club”

One of the most effective ways to begin a script is to start at the ending. And one of the best scenes that opens with the ending is in the…

Interview (Written): Olivia Milch

Co-writer of Ocean’s 8 and the upcoming movie Barbie.