Continuing my countdown, here are the top five movies that I’ve seen so far this year. This is by no means a comprehensive survey. It’s merely a distillation of the movies I that I enjoyed the most. Maybe you have or will enjoy some of them as well. 5. Girls Trip This movie is a … More The Second Half of My Top Ten Movies for 2017 (So Far)
Fall is upon us. As the leaves change and the days get shorter, before the holiday struggle for cinematic accolades begins, let’s take a moment to reflect on a totally subjective, anecdotal look at the movies that have merited discussion so far this year. Seen in multiplexes and art houses, on date nights and alone … More The First Half of My Top Ten Movies for 2017 (So Far)
Once you’ve defined your premise and created 3-dimensional characters with a “Unity of Opposites,” how to realize your plot on the page…? Point of Attack At what point do you attack a story? People always say “start late, end early.” What does that really mean? What sets a story in motion? What makes a character … More Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 4: Crisis, Climax and Resolution
Now that we’ve discussed Egri’s take on the pivotal characters in a script, let’s look at how the protagonist and antagonist work in concert to create the dramatic structure that is your script. Orchestration There is a saying, “There is no action unless there is a need; and there is no need until there is … More Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 3: Conflict and Unity
People ask me how I developed my ideas and theories about writing for theater and the screen. They often ask where they can go to get more information and develop their own deeper understanding of the craft of screenwriting. Three Basic Rules I start by telling them my three essential rules: Put your butt in … More Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 1
Hey everyone, Happy Cinco de Mayo! Sorry for being away the month of April, but sometimes life happens. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about movies, dissecting movies and analyzing film structure to understand what makes a story work so that we can apply that to our own writing. After a month away, I … More Let’s Break Down Some Recent Films
So, we’ve done a lot of talking about characters, who they are, how they function and what they add to your story. But how do you know you’re on the right track? Here’s a list of questions about your characters. If you can answer all these questions with clear, simple and specific examples, you’re on your … More A Character Checklist
A character lives in the current moment of a story. How they arrived at the point is dictated by their backstory. The events, decisions and choices of their past are what has led them to this moment. The choices that character makes in a story are based on those prior moments plus the ones experienced … More More Character Thoughts: Backstory, Present and Forward
True change only happens when there is a need; and a need is only perceived when there is a crisis. Another way to put it is that change only happens through conflict. Is it through challenges, stresses, trials, errors and setbacks that a character evolves into the person that he or she needs to … More More on Creating Characters: Start at the End
There are many different types of characters in a story. What these characters do and what they represent are the tools the writer uses to argue for your theme and to make your story compelling. To do so, you need to know who they, what drives them, what they want. You must also evaluate them … More More on Creating Characters
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