Go Into The Story

Spec Script Deal: “Dyersville

Netflix and Higher Ground acquire crime thriller spec script “Dyersville” written by Will Hettinger. Via Deadline:

Screenwriting 101: Jay Presson Allen

“I’ve always been interested in the why of human behavior. I think most dramatic writers are natural psychologists.”

Page One: “The Boxtrolls” (2014)

Screenplay by Irena Brignull & Adam Pava, novel by Alan Snow, story adapted by Anthony Stacchi & Phil Dale

30 Things About Screenwriting: Learn the craft

Being a screenwriter is much more than just writing a script.

Go Into The Story Interview: Justin Piasecki

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script Stakehorse.

On Writing

“Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too.”

Page One: “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” (2020)

Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern, story…

Writing and the Creative Life: Is the key to creativity “unlearning”?

What if we are inherently creative as children, then over time lose much of that capability? That possibility is what I discovered when I…

Go Into The Story Interview: Laura Stoltz

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

Script To Screen: “Blade Runner”

Batty and Deckard’s final struggle from the movie Blade Runner (1982), screenplay by Hampton Fancher and David Webb Peoples, based on a…

Page One: “Boomerang” (1992)

Screenplay by Barry W. Blaustein & David Sheffield, story by Eddie Murphy

Screenwriting Mantra: Get the damn thing done!

The one unalterable truth about writing a first draft.

Interview (Part 6): Laura Stoltz

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

How They Write A Script: Garson Kanin

Garson Kanin (1919–1999) was a Broadway actor and director, but best known as a screenwriter. His most renowned movies: A Double Life…

Page One: “Menace II Society” (1993)

Screenplay by Tyger Williams, story by Allen Hughes & Albert Hughes

“12 Years a Slave”: Scene By Scene Breakdown

The practice of reading scripts is critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. One key to this practice is to work with a scene-by-scene…

Interview (Part 5): Laura Stoltz

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

Great Scene: “Blue Velvet”

The introduction of Frank Booth and his obsession with “Mommy.”

Page One: “Lean on Me” (1989)

Written by Michael Schiffer

Script To Screen: “Blood Simple.”

The Coen brothers first feature-length film Blood Simple. (1984) is arguably one of their best.

Interview (Part 4): Laura Stoltz

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.

How They Write a Script: Richard Brooks

Another in the Go Into The Story series “How They Write a Script,” excerpts from interview with notable Hollywood screenwriters. Today, we…

Page One: “The Island of Dr. Moreau” (1996)

Screenplay by Richard Stanley and Ron Hutchinson, novel by H.G. Wells

My Writing Workshop Schedule

Two online workshops this summer… my only ones in 2024!

Interview (Part 3): Laura Stoltz

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for her script Last Resort.