Go Into The Story

Great Scene: “Almost Famous”

Sometimes it’s a great idea to put your story’s characters together in a situation that ‘rattles their cages’ — and that’s certainly what…

Page One: “Phone Booth” (2002)

Written by Larry Cohen

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 30

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Interview (Part 2): Laura Stoltz

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

Screenwriting 101: Isaac Adamson

“The one thing I really like about it is… screenwriting is a kind of format where you spend six weeks or eight weeks or however long you…

Page One: “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” (2022)

Screenplay by J.K. Rowling & Steve Kloves, based upon a screenplay by J.K. Rowling

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 29

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Interview (Part 1): Laura Stoltz

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

On Writing

“I can remember picking up my father’s books before I could read. The words themselves were mostly foreign, but I still remember the exact…

Page One: “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping” (2016)

Written by Andy Samberg & Akiva Schaffer & Jorma Taccone

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 28

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up…

Go Into The Story Interview: Jake Disch

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Adults in the Room.

Great Scene: “A Christmas Story”

Tongue meets frozen pole in this memorable scene from the charming 1983 holiday movie.

Page One: “No Hard Feelings” (2023)

Written by Gene Stupnitsky & John Phillips

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 27

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Interview (Part 6): Jake Disch

Jake Disch has made the annual Black List two times: In 2018 for his script Gunfight, then in 2023 with The Adults in the Room. Recently, I…

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Read your dialogue aloud

This is truly one of the easiest things you can do to improve your dialogue writing: When you finish a draft of your script, read aloud…

Page One: “Miss Congeniality” (2000)

Written by Marc Lawrence & Katie Ford & Caryn Lucas

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 26

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Interview (Part 5): Jake Disch

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Adults in the Room.

Script To Screen: “Blue Velvet”

A scene from the 1986 movie Blue Velvet, written by David Lynch.

Page One: “Batman Returns” (1992)

Screenplay by Daniel Waters, story by Daniel Waters and Sam Hamm, characters created by Bob Kane

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 25

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Interview (Part 4): Jake Disch

My interview with 2023 Black List writer for his script The Adults in the Room.

How They Write A Script: Shane Black

Shane Black. Black, along with Joe Eszterhaus, drove the spec script frenzy in the late 80s and early 90s. Shane has an interesting…