Script Perfection · 4 min

The Perfect One

The significance of a screenplay’s first page is vital. It sets up the main story whilst establishing character, the genre and tone of the film. In a…

Book Reviews · 5 min

Writing Drama (15)

Yves Lavandier's book Writing Drama currently rates as the absolute favorite of our book reviewer Jack Brislee. To give you the opportunity to delve into Lavandier's…

Story & Structure · 1 min

Video: Stories In The Street

Marilyn Horowitz takes us out into the street on a mission to find stories and characters. Perhaps not a surefire way to find high concepts easily…

MM on Monday · 5 min

The Constructive Script Review

As the great Mickey Lee Bukowski once told me, "Sometimes you just gotta lay the smackdown." However - ONLY the most thoughtless, banal, idiotic, indecipherable, hideously…

Best of the Web · 1 min

Best o/t Web 5 Sep

:: Carson Reeves is impressed with Drive :: Original Synopsis for Close Encounters for download :: The Ultimate Guide to 20 Classic SF Shows :: Scripts…

Pitching & Selling · 4 min

It’s Okay To Say No

I found myself in an interesting situation last month when independent producer, let's call him “Michael,” reached out to me. He was ready to pounce on…

Book Reviews · 5 min

Screenwriting: Writing Drama (14)

Yves Lavandier's book Writing Drama currently rates as the absolute favorite of our book reviewer Jack Brislee. To give you the opportunity to delve into Lavandier's…

Video · 1 min

Video: Animal Kingdom

One of the most highly acclaimed Australian films of recent years and definitely the only one I have been looking forward to see after continuing disappointments.…

Story & Structure · 2 min

Learn From My Mistakes

Recently a thought occurred to me. Two of the short films I produced each have the exact same story problem. I will explain it to you,…

MM on Monday · 5 min

The Serial Killer Hero

How should a writer handle a story in which the protagonist is a serial killer? It's an interesting dilemma, isn't it? Because every book tells you…

Best of the Web · 1 min

Best o/t Web 29 Aug

:: Character flaws: mistakes must be earned! :: Polishing your treatment, some advice. :: The real story on rewriting: get the big picture. :: James Cameron…

Uncategorized · 5 min

You Can’t Write This

You're a writer, right? At least you're in some way intrigued by the movie industry or else you wouldn't be here. So, you've got imagination. Now,…

Book Reviews · 2 min

Screenwriting: Writing Drama (13)

Yves Lavandier's book Writing Drama currently rates as the absolute favorite of our book reviewer Jack Brislee. To give you the opportunity to delve into Lavandier's…

Story & Structure · 1 min

Video: Joss Whedon

This weekend Joss Whedon talks at the Sydney Opera House and I thought it would be a good reason to show a short clip giving us…

Structure Analysis · 12 min

Structure: Inception

It's by far the most talked-about movie of the year, because of its high concept and intelligent execution. The movie has an aura of complexity but…