Go Into The Story

Screenwriting Mantra: Trust the Process

“There is a magic to this process that cannot be controlled by the ego. Somehow it always finds the way to the place where you need to be…

Go Into The Story Interview: Sean Harrigan

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

Great Scene: “Cast Away”

In a fundamental way, screenwriting is scene-writing, so the more we learn about this aspect of the craft, the better. One way to do that…

Page One: “Big Trouble in Little China” (1986)

Written by Gary Goldman & David Z. Weinstein, adaptation by W.D. Richter

Story Types: Disaster

In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and…

Interview (Part 6): Sean Harrigan

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

Script To Screen: “The Big Lebowski”

The scene that kick-starts the entire plot from the 1998 movie The Big Lebowski, written by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen.

Page One: “Big Time Adolescence” (2019)

Written by Jason Orley

The Business of Screenwriting: Imagine the movie

One test of a story concept: Can you imagine it as a movie?

Interview (Part 5): Sean Harrigan

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

Writing and the Creative Life: Mind Wandering

“What no [spouse] of a writer can ever understand is that a writer is working when he’s staring out of the window.”

Page One: “The BFG” (2016)

Screenplay by Melissa Mathison, based on the book by Roald Dahl

Happy Birthday, Go Into The Story!

Launched on May 16, 2008, here we are 5,000+ days of blogging later… but what does it all mean?

Interview (Part 4): Sean Harrigan

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

How They Write A Script: Ben Maddow

Ben Maddow (1909–1992) had a long successful career in Hollywood as a screenwriter and TV writer. His writing credits include Asphalt…

Page One: “The Nutty Professor” (1996)

Screenplay by David Sheffield & Barry W. Blaustein and Tom Shadyac & Steve Oedekerk

Spec Script Deal: “Hit the Gas”

Paramount Pictures acquires thriller spec script “Hit the Gas” written by Chris McCoy. Via Deadline:

Interview (Part 3): Sean Harrigan

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

30 Things About Screenwriting: There are no screenwriting rules

There are guidelines, conventional wisdom, patterns, and principles… but no rules.

Page One: “Maniac Cop” (1988)

Written by Larry Cohen

2024 Black List Feature Writer Labs

Two unique screenwriting labs set in beautiful Ojai, California.

Interview (Part 2): Sean Harrigan

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script First You Hear Them.

Screenwriting 101: Jay Presson Allen

“I don’t do anything but write. I get up and I write and I write, until I have to go to sleep; then, I get up, eat something, then go back…

Page One: “Tequila Sunrise” (1988)

Written by Robert Towne

30 Things About Screenwriting: Write what they’re buying or sell them your dream

There are many writing paths. Here are two of them.