Go Into The Story

Script To Screen: “Dead Poets Society”

The ending scene of the movie Dead Poets Society, written by Tom Schulman.

Beyond Words 2024 — Writers Guild Awards Screenplay Nominees

An audio recording of the recent WGA event featuring screenwriters nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Screenplay.

Page One: “Amistad” (1997)

Written by David Franzoni

2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 15

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

How and when is it okay to use voice-over narration?

The supposed Hollywood conventional wisdom is NOT to use V.O. narration.

Volunteers Wanted!

Do you have a favorite movie from 2023? Here is an opportunity to dig deeper into why it works: Read that movie’s script and create a…

Page One: “The Beekeeper” (2024)

Written by Kurt Wimmer

2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 14

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Script To Screen: “The Deer Hunter”

The end scene in the 1978 movie The Deer Hunter.

“If my story’s main character is a ‘bad guy,’ do they need a ‘Save the Cat’ moment?”

From Mragendra Singh:

Page One: “Private Benjamin” (1980)

Written by Nancy Meyers & Charles Shyer & Harvey Miller

2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 13

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Writing Tip: The Challenge of Writing Dialogue

How to be entertaining, yet serve the story by advancing the plot?

Writing as a Protagonist’s journey

Most stories involve a Protagonist going on a journey. Whether it’s physical, spiritual, geographical, symbolic or all of the above, a…

Page One: “Tango & Cash” (1989)

Written by Randy Feldman

2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 12

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Screenwriting as Scene-Writing

My unique 1-week online course begins Monday, April 1st.

Screenwriting 101: Joe Eszterhas

“Don’t let the bastards get you down. If you can’t sell your script, or if you sell the script and they bring in another writer to butcher…

Page One: “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” (2006)

Written by Will Ferrell & Adam McKay

2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 11

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Need writing inspiration? Go to an airport.

All those arrivals and departures represent a non-stop flow of stories.

On Writing

“Our minds and souls contain volumes inscribed by our experiences and emotions; each individual’s consciousness is a collection of memories…

Page One: “Swingers” (1996)

Written by Jon Favreau

2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 10

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Reader Question: How to write period-authentic dialogue?

The three keys to writing dialogue which sounds like it is authentic to a specific time period: Research, Character Development…