This subject reminds me of 1979, my first year studying in London. I was rooming with a guy from Liverpool, an actor, going to school at the Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art. I went to see one of his shows. Ridiculously good. I went backstage. “What’d ya think?” he asked. “Amazing! I really have no […]
Ah, development hell. That magical purgatory where screenplays linger for years, collecting dust, rejection notes, and the tears of screenwriters. It’s the Bermuda Triangle of Hollywood—ideas go in, chaos ensues, and sometimes, sometimes, something escapes. Here are seven legendary tales of scripts that clawed their way out of hell, battle-scarred but victorious. Dallas Buyers Club: […]
So…THE WIZARD OF OZ , final chase. Dorothy and crew are utterly surrounded, doomed as the Wicked Witch of the West bears down upon them. Dorothy, out of instinct, reaches for a bucket of water and drenches the witch. She melts! They’re SAVED! Am I the only one asking… soooooooo… the chase just so […]
TO OUTLINE, OR NOT TO OUTLINE Good Reader, beware the snake-oil peddling gurus! You know the ones. Those who tell you the script must be created a certain way, structured in this or that box. I’m here to tell you there are no screenwriting absolutes and when you hear some dude with zero IMDB credits […]
Seven Iconic Characters Who Don’t Learn a Damn Thing In screenwriting circles, we’re bombarded with the gospel of character arcs. A to Z growth. Transformation. The Hero’s Journey. Where’s the change? But let’s face it: sometimes, a character’s resistance to change is what makes them unforgettable. Not every iconic character learns a lesson, undergoes profound […]
