Go Into The Story

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…

On Writing

“Writing, I think, is not apart from living. Writing is a kind of double living. The writer experiences everything twice. Once in reality…

Page One: “Dredd” (2012)

Screenplay by Alex Garland, character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra

Interview (Part 1): 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…

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 26: Tragedy vs. Epic Poems

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again…

Page One: “DragonHeart” (1996)

Screenplay by Charles Edward Pogue, story by Patrick Read Johnson & Charles Edward Pogue

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…

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 25: Impossible and Improbable

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again…

Script to Screen: “(500) Days of Summer”

Tom’s best day ever plays out as a music video accompanied by Hall & Oates.

Page One: “Dr. No” (1962)

Screenplay by Richard Maibaum & Johanna Harwood & Berkely Mather, based on the novel by Ian Fleming

2024 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge!

One month. Fade In. Fade Out. Write an entire zero draft.

Andrew Stanton TED Talk: “Clues to a Great Story”

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

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 24: Tragedy and Epic Poem

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again…

Page One: “Downhill” (2020)

Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, inspired by the motion picture “Force Majeure” by Ruben Östlund

Andrew Stanton TED Talk: “Clues to a Great Story”

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

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 23: Unity of Action

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again…

Videos: Academy Originals Screenwriter Interviews

Featuring John August, Ava DuVernay, Eric Roth, Aline Brosh McKenna, David Seidler, Dustin Lance Black, and more.

Page One: “Doubt” (2008)

Screenplay by John Patrick Shanley, play by John Patrick Shanley

Thanks for your comments, Steven.

The lesson I took away from the Legacy experience was to embrace that mantra - "There's always another way" - in my writing, especially…

Andrew Stanton TED Talk: “Clues to a Great Story”

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

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 22: Word Choice

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again…

The Business of Screenwriting: There is always another way

Between writing assignments, I wrote a spec script. It’s a contained thriller called “Legacy,” about a child psychiatrist who ends up on a…

Page One: “The Double” (2013)

Written by Richard Ayoade and Avi Korine, story by Avi Korine, novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Andrew Stanton TED Talk: “Clues to a Great Story”

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