Most of the hype centered on the two tyro actors who penned the *screenplay*. It seems that they had been friends for years and in between college obligati...

Last week there was some grumbling that I didn't answer enough Friday questions. So this week I'm devoting two days to your questions. More answered mana...

Daily Mail He said: 'An unusual number of extremely distinguished * screenwriters* died this year... 'In every category, you're going to miss some wonderful...

Per the news re WB yesterday, the LA Times reports Disney is piling on: Warner Bros. has two "Wizard of Oz" remakes in development. Universal has the Oz-in...

Pages: Prev 1 2 Next Pages: Prev 1 2 Next Auditions are inevitable in the career path of every actor. The acting skills of the actors are being evalua...

Digital: Scanned: November 12, 1958 Draft by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond. Based on “Fanfares of Love” by Robert Thoeren and Michael Logan. Synopsis: Wh...

(aka A Couple of Dicks) July 31, 2007 Second Draft by Robb Cullen and Mark Cullen. Synopsis: A comedy about two cops whose adventures include locating a. ...

Courtesy i09

Good morning, Effers! The sun always rises on Just Effing! First of all, a huge thank you to Effer Dan Wasserman, who took the train through the Chunnel fr...

THE LEGENDS by Dax Shelby & Robert Marc Stevens Two dudes who were the most popular guys in school 20 years ago are hired by hired by a former classmate in...

...is best summarised by one of the survivors here. Death Machines was my favourite, perhaps the most bizarre cinematic experience I've ever had. If you ev...

Alice in Wonderland (2010) tops Tuesday's box office with $8.0 million

Andra Sheffer’s office has walls in two shades of blue and looks west out at College where the blue roof of the police headquarters matches her decor nicel...

Hey, folks-- Just wanted to pass on a terrific piece, "*Confessions of a 90210 Addict*," from yesterday's *Daily Beast*. This was written by my good frien...

I think I'll pester my friends for some prompts and I'll get some from my Writers Block book and some days I'll just do drabbles or a scene in *screenplay ...

A number of years ago I spent most Tuesday and Friday nights wearing a skirt whilst other men in skirts tried to grab, punch, stab and hit me. Sometimes wi...

If you're not busy working or have other plans for Thursday night, we'd love to see you at our ScreenPlayLab mixer. Details below... Hope you had a great t...

Do you have a great idea for a screenplay, but no idea how to go about executing it? Are you interested in learning how to make a movie, from initial conce...

my friend ben hansford has finally released another episode of his tron reboot series. fun!

For a limited time, the Fans Friends and Followers e-book will be available for free download. It has already sold thousands of copies. "Fans, Friends & F...

“Every cell of your body has to be aligned so that you’re making the best possible image.” Photographer and Oscar-winning filmmaker Louie Psihoyos His name...

The Lovely Bones centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family – and her killer – from heaven. She must weigh her desire for ve...

Having received no comfort or perspective from "the first rabbi," Larry now seeks them from his divorce lawyer, whose character's name is "Divorce La...

************ Are you a screenwriter or entertainment industry professional with advice and tips to share with readers of About A Screenplay? I welcome gues...

Well this morning I received confirmation that I passed my MA, along with a breakdown of my different grades. It was an interesting read for many reason...

Rudy wrote in a while ago with an interesting question: *i came across your blog and found it interesting. i was wondering if you could help answer a quest...

A guest post by Trevor Mayes of ScriptWrecked. Hallowed or Hackneyed? When it comes to mainstream Hollywood story structure, there tends to be two schools ...

Click Here To Listen

See if you can get away with cutting bits of explanation, scene setting, stage cues, and still have it make sense. Basically, let your dialogue do the wo...

Scriptapalooza interviews TV Script Contest Winners Frank Tumminia, Jeff Oppen, Kevin Caruso and Steve Alten.

20th Century Fox TV and Fox appear ready to end the long-running hit after this season, the show's eighth. Studio and network execs declined comment -- but...

After Max's comment below I feel I must clarify... I do think there is a time when we must stop rewriting. I am sometimes a perfectionist so I want it to a...

Genre: Period/Detective/Drama Premise: A morally corrupt detective is assigned to the kidnapping of a prominent socialite’s son in 1988 New York City. About...

We've been watching 18 TO LIFE on CBC. Man, that is a funny, funny show. Brilliantly comic and lovable cast. Extremely well crafted, clever, fresh, sexy ch...

[image: Making a Good Script Great: A Guide for Writing and Rewriting] Making a Good Script Great: A Guide for Writing and Rewriting (Paperback) By Linda Se...

This is a great piece by Moviefone. What are your worst of the worst 25 Rom Coms? When the Moviefone staff started trying to name the worst romantic comed...

For the unfamiliar, a "reveal" in screenwriting parlance is the placement of key, revelatory information in a story. Most times, the last reveal is the mos...

In a hotel lobby waiting for a car to pick me up and take me to a brief meeting and then on to the airport to fly to New Zealand where I will see my fiance...

WELL, LOOKS LIKE not a lot of people wanted to drink out of the other side of the glass or try to hold their breath, & I guess they like the look of that y...

by Jaden photo credit: Philippe Put It is always so frustrating to see the most creative and advanced filmmakers throughout time get snubbed at the Oscars....

Many of us find ourselves pursuing a writing career because we feel we have a story to tell. We think that our lives are so special and unique, our insight...

One of the strongest things about being a part of a writers group (and there are many) is the support and knowledge you get from your group mates. You can...

I'm always surprised when someone I'm working with tells me they have trouble finding ideas for a story. Mark Twain famously wrote, "Truth is stranger tha...

Basically, it looks like they pretty much thought "Avatar" was a gimmick. The best-performing gimmick of all time but not a "real film." Whether that judgm...

I'm pleased to announce Bang2writers Charlie Swinbourne and William Mager have been at it [creatively] again and produced the rather fabulous internet seri...

A quick update on what I've been up to: I'm currently working on several treatments for some upcoming screenplays projects. my most recent scripts includin...

In the world of screenwriting, THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES OF ANYTHING. It's a sad and painful truth. Just when you think you've done everything right and wo...

“…A Cal Tech seismologist was aware of the natural forces that are working slowly but inexorably under the earth, out of sight, unnoticed, setting off reac...

Last night the Winners of the 82nd Academy Awards were announced. A full list is available to view online. Here are the nominees and winners (in bold) in ...

This is being sent on behalf of wcmartell@scriptsecrets.net as part of the mailing list that you joined. List: Scriptsecrets URL: http://www.scriptsecrets....

It is a recognized phenomenon that anywhere from a few months to a year after an Oscars presentation, you can't remember what movie or director won. This w...

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire - January 16, 2008 first revised (green) draft script by Geoffrey Fletcher Revisions by Lee Daniels (Based on...

I post these each year before the awards start to keep myself honest. I confess that I have missed some of the key movies this year. That comes of falling ...

I begin with research, research, research, not so much because I am interested in gathering information but because I want to be free of it. I look for co...

A few thoughts on the major awards: The best supporting awards are locks -- *Mo'Nique* and *Christopher Waltz*. Both deserving. Best Actor will go to *Jef...

There are a lot of places that offer screenplay workshop to help out new or struggling screenwriters. Of course, not all of the screenwriting workshops are...

Written with the screenwriter in mind, this book offers techniques, the dialogue devices, in sprucing up and spicing up dialogue. There are 67 dialogue d...

Tell him, @alisonbrie. Tell @dannypudi about @donglover sitting by himself at Shutter Island Friday night. # Diet's effects leveling off. Have to exercise ...

A reader recently sent me an e-mail with the following questions... - Do I need to bring my own equipment, logs, etc. or is that something that is usually ...

All right, I know all you slackers are just loafing around waiting for the red carpet to start, so I'm posting so that somebody, including me, might actual...

The First Mermaid (PG-13) A victim of low self-esteem, Thandy Milson (Scarlett Johansson) is forever unhappy with her self-image. After several unsuccessfu...

Remember with screen direction, you want the eye to roll down the page, to make the script a “page turner.” How do you do that? Go vertical. Keep the reade...

Things have been a little strange so far. I arrived at dinner time on Thursday - the Birds Eye View launch night. Got myself a lovely vegetarian dinner fro...

Up Movie Script

If both plotlines are key to your story, you need to make that clear in the logline. Otherwise, you risk future readers feeling like you bait-and-switched ...

Senior Editor Jeff Goldsmith interviews screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis about Shutter Island Download my podcast here

WGA Awards host Seth MacFarlane performs "Ya Got Trouble" Hosted by writer-performer-producer Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy), the West Coast version of the...

We must be nuts! The CS Open--now relocated to the icy cold vastness of cyberspace--back again? Wasn't the last time punishment enough? Why, yes it was! Bu...

Accomplished actress Dee Wallace talks about the ways that actors find their voice, world and character moments from good scripts.

*Screenwriter and author Janice Day attended the John Yorke Q&A last night - here's what she had to say...* I went to the Writers’ Room talk on the BBC Aca...

I'm posting this on behalf of my sister, a high school teacher here in the Bay Area, who participated in the rallies for education today. "If you cut teacher...

[*In lieu of actual content, for the next several weeks I will present, at least, one review of an upcoming film each week. These are scripts that I've b...

About a week after I started working as a television writer, a guy who had been in the business a while was telling me a few stories from his career, and...

There's a big old pompous article in the Guardian Books Section entitled 10 RULES FOR WRITING inspired by Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules (yeah, Elmore Leonar...

I recently listened to the director’s commentary on Duplicity, written and directed by Tony Gilroy. Because of his hyphenated position on this movie, he is...

Here’s a link to a paper by the very aptly named American academic JAMES CUTTING which discusses the differences between our perception of film shots and ...

*AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... * The 82nd Annual Academy Awards are only a few days away now! I love this broadcast every year no matter how dragged out it i...

#8) To make sure your script is readable Many screenwriters write in a vacuum. They have nobody giving them feedback or insight on their scripts, ever. O...

Applications and submissions for contests or funding or plain ol’ attention sometimes require a paragraph on the supplicant. Here’s a placeholder I stumble...

I'm sorry to report that someone has hacked into and stolen all my personal information - the reason for the delay in posting. It's a real pain but even we...

Don’t say I hold back on the goodies. If you head over to the Facebook page of the fantastic Toronto band Metric, you can hear a sneak preview of a song th...

One of the best things about finally getting my first commissions was the idea that I could call myself a professional writer. That's a little sad, I know....

Over the last few years there's been a growing call in the UK drama industry for a move to a US-style system, where the person in charge of a TV programme ...

Juliet Landau is a renaissance woman. She acts, writes, directs, produces, edits and for all I know, dances a mean tango, too. So when Gary Oldman agreed...

I posted this on my new *Facebook *page, but I figured I'd blog it as well. It'll be an ever-growing list of FAQ's. It was fun to do. I hope you dig i...

Whether your script is a low budget film or a Hollywood blockbuster movie, investors will always ask for a film budget. Film budgeting refers to managing t...

Comedy, went straight to buyers the week of February 22. Out from CAA Straight to buyers. Courtesy of IOTG (subscription required).

Phooosh. That's me blowing off the cobwebs. Um...Is anyone still there? All of January and most of February went by with me up to my eyeballs in day job w...

This is a new feature where I catch a flavour of what people are saying about the industry. Have a look for what people are talking about on Twitter in the...

(Note: I’m trying a new format where I’m putting the beats right in this post. Please let me know if you prefer this approach.) Summary: Michael Clayton, a...

Today’s Beat Sheet was contributed by Master Cat! Jose Silerio: There’s no other studio that consistently releases movies that are both critical and box of...

FADE IN: INT. JAIL ROBERT DOWNEY JR. and JUDE LAW go to see MARK STRONG in JAIL. ROBERT DOWNEY JR. Ah, diabolical Lord Mark Strong. Glad to see you’re fin...

Working with Director Stephan Franck is what one might call...intimate. The dude does know what he wants and we are more than happy to oblige! Seriously, ...

*Scriptchat TOPIC: Who needs Valentine’s when u have #scriptchat love? Taking the fuzzy handcuffs off for an OPEN FORUM* *Being Valentine’s Day, we decid...

I know I haven’t posted script notes even after my little treatise — I’ve been breaking a new project and delving into a collaboration with a director that...

Image via Wikipedia So like just about everyone else in the known universe, I went to see Avatar in 3D the other week. While the story was solid enough and...

Bobby Fischer Goes to War by Shawn Slovo Pawn Sacrifice by Steven Knight PDF Podcast Episode 17

Last minute: The Belgian writers group ASA has invited scriptwriter Mark Burton to talk about his work on "Madagascar" on February 11 in Brussels. A scree...

Whew… I guess I am one moody son of a bitch. So thanks for all the kind words from everyone wanting or maybe even — dare I say it? NEEDING a blog post from...

MINISTER Everything is more complicated than you think. You only see a tenth of what is true. There are a million little strings attached to every choice y...

I’m weighed down at work and busy in post-production on my documentary, so I’m continuing to turn over blogging duties to Adam Levenberg. I’ve received a few...

Writing can be confusing at times because the way things were done at one time are not always the best way to do them, it is just all they had back then....

The blog. The feeling usually comes on at some odd moment spurred by some odd impetus or provocation -- some totally random encounter with the name of a l...

A few days after my blog on the ageism settlement, the New York Times has weighed in. …a deeper look at the settlement and its terms indicates that the def...

Call in and pitch your story to Executive Story Editor at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, Christopher Lockhart, where he looks for potential project...

Question: A big producer with good credits likes one of my ideas. She doesn’t have a discretionary fund, but she does have a deal with a big studio. Sh...

Hello, you delightful shooting star. 2009, you say? I'd best jot down some thoughts on how it was for me, before it becomes all too tiny in the ol' rear-vi...

It’s a term that is used ad nauseam by movie execs, and is discussed so freely by TV producers that you’d think it was the name of their last-born child. “...

FADE IN: I was working on a character driven drama screenplay (with comedic touches of course) and sensed there was something missing from it. After being ...

Better than sex in a submarine!

A little something special, which will disappear in a puff of electrons tomorrow… We will not drink to blindness, dear We will drink to open eyes That’s my...

Just a quick note to wish all of you HAPPY HOLIDAYS! If you're not quite in the mood yet, here's a little something that might help... http://www.youtube....

The 2009 Black List is complete. Download it here http://blcklst.com/tbl/list/2009_black_list.pdf

You just can't get a job done unless you have the right tools. This is true in life as well as in the movie screenwriting business. When you lack the prope...

Jeannette Wolfe (ProSeries 20) had her Sci Fi screenplay “Quantum Shift” optioned by Producer Corey Lomax with Psych Ward Productions. They are currently ...

As screenwriters, we're constantly told to "think in film" — to imagine each scene unfolding in our mind as if it's being played out on the big screen. To ...

Here are some more tips to make your dialogue to sound as real as possible.

My friend John DiDonna teaches a playwriting class back in Orlando and he asked me to elaborate on one of my recent Facebook/Twitter updates about getting ...

Hey guys, I’m back for one last post – links to 101 of my best articles! Who needs film school? -MM ----------------------------------------------- ...

I have watched this trailer a dozen times since its release. The first few times gave me genuine goosebumps. It’s one of the best trailers I’ve ever seen...

My wife, Julieanne, and I, moving back to Lexington in December of 2005, immediately became immersed (one might say, “enmeshed”) with Actors Guild of Lexin...

If I updated my sidebar links at all (been years, I'd guess) I would definitely be included this new one in my "Research Tools" category (and/or in "Stir t...

Story Maps #2: The First Trial/ First Casualty! www.actfourscreenplays.com Ever notice how there's always a dramatic setback 40 minutes into your favorit...

I’m enjoying “Flash Forward” so far. Of course, I wonder how long they can sustain the premise, especially since I understand they’re planning to reach th...

My short story, "Unconditional," is now up on Derek Haas' very cool short story website, www.popcornfiction.com. Previous contributors include Brian Helgel...

From the LDI Casting eMail: MISTAKEN IDENTITY Starring: Seth MacFarland, Nora Dunn, Joel David Moore OPEN CASTING CALL! LDI Casting is seeking actors for ...

*SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2009...IT'S THE GRAND UNVEILING OF THE NEW BLOG! * ** *This is all still a bit of a work-in-progress, so please let me know if you fi...

If the idea for a screenplay has been eating away at you for a while, but you lack the money to buy an expensive software program for your computer -- do n...

For anyone feeling rejected, Nikki Finke posts this terrific essay (originally published in the Village Voice) from screenwriter Josh Olson (”A History Of ...

The August Spec Market Roundup is done and will be published in the BOSI newsletter on Friday.  In the meantime, here are the usual teaser stats:8 specs...

Good morning, Wavers! Well, it's the dawn of a new day, and the Rouge Wave is moving to a new URL as of today at 2pm. Any Wavers who have RSS feeds on TRW ...

Dammit. Leave my fucking childhood alone, Hollywood. I loved this film in my 12th year of life and felt supercool because none of my friends really knew i...

ScriptGirl Report 08.15.09 New ScriptGirl Swag! www.cafepress.com/scriptgirl Follow me on twitter! http://twitter.com/scriptgirl From: scriptgirl411 View...

ScriptGirl Report 08.15.09 New scriptgirl Swag! www.cafepress.com/scriptgirl Follow me on twitter! twitter.com From: scriptgirl411 Views: 18074 235 ra...

I watched Smart People a while back. Thought it was sometimes charming and sometimes impenetrable. Mainly because it was so hard to get what Sarah Jessica Pa...

Summing up a ninety-minute story line in one sentence is a challenging task. Where does the screenwriter begin?

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION FRIEDMAN-CON TO FINALLY SPLIT WITH COMIC-CON, COMPETE FOR SCI-FI FANS' HEARTS AND MINDS AND MONEY After years of s...

I just received the following email:Hi David,My name is Warren and I run a screenwriting website called screenwriting-for-hollywood.com.I came across your si...

*Before I start, this post - and every post on here, and anything I say on Twitter, or anywhere else - is entirely MY opinion. Nothing to do with the peopl...

THE man who wrote the script for Martin Scorsese’s classic films Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, will be the star guest at a brand new annual festival in Nott...

If it's summer, it must be time for another home run from the folks at Pixar. And this year is no exception, with the release of "Up." Initially, I was ske...

I am aware that it’s been a while between blogs here. Just wanted to say that it’s going to be a little longer. I’m too busy with more pressing stuff. H...

By Raisy Roo I’m a firm believer that if you have a great story that’s professionally written, it will be discovered, one way or another - but it doesn’t h...

In episode 5 I look at the upcoming summer blockbuster G.I. Joe. Will it live up to the memories I had growing up?

Blogging? What's that? All my thoughts are formed in 140 characters or less these days. Yes, you can now follow me on Twitter @awrymag. Aren't you just the...

(1) With a parrot perched on your shoulder (2) Sprawled debonairly on the 'casting couch' * images courtesy of Google LIFE

A few people have asked me if I am going to the You-Know-Whats. (N00bs: that's how we refer to a certain awards show around here. Otherwise I get a tic. Th...

Once again, the name of my two day master class in screenwriting comes from a famous quote. Jack Warner, studio chief of Warner Brothers, said in the 1940'...

[image: kryptonite.jpg] First of all, let's settle down. There is no concrete news here, except that the director of *The Matrix* and *Speed Racer* have bee...

---------- Forwarded message ---------- Glenn M. Benest sent a message to the members of Secrets of Screenwriting Group. -------------------- Subject: CO...

This one is from fellow screenwriting instructor Michael Barlow: The best notes are the ones that make you feel stupid for not having thought of them first.

I keep coming back to this but I really have to bid the blog goodbye. It's been a great ride and I want to thank all the regulars who have been so stalw...

Dear Gentle Readers, As you have probably noticed, the frequency of these posts has declined in the recent months. I have been telling myself that I wil...

I haven’t posted anything in a while so I thought I’d offer a couple of (three) scene comp entries for you to have a look at. I find scene challenges a lot...

So happy to hear that the map exercise was helpful to some. Here’s another sparky spark - get things going - or breathe new life trick. Pick up someth...

New Script Girl Report. She starts off with a time travel script. I love time travel scripts.

My first white paper was also called ‘Fish Where The Fish Are’. That was back in 2006. This one by Chris Brogan is as well. And it’s awesome. I’m tagging i...

A common complaint of many films is that while they are stunning visually, they somehow lack heart. Often it is hard to describe exactly what is missing, l...

I thought I should put a quick post up here. I’m going to be taking a break from posting for a little while. However, I will continue to answer any quest...

Stumble It! Good article by TERRENCE RAFFERTY from the always excellent, NY Times. Enjoy! ThatActionGuy.com *** When the strange, arresting, thoroughly fri...

Where the #@$% have we been?! ...Scouting out the new landscapes of business in Hollywood, among other things.

“I am afraid my idea will get stolen if I pitch it to a producer/agent - should I be worried?” No. When I first moved to LA in the early 90’s I was also un...

Coverage can be valuable to a writer if you can keep it in perspective. The reality is, every script in history has had at least one detractor. It’s simply...

it's a thrill being back on the lido. it is a beautiful festival. perfectly run. always putting the films first. the audiences are generous and true ci...

"The 39 Clues","1000 Steps To World Domination", "Alabama Moon", "All Creatures Great And Small", "All Saints Day" (aka "Boondock Saints 2"), "The Amazing ...

Whatever you guys crossed, it worked. Life is pretty awesome right now.

Screenwriter JOSE RIVERA: Tricks of the Trade Jose Rivera's pivotal screenplay for "The Motorcycle Diaries" was one of the most celebrated work...

This is a test post from [image: flickr], a fancy photo sharing thing.

Several days ago, instead of the usual update on the nuts-and-bolts contract negotiations, Writers Guild members received a fascinating bulletin from fine...

LENS MAGICBy Terry RossioThis really happened.In 1993, my best friend from high school, Scott Brown, planned a Caribbean summer sailing trip for his family...

A Hero is often considered to be someone who was born with extraordinary talents and abilities. But are heroes really superior beings? I think not. In my o...