Go Into The Story

Page One: “Chaplin” (1992)

Screenplay by William Boyd and Bryan Forbes and William Goldman, story by Diana Hawkins, book by David Robinson and Charles Chaplin

A Zero Draft Thirty Success Story

You can use the month of March to pound out a screenplay. Maybe it will lead to a movie getting made … like this writer!

On Writing

“The three-act structure is the form that I grew up in the theater with. You generally present a situation in Act I, and by the end of Act…

Page One: “The King of Comedy” (1982)

Written by Paul D. Zimmerman

Thanks! Check out the rest of the series:

https://www.youtube.com/@depaulcinematicarts8191

Writing Tip: When 3-Act Structure is 4-Act Structure

“Per Aristotle, while we may still think of a story having three acts — Beginning, Middle, End — at a psychological level in the narrative…

Script To Screen: “A Few Good Men”

A scene from the 1992 movie A Few Good Men, screenplay by Aaron Sorkin based on his play.

Page One: “Good Morning, Vietnam” (1987)

Written by Mitch Markowitz, based on a story by Adrian Cronauer

60 Second Screenwriter: What’s a log line?

A video series addressing key screenwriting concerns in one minute.

Script To Screen: “The Fisher King”

A notable scene from the 1991 movie The Fisher King, written by Richard LaGravenese.

Page One: “Knock at the Cabin” (2023)

Screenplay by by M. Night Shyamalan and Steve Desmond & Michael Sherman, based on the book “The Cabin at the End of the World” written by…

Film School on the Cheap

Resources put together by members of the Go Into The Story community.

Writing and the Creative Life: “Come to the edge”

Going beyond the edge of the Old World into the New World can be a terrifying experience, but a necessary one for the transformation…

Page One: “Dirty Harry” (1971)

Screenplay by Harry Julian Fink & R. M. Fink and Dean Riesner, story by Harry Julian Fink & R. M. Fink

Writing Tip: The Importance of Subplots

A five-part series on a movie’s many mini-stories.

What if you fall out of love with a script?

“What about a script you fall out of love with after 2–3 drafts, and just can’t finish? Put it aside for now or just push through?”

The Business of Screenwriting: When you don’t get the gig

We are seated in the expansive office of a top Hollywood director and we are having a great time. I mean a really great time. We talk about…

Page One: “Get Carter” (1971)

Screenplay by Mike Hodges, novel by Ted Lewis

David Milch: “The Writer’s Voice” (5-Part Series)

Videos and transcripts from Milch’s legendary 2001 and 2007 WGA series.

Script To Screen: “Five Easy Pieces”

The famous ‘hold the chicken’ scene from Five Easy Pieces, screenplay by Carole Eastman, story by Carole Eastman and Bob Rafelson.

Page One: “Chariots of Fire” (1981)

Written by Colin Welland

Reflections of 2023 Black List Feature Writer’s Lab Participants

Writers who participated in last year’s Black List Feature Writer’s Lab reflect on their experience.

Screenwriting 101: Scott Frank

“It has to come from character. I’m always going back to the people. Why character? It’s about what makes a person a person. What do they…

Page One: “12 Strong” (2018)

Written by Ted Tally and Peter Craig, based on the book, “Horse Soldiers” by Doug Stanton

Writing Tip: The Value of Three Scripts

You write, you learn. Three scripts is a good minimum number for starting to understand the craft.