by Erik Bork | Jun 10, 2013
Blake Snyder’s ten “genres” and fifty “subgenres” in his Save the Cat books are my single favorite tool for screenwriters. I have long believed that studying this system of story types, and making sure each script you write clearly fits...
by Erik Bork | May 25, 2013
In 2013 I started teaching a course at UCLA Extension Writers Program on adapting true stories into feature screenplays. It’s a ten-week online class, available from anywhere in the world. I use the Save the Cat books to help writers identify the proper genre...
by Erik Bork | Feb 26, 2013
Loglines describe a movie (or series) idea in a quick sentence or two that provide enough of an idea of what it’s about to (hopefully) seem like a grabby, fresh and commercially viable concept. They present a compelling situation for characters one can imagine...
by Erik Bork | Dec 7, 2012
My January 9 webinar for The Writers Store on “What Makes a Great Scene” is now available online through their store, for $79. Similar to the webinars I offered on “True Stories” and “Creating Series Ideas and Writing Spec Pilots”,...
by Erik Bork | Nov 23, 2012
Script Magazine online published my article about ARGO’s use of creative license today. Here’s how it begins: Having adapted a number of true stories for the screen, I found myself wondering, as I watched Argo, which moments might have been...
by Erik Bork | Nov 22, 2012
I recently got to see the L.A. production of THE BOOK OF MORMON musical. I felt I basically knew the story from listening to the songs on the original Broadway cast recording. But not knowing the spoken dialogue or visuals, I was interested to see how the narrative...
by Erik Bork | Nov 10, 2012
On a plane ride a few days ago, I settled in to watch two of the funniest human beings on the planet (Will Farrell and Zach Galafianakis) in a movie directed by the awesomely talented Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Meet the Parents, HBO’s Game Change). All I knew about...
by Erik Bork | Nov 3, 2012
Lately I’ve been brainstorming what to write for my next feature script. And I’ve been looking for questions to ask myself which might lead to good ideas. The goal is to stimulate the flow of possibilities through the use of some sort of prompt, and then...
by Erik Bork | Oct 25, 2012
Ben Fountain’s new novel Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk was recently named a (top five) finalist for the National Book Award for fiction, and boy, can I see why. I found it a great example of what “literary fiction” can do so well, that...
by Erik Bork | Sep 25, 2012
The webinar I taught for The Writers Store on “Finding the ‘Story’ in True Stories” is now available from their online store, for $79. It’s a ninety-minute powerpoint/audio program where I discuss all the key lessons I’ve learned...
