Published inMoving PicturesCan You Really Teach Screenwriting?Nature versus nurtureDec 24, 20241Dec 24, 20241
Published inMoving PicturesHawaiian Punch LineAmong the many perks enjoyed over several decades as a UCLA screenwriting professor, few compete with the visits I made throughout the ’90s…Dec 18, 2024Dec 18, 2024
Published inMoving PicturesThe Biggest Mistake a Writer Can Make is to Pay Attention to Hollywood TrendsA recipe for frustration and failure in the movie businessDec 4, 2024Dec 4, 2024
Published inMoving PicturesStumbling and Bumbling Your Way to SuccessNeil Simon guest-lectured in my UCLA screenwriting class. One of the students asked him, “Do you laugh at your own jokes?”Nov 27, 20241Nov 27, 20241
Published inMoving PicturesWhat’s More Important: Character or Story?Maybe it’s a false dichotomy or a trick questionNov 22, 20242Nov 22, 20242
Published inMoving PicturesWant to Be a Better Screenwriter? Play God.The view is greatOct 26, 2024Oct 26, 2024
Published inMoving PicturesEssential Scenes in Essential MoviesHow to woo the movie-going worldOct 10, 2024Oct 10, 2024
Published inMoving PicturesWhy a Movie’s Setting Doesn’t MatterTrust the legal expertsSep 20, 2024Sep 20, 2024