Go Into The Story

Well, this lays out pretty clearly:

Protagonist: Logan Nemesis: Pierce, Dr. Rice, Bad Logan Attractor: Laura Mentor: Charles Trickster: Caliban

How To Read A Screenplay

A 7 part series on ways you can dig into and analyze scripts.

Script Analysis: “Logan” — Part 3: Characters

Read the script for the hit superhero movie and analyze it all this week.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 11

This is the 9th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Last week, I provided a daily explanation about why you should make it a habit…

Script To Screen: “The Fisher King”

A notable scene from the 1991 movie The Fisher King, written by Richard LaGravenese.

Daily Dialogue — April 11, 2018

Gus: Did you ever do drugs with Mr. Boz? Catherine: Sure. Gus: What kind of drugs? Catherine: Cocaine. Have you ever fucked on cocaine…

Spec Script Deals Data (1991–2017)

Information on over 2,000 spec script deals from the last quarter century now searchable on a spreadsheet.

Script Analysis: “Logan” — Part 2: Plot

Read the script for the hit superhero movie and analyze it all this week.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 10

This is the 9th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Last week, I provided a daily explanation about why you should make it a habit…

Screenwriting 101: Chris Borrelli

“I’m always thinking, what’s the emotion I’m trying to convey, what’s the fun of the movie, what are the moments? I have my own little…

Daily Dialogue — April 10, 2018

“I think if you wanted a babysitter, you should marry Mary Poppins.”

Mark, I couldn’t agree more.

I agree with you: Laura is a fantastic character. The script does a great job on all fronts, but especially with she and Logan, that…

Peter, the kidnapping angle is something, I believe, has been worked in movies before like Room…

When I was a child, my parents’ best friends were another Air Force couple whose son Scott went to the Air Force Academy and became an F-5…

Roo, absolutely.

We get it: We’re not writing a novel. Movies are essentially an externalized reality — Action and Dialogue. But SCRIPTS are about getting a…

Scene-Writing Workshop

I’m reprising my one-week Scene-Writing Workshop which starts Monday.

Script Analysis: “Logan” — Part 1: Scene By Scene Breakdown

Read the script for the hit superhero movie and analyze it all this week.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 9

This is the 9th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Last week I provided a daily explanation about why you should make it a habit…

On Writing

“Writing may or may not be your salvation; it might or might not be your destiny. But that does not matter. What matters right now are the…

Daily Dialogue — April 9, 2018

“Bart, I’ve been kicked around all my life, and from now on, I’m gonna start kicking back.”

Screenwriting News (April 2-April 8, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 8

This is the 9th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Go Into The Story Interview: Jen Bailey and Max Lance

My interview with the 2017 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

Interview (Video): Paul Thomas Anderson and Richard Linklater in Conversation

A half-hour talk between the pair of noted writer-directors.

Daily Dialogue — April 8, 2018

“4th wall break inside a 4th wall break. That’s like… 16 walls.”

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 336th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…