Go Into The Story

2017 Austin Film Festival

The writers conference starts today and I’ll be there!

“Flight”: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

A look at the story structure of the 2013 Oscar nominated movies.

Conversations with Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond [Part 4]

A 10-part series with the writers of The Apartment and Some Like It Hot.

The Business of Screenwriting: Selling Scripts and Shooting Scripts

Here are two key stages in the life of a screenplay: There is the selling script and the shooting script.

Daily Dialogue — October 26, 2017

Susanna: I’m ambivalent. In fact that’s my new favorite word. Dr. Wick: Do you know what that means, ambivalence? Susanna: I don’t care…

“He Became This Year’s Oscar Favorite By Going Broke Again and Again”

Director Sean Baker, whose new film is The Florida Project, made a career of spending his own money to tell stories Hollywood wouldn’t.

Reader Question: Are there any script rules that really shouldn’t be broken?

Or this: “How can you break screenwriting rules if there are none?”

“American Hustle”: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

A look at the story structure of the 2013 Oscar nominated film.

Conversations with Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond [Part 3]

A 10-part series with the writers of The Apartment and Some Like It Hot.

Great Scene: “Saving Private Ryan”

Screenwriting is scene-writing, so the more we learn about this aspect of the craft, the better.

Daily Dialogue — October 25, 2017

“I’m sick of my sister’s attraction to razor blades — and I’m sick of shrinks who can’t do a fucking thing to help her.”

Reader Question: How to handle P.O.V. shots?

Some advice on Point Of View shots in a screenplay.

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Plot Backward

You’re doing prep work, breaking the story. Problem is, the story is breaking YOU! The plot is a mess, you can’t figure it out, bits and…

“The Social Network”: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

A look at the story structure of the 2010 Oscar winning movie.

Conversations with Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond [Part 2]

A 10-part series with the writers of The Apartment and Some Like It Hot.

Screenwriting 101: Sean Baker

“My hope is that the more stories that are told about marginalized communities and subcultures, the more awareness will spread, and the…

Daily Dialogue — October 24, 2017

Charlie: Just tell me how to stop it. Dr. Burton: Stop what? Charlie: Seeing it. All their lives, all the time, how do you stop seeing it…

November: Classic ‘20s Movie Month

Your chance to feature a favorite film from the 1920s.

Private Script Workshops

On a limited basis, I work one-on-one with writers on their script project.

“Nebraska”: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

A look at the story structure of the 2013 Oscar nominated movie.

Conversations with Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond [Part 1]

A 10-part series with the writers of The Apartment and Some Like It Hot.

On Writing

“They say living well is the best revenge but sometimes writing well is even better.”

Daily Dialogue — October 23, 2017

“Women make the best psychoanalysts until they fall in love. After that they make the best patients.”

Screenwriting News (October 16-October 22, 2017)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Screenwriting Lessons: “The Wizard of Oz”

A five-part series exploring lessons from the classic and beloved 1939 movie.