Go Into The Story

Video: “The Christ Symbol”

Another in the excellent screenwriting series Raising the Stakes.

Page One: “A Hidden Life” (2019)

Written by Terrence Malick

Make Words Your Friend

When you bust it all down, writing is about choosing words. A writer can choose them well … or not.

2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Page One: “A Hero” a.k.a. “Ghahreman” (2021)

Written by Asghar Farhadi

This is something you can do because this is something you have done!

I get email:

Spec Script Deal: “Clean Break

Searchlight Pictures acquires drama spec script “Clean Break” written by Ryan Brennan. Via Deadline:

Page One: “Heavyweights” (1995)

Written by Judd Apatow & Steven Brill

Reflections of 2024 Black List Feature Writer’s Lab Participants

Writers who participated in this year’s Black List Feature Writer’s Lab reflect on their experience.

On Writing

“Style has always been in my mind the author’s Self, the creative expression of that Self.”

Page One: “Blink Twice” (2024)

Written by Zoë Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum

Negative Fear, Positive Fear

“Fear of writing, understandable, but a negative influence. However, fear of NOT writing and what that prospect could mean, that can be a…

Screenwriting 101: Mark Boal

“It’s [The Hurt Locker] the not the first war movie to be told in chapters. Apocalypse Now is told in chapters, in sort of an episodic way…

Page One: “The Idea of You” (2024)

Screenpay by Michael Showalter and Jennifer Westfeldt, novel by Robinne Lee

Screenwriting Tip : “Earn this.”

When it comes to a scene where a character makes a critical choice, it’s imperative that you — as the writer — have earned that moment.

On Writing

“A writer has to have an imagination — that’s what make a writer.”

Page One: “My Old Ass” (2024)

Written by Megan Park

Write “Yes” pages

Advice to screenwriters from a literary manager.

Screenwriting Tip: How to Handle Blocks of Scene Description

Think of each paragraph as a camera shot… with a catch.

Page One: “The Wild Robot” (2024)

Screenplay Chris Sanders, book by Peter Brown

Screenwriting Tip: The Six Word Test

If you’re having trouble finding the focus of your story, try this test.

Spec Script Deal: “Alignment”

Fifth Season and Makeready acquire thriller spec script “Alignment” written by Natan Dotan. Via THR:

Page One: “Inside Out 2” (2024)

Screenplay by Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein, story by Kelsey Mann and Meg LeFauve

2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 6 New Scripts

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

30 Things About Screenwriting: “Go into the story and find the animals”

Writing wisdom from a three year-old boy: My son Luke.