Video: Aline Brosh McKenna

The screenwriter of The Devil Wears Prada, 27 Dresses, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend shares insights into her creative process.

A few years back, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences ran a terrific series of video interviews called Creative Spark. Here is one featuring Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada, 27 Dresses, Annie, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend).

Aline uses large paper pads to sort out story structure because she felt like cards were “diffuse and all over the place.” I remember when I first saw this video thinking, “I know I’ve seen someone else who uses oversized paper to break story” … then it hit me. A video I’d seen with Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg talking about how they worked out the story for Hot Fuzz.

Like I say: Whatever works for you! Cards, post-it notes, white board, oversized paper. All that matters is you find a way to break story that feels comfortable to you and aligns with your creative instincts.