Book Reviews · 9 min
Writing the Action-Adventure Film
Jack Brislee reviews “Writing the Action-Adventure Film: The Moment of Truth” by Neill D. Hicks Michael Wiese Productions. Studio City, California. 2002. 181 pages. ISBN 0-941188-39-6,…
The Journal
Vol. 17 · 1,240 entries
26 August 2026
Quote of the day
Take what’s useful, argue with the rest.
Vol. 17
Stuff · 1 min
Who Will Win?
With four leading best picture contenders ineligible for the WGA award, some say the award has taken a serious knock in predicting the outcome of the…
Story & Structure · 3 min
Dances with Smurfs
Even before AVATAR's release, parallels with other films emerged. Cameron has admitted a similarity with DANCES WITH WOLVES and a certain Matt Bateman ticked the boxes…
Best of the Web · 1 min
Best o/t Web 10 Jan 10
:: Idea to script. Five simple rules... Really? :: "Ass in chair." "Have no fear." Myers' mantras. :: Emily Blake and a conversation about story. ::…
Story & Structure · 4 min
The Deadline Approach
Almost all writers are familiar with the use of dramatic tension. A character wants something and is having trouble getting it. This is the primary means of…
Book Reviews · 8 min
The Screenwriting Formula
Jack Brislee reviews “The Screenwriting Formula. Why it Works and How to Use It” by Rob Tobin. Writers Digest Books. Cincinnati, Ohio. 2007. 202 pages. ISBN 978-1-58297-462-0…
Story & Structure · 13 min
Story Structure: Avatar
It took AVATAR 17 days to break through the $1bn worldwide and to this day, it is the highest grossing film in the history of cinema.…
Best of the Web · 1 min
Best o/t Web 03 Jan 10
:: When all else fails, trust the process :: National Film Registry: What's making the cut :: Using sports logos: How to get around the trademark :: In…
News · 1 min
The Mobile Dept.
No matter how much I love the new cool look of The Story Department, on my phone it kinda looks pathetic. For the alarmingly increasing amount…
News · 1 min
Wonderful 2010!
Wow. There's been some work behind the scenes. A few days ago it looked like the new style was going to be very different. But there…
Uncategorized · 5 min
The Other Story Dept.
Hollywood: ultimate destination for your script. But what happens once it's there? Whose hands does it pass through? Hollywood insiders Rona Edwards and Monika Skerbelis know...…
Best of the Web · 1 min
Best o/t Web 27 Dec 09
Here's Sol's weekly selection from the blogosphere. Feel free to recommend anything or give your feedback in the Questions and Comments below. And don't forget you…
News · 1 min
Snapshot (that’ll never be)
While you're all happily holidaying, we have some intense labouring behind the scenes in order to bring you the new 2010 version of The Story Dept.,…
Uncategorized · 3 min
If you can dream it …
For many of the planet’s children the impossible unfolded on Christmas Eve… A benevolent, unshaven fat guy in a red suit will be hauled around the…
Stuff · 1 min
Screenwriting Best of the Web 20/12/09
Here's our weekly selection from the blogosphere. Feel free to recommend anything or give your feedback in the Questions and Comments below. And don't forget you…