Specs that sold in 2012
SCRIPT Magazine has published my article analyzing the common elements of screenplays that sold in 2012. One of the key things that...
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Finding the right genre
Blake Snyder’s ten “genres” and fifty “subgenres” in his Save the Cat books are my single favorite tool...
read moreTeaching at UCLA
I’m teaching my first class at UCLA Extension Writers Program this fall, on adapting true stories into feature screenplays. It...
read moreLoglines don’t tease. ...
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...
read moreSpec Scout
A very cool new website called “Spec Scout” tracks the status of currently unproduced screenplays in the Hollywood...
read moreScript Consultants: A Waste?
A few years ago, screenwriter Craig Mazin wrote a blog post voicing his skepticism about “script consultants” —...
read moreWhy “Flying WrestlerR...
The movie that first made me think of “screenwriting” as a future career pursuit was The World According to Garp, adapted...
read more“Great Scenes” web...
My January 9 webinar for The Writers Store on “What Makes a Great Scene” is now available online through their store,...
read moreARGO and creative license
Script Magazine online published my article about ARGO’s use of creative license today. Here’s how it begins: Having...
read moreTHE BOOK OF MORMON musical ...
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...
read moreThe Campaign
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...
read moreStoryboard Development Group
I’ll be leading a conversation about the script of the upcoming David O. Russell film Silver Linings Playbook for the...
read moreInciting Incident types
Lately I’ve been brainstorming what to write for my next feature script. And I’ve been looking for questions to...
read moreOhio Screenwriting Workshop 11...
I’ll be returning to my home state during election week (apparently the most important one in the union that week!) to do a...
read moreLiterary Fiction/Screenwriting
Ben Fountain’s new novel Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk was recently named a (top five) finalist for the National Book...
read moreTrue Stories webinar available...
The webinar I taught for The Writers Store on “Finding the ‘Story’ in True Stories” is now available from...
read moreThe first 10 pages of a script
Yes, it’s true that a writer might only get the opening pages of their script read — and that it will likely be put down right...
read moreNew Webinar online
My April 3 Writers Store webinar on “What Makes a Great TV Idea: Learn What Hollywood Looks for in an TV Idea and Pilot...
read moreGreat Stories/Great Games
I’m a Los Angeles Lakers fan. As I’ve followed the team over the past few years, I’ve noticed certain elements need to be...
read moreThe Key to Industry Access
When I work with writers giving feedback and guidance on their material and career paths, I often end up giving advice about how to...
read moreScript-a-Wish Conference 10/14
I will be presenting workshops on “Creating Series Ideas for Television” and “What Makes a Great Scene” at the...
read moreBRIDESMAIDS: The Beat Sheet
I created a “beat sheet” for Bridesmaids for the folks at Save the Cat — it’s now up on their website.
Which of Blake Snyder’s genres and subgenres do you think this hugely successful comedy fits? Take a look to find out…
read morePassion. Openness. Persisten...
I guess I’ve become a fan of acronyms. First, it was “CURE”: what I think we as writers should aim for with every...
read moreBlake Snyder’s “5-...
For those of you who use the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet (which I highly recommend, and use in my script consulting), I recently came...
read moreWhy I pursued a writing career
I realize now, after about ten years making my living as a Los Angeles-based screenwriter, that there is really only one kind of movie...
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