OSCAR NOMINATED SCRIPT TIPS!
These Script Tips use this year's Oscar Nominees as examples and cover a variety of subjects, from
character creation to story chronology. We began this year with two weeks of new Script Tips, and there are more to come!
SLUMDOG and Visual Goals
THE VISITOR and Character Moments
IRONMAN and Second Chapter First
SLUMDOG and Non-Chron Structures
IN BRUGES and Conflicted Characters
PRINCE CASPIAN and Emotional Openings
* * *
THE WRESTLER and Character Driven Screenplays
FROST/NIXON and MAN ON WIRE and Casting Story In Genre
Click The Monkey For Today's Tip
MY BLOG!
SCRIPT SECRETS STORE - time to monkey around!
Did you think SEVEN POUNDS was the prequel to JERRY MAGUIRE?
Wish you'd just said "no" to YES MAN?
Did the AUSTRALIA! movie make you want to see NEW ZEALAND! and VANCOUVER! and BURBANK! and re-see that Connery movie CUBA?
Be heard:
Movie Discussion!
POST OSCAR SALE! $5 OFF!
CLASSES ON CD! Five Classes are ready to ship on audio CD: GUERRILLA MARKETING YOUR SCRIPT: NO AGENT? NO PROBLEM!, WRITING HORROR, WRITING THRILLERS (2 CD set), WRITING INDIES and IDEAS & CREATIVITY. Classes on CD - Click Here!
WRITING HORROR - The essentials of a horror screenplay - what do ROSEMARY'S BABY, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE EXORCIST, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE OTHERS and OPEN WATER have in common? This class will tell you! All of the critical elements necessary to write a script that scares the pants off the audience. Writing Horror is $10.00 (plus $5 S&H).
IDEAS AND CREATIVITY - 80 minute CD packed with information. Tools to find ideas that are both personal *and* commercial. Hollywood wants scripts with High Concept stories... but not stupid scripts. Developing *intelligent* high concept ideas. How to turn your personal story into a blockbuster - or find your personal story in a high concept idea. Brainstorming and being creative. Ideas and Creativity is $10.00 (plus $5 S&H)
WRITING INDIES - Writing an Indie film? This class covers everything you need to know - from Central Locations to Confined Cameos. Using examples from SWINGERS, THE COOLER, STATION AGENT and others, this 80 minute CD is packed with information. How Indoe films challenge the audience (while mainstream films reassure the audience). Structures, using BOYS DON'T CRY, RUN LOLA RUN, HILARY & JACKIE, and others as example. Writing for a budget, writing for non-actors, getting the most production value out of your budget. Writing Indies is $10.00 (plus $5 S&H)
Click here for more information on CLASS CDs!

This is the program that I use. Very simple - I still haven't read the instruction book. When I first bought the program, I had sold a script and got an assignment - and decided to go from my macro to an actual screenwriting program. I went into The Writer's Store and asked for the easiest to use program they had, and that was MM. I started writing that assignment without ever reading the instruction book! One key stroke does *everything*. Automatically formats your script, putting character names, scene headings, and action in the appropriate places. It also has a character name list, so you only have to hit the first letter of any character's name and it automatically fills it in. The other great thing (at least for me) is that Movie Magic also makes the most used programs for budgeting and scheduling films - and all a producer has to do is import your script to the budgeting program! Makes it easier if your script is actually being produced. If you're looking for a screenwriting program, this is the one I recommend.
Buy It!
The NAKED SCREENWRITING CLASS!
The 2001 London Class on 8 CDs! Recorded *live* the morning after the Raindance Film Festival
wrapped. The two day class on 8 CDs, plus a workbook, plus a bonus CD with over 450 screenplay PDFs - all 3 BOURNE movies, all 3 MATRIX movies, all 4
Indiana Jones movies, plus all kinds of action and thriller and scripts from Hitchcock films. Most of the 2008 Black List scripts.
Yeah, I threw in some Charlie Kauffman and rom-com scripts and some National Lampoon Vacation movie scripts,
too. Plus, an orginal brochure for the class. All for one reasonable price: $99.95.
(If you had taken the class in London it would have cost you $450... plus airfare, plus hotel, plus you'd have to eat "mushy peas" for dinner.)
For more information about
NAKED SCREENWRITING CLASS on CD - 8 CDs + Bonus CD with over 450 scripts on PDF + Bonus DVD!