Go Into The Story

Screenwriting Back to Basics, Day 1: Writing Scenes

With every scene, you should ask yourself this question: What is the scene’s Beginning, Middle, and End?

On Writing

“For your born writer, nothing is so healing as the realization that he has come upon the right word.”

Go Into The Story Interview: Jimmy Miller

My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Page One: “Eddie the Eagle” (2015)

Screenplay by Sean Macaulay and Simon Kelton, story by Simon Kelton

Screenwriting Tip: From Zero Draft… to Hero Draft

“There are no mistakes. There are CHOICES. We have a scene. Or a character. Or a dialogue exchange. Whatever we’re writing, it represents…

Interview (Part 6): Jimmy Miller

My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Great Scene: “Kramer vs. Kramer”

Two scenes making french toast provide signposts to measure the nature of a father-son relationship.

Page One: “Dutch” (1991)

Written by John Hughes

Interview (Part 5): Jimmy Miller

My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

A series analyzing Pixar writer-director Andrew Stanton’s TED Talk

“The Clues to a Great Story.”

Script To Screen: “12 Years a Slave”

From the 2013 movie 12 Years a Slave, screenplay by John Ridley, based on a memoir by Solomon Northup.

Page One: “Duplicity” (2009)

Written by Tony Gilroy

If you feel the pull toward creative interests … embrace it.

A quote from a well-known poet reminded me of a critical time in my past.

Interview (Part 4): Jimmy Miller

My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director’s TED Talk

Andrew Stanton is one of the key members of Pixar’s ‘braintrust’ whose screenwriting credits include Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2…

Page One: “Dune” (1984)

Screenplay by David Lynch, novel by Frank Herbert

Interview (Part 3): Jimmy Miller

My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director’s TED Talk

Andrew Stanton is one of the key members of Pixar’s ‘braintrust’ whose screenwriting credits include Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2…

The Business of Screenwriting: Surviving a Script Notes Meeting

Filmmaking, they say, is a “collaborative” effort. To a screenwriter, what this effectively means is that everybody gets to mess with your…

Page One: “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989)

Screenplay by Alfred Uhry based on his play

Pound Out That First Draft!

Go from FADE IN to FADE OUT in my upcoming online writing workshop. Starts August 26!

A 10-part series analyzing the Pixar writer-director’s TED Talk

Andrew Stanton is one of the key members of Pixar’s ‘braintrust’ whose screenwriting credits include Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2…

Screenwriting 101: Alan Ball

“[In American Beauty] Lester’s a man who in midlife has completely lost his passion about living, as do many people who have mind-numbing…

Page One: “Dressed to Kill” (1980)

Written by Brian De Palma

Interview (Part 2): Jimmy Miller

My interview with the 2023 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.