Go Into The Story

2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — Index Cards!

A series to help prepare writers for next month’s Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

Screenwriting 101: Darren Aronofsky

“First, you start with an idea, then you start to flesh out the structure, and that’s a long process. I think that’s where we spend a lot…

Script To Screen: “Fargo”

Here is a terrific scene from a terrific movie, the 1996 film Fargo, screenplay by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen for which they won an Academy…

Page One: “Five Easy Pieces” (1970)

Screenplay by Carole Eastman, story by Bob Rafelson and Carole Eastman

2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — “What if…”

A series to help prepare writers for next month’s Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

Screenwriting Tip: “When something happens… something ELSE happens”

The dynamic dual nature of a screenplay universe.

On Writing

“Anton Chekhov gave some advice about revising a story: first, he said, throw out the first three pages. As a young writer I figured that…

Page One: “Airplane!” (1980)

Written for the screen by Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry Zucker

My Favorite Five Films at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival

Amidst a strong slate of movies, these five films stood out.

Script To Screen: “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”

A memorable scene from the 1982 comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High, written by Cameron Crowe.

Page One: “Altered States” (1980)

Written for the screen by Paddy Chayefsky as Sidney Aaron, based on the novel by Paddy Chayefsky

Memorable Monologues in 2023 Movies

This L.A. Times article features some “meaty speeches” from some of last year’s most notable movies.

Interviews: Jonathan Glazer

Conversations with the writer-director of The Zone of Interest, nominated for five Academy Awards.

Page One: “300” (2006)

Screenplay by Zack Snyder & Kurt Johnstad and Michael B. Gordon, graphic novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley

Roger Deakins at DePaul!

Last week, the two-time Oscar-winning cinematographer and his Team Deakins partner James spent four days in Chicago. Here are three things…

The Theology of Cinema: Conversion

A character transforming from their Old Self into a New Self is a narrative arc we see time and time again, a kind of “conversion”…

Page One: “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” (2012)

Screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith, novel by Seth Grahame-Smith

Screenwriting Tip: What do you want the audience to feel…

…when they walk out of the theater at the end of your movie?

Script To Screen: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

A scene from the wonderful 1986 comedy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, written and directed by John Hughes.

Page One: “2 Fast 2 Furious” (2003)

Screenplay by Michael Brandt & Derek Haas, story by Michael Brandt & Derek Haas and Gary Scott Thompson, characters by Gary Scott Thompson

Writing Tip: The Difference Between a Character’s Want and Need

One is a conscious goal. The other is an unconscious goal.

How to convey a character’s emotional state in scene description?

How much latitude does a screenwriter have to editorialize or comment on a character’s inner state of being?

Page One: “Three Amigos!” (1986)

Written by Steve Martin and Lorne Michaels and Randy Newman

Style = Voice

Style goes beyond mere “scene description.” My one-week online class focuses on expressing your voice on the page. It begins February 26th.

Screenwriting 101: Matt Duffer

“The first thing our Chapman screenwriting professors taught us was that all stories share one thing in common: there is a protagonist, and…