Logline It! · 5 min
Logline it! – Black List 2012 – Week 27
Writing loglines is an essential skill for screenwriters, from early development through to the pitch. In this section, we review the loglines and short synopses of…
The Journal
Vol. 17 · 1,240 entries
26 August 2026
Quote of the day
Take what’s useful, argue with the rest.
Vol. 17
Story & Structure · 4 min
Whatever You Do, Be Consistent
World building can be a difficult challenge for any writer. Whether you’re writing a gritty 1920s drama, a multi-million dollar science fiction feature, or a quaint…
Best of the Web · 1 min
Best of the Web 4 Aug
Story & Structure :: 'Back to the Future' Screenplay Analysis and Podcast Now Available :: The Five Factors of Filmic Subjectivity :: Great Scene: “Manhunter” ::…
The Screenwriter's Life · 7 min
Ozzywood To Hollywood – Part 4
I survived a year. Can you believe it? I had enough money to last me six months but I managed to last one whole year. 365…
Movie Reviews · 1 min
Mini Review – The Conjuring
The Conjuring Mercifully Short Review by Jonathan Empson The Perron family move into a large and run-down house – a deceased estate – in 1971 and…
Logline It! · 4 min
Logline it! – Black List 2012 – Week 26
Writing loglines is an essential skill for screenwriters, from early development through to the pitch. In this section, we review the loglines and short synopses of…
Video · 1 min
[Video]: Perspective and Ambiguity
In anticipation of the indie coming-of-age flick The Spectacular Now, we revisit an interview with celebrated writing team Scott Neustadter and Michael H Weber as they…
Story & Structure · 4 min
Writing the High ROI Screenplay (Part 7)
This week we continue with part seven in a twelve part series of JT Velikovsky's doctoral thesis: “Understanding And Exploring The Relationship Between: Creativity; Theories Of…
Best of the Web · 1 min
Best of the Web 28 Jul
Story & Structure :: The Four Best Ways To Add Character Depth :: Screenplay Review - Labor Day :: Creating Suspense & Dread :: Amateur Friday…
Logline It! · 5 min
Logline it! – Black List 2012 – Week 25
Writing loglines is an essential skill for screenwriters, from early development through to the pitch. In this section, we review the loglines and short synopses of…
Video · 1 min
[Video]: James Cameron About His Love For The Deep
Where does the most successful filmmaker of our generation get his inspiration from? James Cameron spoke at TED and explained how his childhood interest in the…
Best of the Web · 1 min
Best of the Web 21 Jul
Story & Structure :: Arming Your Characters with a Strong Point of View :: Fridays With Hitchcock :: TV Pilot - Dakota :: Great Character -…
Movie Reviews · 2 min
Mini Review – Only God Forgives
Only God Forgives Mercifully Short Review by Jonathan Empson Julian’s boxing club in Bangkok is a front for his drug business. He runs both using as…
Movie Reviews · 1 min
Mini Review – This Is the End
This Is the End Mercifully Short Review by Jonathan Empson Hollywood’s A-list stoner set (Seth Rogen et al), playing caricatures of themselves, gather at James Franco’s…
Logline It! · 4 min
Logline it! – Blacklist 2012 – Week 24
Writing loglines is an essential skill for screenwriters, from early development through to the pitch. In this section, we review the loglines and short synopses of…