Go Into The Story

Great Scene: “Manhunter”

I think we’d all admit the first time Clarice Starling meets Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, that was a great scene.

Page One: “Eye in the Sky” (2015)

Written by Guy Hibbert

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 13

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

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Writing for the Camera

“No scenarist is a genius to his cameraman… [they] have a common bond in the conviction that 90 per cent of the scenario writers have…

The Business of Screenwriting: The Crazed Life of a Studio Executive

There is nothing laid-back about movie execs who live life in the fast lane and this impacts you — the writer.

Page One: “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” (2019)

Written by Michael Werwie, based on a book by Elizabeth Kendall

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 12

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

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Marketing the Script

“Don’t let one or a dozen rejection slips discourage you. Make a collection of them to show your friends when you become famous.”

Great Scene: “Magnolia”

The ‘frog storm’ near the end of Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1999 movie.

Page One: “The Expendables” (2010)

Screenplay by David Callaham and Sylvester Stallone, story by David Callaham

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 11

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

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Title

“Although a good story is the first requisite, the title of the photoplay is most important from the point of view of the exhibitor.”

Screenwriting 101: Tom Benedek

“Every script we write is a piece of ourselves. We may say we are writing a script because we want to position ourselves somewhere in the…

Page One: “The Exorcist III” (1990)

Screenplay by William Peter Blatty, based on his novel

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 10

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

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Continuity (Part 2)

“Confusion as to the characters is ruinous. Don’t get your audience interested in minor characters at the start. Keep your important…

Keys to Handling Exposition

Take my 1-week online class to learn ways to make exposition entertaining. Begins Monday, September 16, 2024.

Page One: “Exorcist II: The Heretic” (1977)

Written by William Goodhart, based on characters created by William Peter Blatty

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 9

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

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Continuity (Part 1)

“The continuity writer visualizes the story in a series of scenes.”

On Writing

“First you have nothing, and then, astonishingly, after ripping out your brain and your heart and betraying your friends and ex-lovers and…

Page One: “Excalibur” (1981)

Screenplay by Rospo Pallenberg and John Boorman, adaptation by Rospo Pallenberg, book by Thomas Malory

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 8

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

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Story Synopsis

“The first step in preparing a photoplay is to put it into plain English telling the entire plot in from 500 to 1,500 words. This is called…

Screenwriting 101: Nikole Beckwith

“I think if you’re inviting people into a story, you should invite them into all parts of that story. I tried to inhabit each character as…