Go Into The Story

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 12

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Interview (Part 5): Chris Parizo

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

The Business of Screenwriting: Flavor-Of-The-Week

If you sell a spec script or make the annual Black List, you will take LOTS of meetings in Hollywood.

Page One: “Bad Moms” (2016)

Written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 11

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Interview (Part 4): Chris Parizo

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

Script To Screen: “Cast Away”

From Cast Away, written by William Broyles, Jr..

Page One: “Bad Lieutenant” (1992)

Written by Zoë Lund & Abel Ferrara

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 10

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Interview (Part 3): Chris Parizo

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

Screenwriting 101: Scott Alexander

“My real life is totally inhibited: A cliched domestic existence, happily playing in my yard with my wife and kids. But through the…

Page One: “The Babysitter” (2017)

Written by Brian Duffield

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 9

This is the 14th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Interview (Part 2): Chris Parizo

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

Unpacking the Mysteries of Screenplay Time

Flashback, Flashforward, Set-Up / Payoff, Callback, Montage, Series of Shots, Cross Cut, Visual-to-Visual Transition, Audio-to- Audio…

Page One: “American Ultra” (2015)

Written by Max Landis

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 8

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Interview (Part 1): Chris Parizo

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

On Writing

“Having imagination, it takes you an hour to write a paragraph that, if you were unimaginative, would take you only a minute. Or you might…

Page One: “All the Old Knives” (2022)

Screenplay by Olen Steinhauer based on his book

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 7

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Go Into The Story Interview: Filipe Coutinho

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

Script To Screen: “Celeste & Jesse Forever”

A memorable scene from the 2012 movie Celeste & Jesse Forever, written Rashida Jones and Will McCormack.

Page One: “Alien” (1979)

Screenplay by Dan O’Bannon, story by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett, uncredited Walter Hill & David Giler

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 6

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…