All posts by James Napoli
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First Draft: Sure, Story Structure Guides Are Useful. But When Should We Be Using Them, and How?
In partnership with Creative Screenwriting and ScreenCraft, “First Draft” is a series on everything to do with screenwriting. “It’s not where you take things from—it’s... -
First Draft: Understanding the Promise of the Premise Through Nocturnal Animals, Groundhog Day and Black Mirror
In partnership with Creative Screenwriting and ScreenCraft, “First Draft” is a series on everything to do with screenwriting. Save the Cat practitioners will be familiar... -
First Draft: Living In the Past With Flashbacks and Monologues
In partnership with Creative Screenwriting and ScreenCraft, “First Draft” is a series on everything to do with screenwriting. Flashbacks Nothing provokes a more knee-jerk “don’t... -
First Draft: Knowing the Difference Between Fact and Truth When Adapting a True Story
In partnership with Creative Screenwriting and ScreenCraft, “First Draft” is a series on everything to do with screenwriting. Taking the 1994 film Quiz Show as a... -
First Draft: Know Your Place, Write Better Single Locations
In partnership with Creative Screenwriting and ScreenCraft, “First Draft” is a series on everything to do with screenwriting. Every screenplay should be set somewhere. Forget... -
First Draft: Hone Your Skills in Storytelling Efficiency With Groundhog Day
In partnership with Creative Screenwriting and ScreenCraft, “First Draft” is a series on everything to do with screenwriting. There are many screenplays available online, but... -
First Draft: When Is It OK For Your Script to Use On-the-Nose Dialogue?
In partnership with Creative Screenwriting and ScreenCraft, we’re publishing “First Draft,” a series on everything to do with screenwriting. Near the end of Richard Wenk’s... -
First Draft: Lessons in Screenplay Plants and Payoffs from Chinatown and The Orphanage
In partnership with Creative Screenwriting and ScreenCraft, “First Draft” is a series on everything to do with screenwriting. “Bad for glass,” says private eye Jake Gittes... -
First Draft: Is it Surprise, or is it Suspense?
In partnership with Creative Screenwriting and ScreenCraft, “First Draft” is a series on everything to do with screenwriting. I had an interesting experience while binge-watching...
Winter 2019
Guide 2019
Summer 2018
Spring 2018
25th Anniversary
Year in MovieMaker
Inside the Issue: Acting
Things I’ve Learned as a Moviemaker: Matt Dillon
The longevity of Matt Dillon’s laudable career is a byproduct of his self-reinvention. Oscillating between charismatic leading and comedic supporting roles, the New York-based actor has...Inside the Issue: Directing
MovieMaker Melee: 1985 and Tyrel Writer-Directors Yen Tan and Sebastián Silva Debate Their Processes’ Pros and Cons
To ring in the first installment of our new MovieMaker Melee debate series, we invited two indie moviemakers with films releasing this fall—Tyrel writer-director Sebastián Silva and...Inside the Issue: How To
Inside the Creative Process: Karyn Kusama Walks Through Five Phases of Production, From Screenwriting to Distribution
Guest Moviemaker Karyn Kusama has been through a lot in her career. Kusama broke out in 2000 with her debut feature Girlfight, which earned the Grand...