Post Series · 4 min
Structure: Terminator 2
A structural overview of Terminator 2: Judgment Day (J. Cameron, 1991). Terminator 2 offers amazing entertainment, with groundbreaking visual effects and unexpected character layers. Just like…
The Journal
Vol. 17 · 1,240 entries
25 August 2026
Quote of the day
Take what’s useful, argue with the rest.
Vol. 17
Structure Analysis · 6 min
Structure: Ghost World
A cult comic, two charismatic teen actresses, an inspired director and a sparse score. Six pages of a comic book were turned into one of the coolest…
Post Series · 4 min
Inciting Incident: Planting the Bomb
Keeping the audience interested throughout the 'setup' is a major challenge as professional readers won't last until the Inciting Incident if the first ten or twelve…
Structure Analysis · 4 min
Structure: Michael Clayton
A structural overview of Michael Clayton (Tony Gilroy, 2007) in 8 Sequences. When I watched the film during its theatrical release, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Because…
Uncategorized · 1 min
Question: Abbreviations
Question: Can you abbreviate "Mister" into "Mr." in a film script? Answer: Abbreviations are allowed in character headings (names) and Action, but not in Dialogue. Any…
Uncategorized · 2 min
Inciting Incident in Backstory?
Question: Is it possible for the Inciting Incident to happen in backstory? Answer: Technically, 'backstory' is not in the movie. It is the history of your…
Uncategorized · 2 min
Conscious vs. Unconscious Desire
Question: When McKee talks about the conscious desire being a contradiction of the unconscious desire, would you relate this to the mid act 2 reversal /…
Post Series · 2 min
POV: Ratatouille’s Deleted Scene
RATATOUILLE has 1 (one) deleted scene. It is a long, uninterrupted travel from a wide establishing shot of the Paris skyline down to street level, through…
Post Series · 11 min
Michael Hauge Interview – Part 1
MICHAEL HAUGE is a story consultant, author and lecturer who works with writers and filmmakers. He has coached or consulted on projects for Will Smith, Julia…
Structure Analysis · 4 min
Structure: Assault on Precinct 13
This is the first in a series of structural overviews of popular films. Identifying the main story turns in a film is a great way to…
Stuff · 9 min
Exciting Coincidence?
"A strong inciting incident is an event that happens to the protagonist, never an action by the protagonist", I said. Then I asked you for exceptions,…
News · 6 min
Killing My Darlings
This blog started when a certain analysis of Michael Mann's THE INSIDER sparked my frustration. Discussing BLADE RUNNER in a story workshop recently, I felt I…
Story & Structure · 4 min
Blade Runner: The 8 Mins First Act
If you want to be a professional screenwriter, be open to spoilers. Furthermore, be open to the weaknesses in your favourite films. Most often, it won't…
Script Perfection · 1 min
What You’re Up Against
I thought I should give you a flavour of the competition, for when you're feeling a bit down. Below is the copy of an actual query…
Uncategorized · 11 min
The Story Revolution
Nafa - Choctops Meeting: 18/2/08 (Report by John Haly, Thank you to Tony Chu) Karel -a Belgian producer and script consultant - founded OZZYWOOD Films and…