Screenwriting From Iowa

Writing action in a screenplay is not to be confused with car chases (though it could be a car chase). The action, or as it is also called the narrative, is simply what’s supposed to be happening on screen. More often than not it is a few blurbs rather than thick paragraphs. If there is [...]

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When you break down the core aspects of a screenplay you have scene headings (INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY), dialogue (”I’m walking here!”) and what is called scene description, action or narrative. It’s the little blurb that sets up the scene and explains what’s going on in between the the dialogue.  Today we’ll look at [...]

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There are been over 100 movies and TV programs based on the novels and short stories of Stephen King so it’s safe to say that his writing strikes a cord with viewers as well as readers of his books. Here are some excerpts of what what King as to say about descriptive writing:
“Description is what [...]

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This week we’ll look at examples of descriptive writing and Joan Didion is a fitting place to start. While Didion did co-write the screenplays A Star is Born and Up Close and Personal she is best known for her essays and novels. John Leonard of  The New York Times wrote,“There hasn’t been another American writer [...]

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Captain Kirk isn’t the only Star Trek person with an Iowa connection. Nicholas Meyer who directed Star trek II; The Wrath of Khan (1982) and co-wrote the screenplays for Star Trek IV; The Voyage Home (1986) and Star Trek; The Undiscovered Country (1991) graduated from the University of Iowa in 1964. 
He worked as a Unit Publicist [...]

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Finding time to write is one of the biggest struggles for that writers with jobs and a family. But there are many stories of writers like John Grisham (The Firm) and Ron Bass (Rain Man) waking up at 5 A.M. to write before their day jobs. Now I’ve discovered another that is in that club:
“I [...]

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There will be funeral service today in Hawaii for screenwriter & novelist Jack Lewis who died on May 24, 2009.  In one of those odd coincidences that sometimes happens, May 24 happens to be when I began writing the post called Screenwriting Quote of the Day# 84 (Lt. Colonel Jack Lewis) that posted on May 25 [...]

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When the Orlando Magic beat the Los Angeles Lakers last night it was a huge win for the franchise. It was their first NBA Championship win in their 20 year history.
It takes a little time sometimes? No, it usually takes a lot of time to accomplish the big things we want to do in life.
Take writer [...]

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“The filmed drama (as any drama) is a succession of scenes. Each scene must end so that the hero is thwarted in pursuit of his goal—so that he, as discussed elsewhere, is focused to go on to the next scene to get what he wants.
If he is forced, the audience, watching his progress, wonders with [...]

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“You can’t handle the truth!”
                       Jack Nicholson’s character in A Few Good Men 
                       Voted as #29 in AFI’s 100 Movie Quotes in 100 Years. 
 
The truth is at this place in time the Los Angels Lakers [...]

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