Go Into The Story

On Writing

“If you want to write, if you want to create, you must be the most sublime fool that God ever turned out and sent rambling. You must write…

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Cutting The Picture [Part 3]

“Another factor in cutting is ‘tempo.’ The author should decide the relative length of scenes.”

Page One: “The Fly II” (1989)

Screenplay by Mick Garris and Jim Wheat & Ken Wheat and Frank Darabont, story by Mick Garris, based on characters created by George…

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Cutting The Picture [Part 2]

“The secret of fine cutting lies in a resolve to work with an open mind, to reject your pet scene if the director has evolved a better one…

Screenwriting 101: Amy Berg

“There’s more rising and falling tension in a television show versus a film where it tends to be a more steady build to the climax… A way…

The 2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge is over!

Time to start prepping for the next one in March 2025!

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Cutting The Picture [Part 1]

Yes, you read that right. A studio. Calling in the writers. To cut the movie. After the director has shot it.

Character Development Keys

Starting October 7, my one-week online class not only immerses you in five key archetypes, you also use them to workshop one of your…

Page One: “The Fly” (1986)

Screenplay by Charles Edward Pogue and David Cronenberg, story by George Langelaan

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 30

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: What to Write and Not to Write [Part 3]

“At the present time, the material most in demand is the story with the emotional woman as the star.”

On Writing

“First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him.”

Page One: “Flatliners” (2017)

Screenplay by Ben Ripley, story by Peter Filardi

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 29

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: What to Write and Not to Write [Part 2]

“Almost every conceivable situation has occurred to a writer somewhere in the past. You can, however, get a new story by adding a new theme…

Great Scene: “Moonlight”

The quiet, but intense final scene where Black confesses a secret to Kevin.

Page One: “Flashdance” (1983)

Screenplay by Tom Hedley and Joe Eszterhas, story by Tom Hedley

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 28

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: What to Write and Not to Write [Part 1]

“It takes hard work to create a new plot, so beware of the one which comes too easily.”

Great Scene: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”

The famous Black Night scene.

Page One: “First They Killed My Father” (2017)

Screenplay by Loung Ung & Angelina Jolie, based on the book “First They Killed My Father” by Loung Ung

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 27

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Kinds Of Stories That Sell [Part 5]

“The amateur must always remember that people go to the motion picture theater to forget their troubles and become young again in a world…

“Perfectly Happy, Even Without Happy Endings”

Several people sent me a link to this NYT article and for good reason: It has some ideas screenwriters should definitely contemplate…

Page One: “The Firm” (1993)

Screenplay by David Rabe and Robert Towne & David Rayfiel, novel by John Grisham