Genre: Comedy Premise: A family of private investigators investigate each other just as much as they investigate their cases. About: This is a low-level 2008 Black List script based on the novel of the same name, written by Lisa Lutz. Lutz started out as a screenwriter, writing a screenplay titled “Plan B,” which by all […]

Genre: ThrillerPremise: While investigating a recent murder spree, a cop gets lured into the unique lifestyle of his main suspect, an ex-rocker turned club owner. About: This script sold back in 1994 to Savoy Pictures. At the time, it was the richest deal for a screenwriter ever made. Joe got $1 million up front with […]

Genre: ThrillerPremise: An ex-military man is brought in to help figure out the mystery behind a mass sniper shooting.About: This is going to be Tom Cruise’s next, after that strange musical he’s making. It’s based on the book of the same title written by Lee Child. Cruise brought in his Valkyrie writer, Oscar winner Christopher […]

Genre: Romantic ComedyPremise: (from writer) A marine biologist, up to her ankles in oysters, flounders on Capitol Hill trying to save the Chesapeake Bay from a silk suited, Republican lobbyist.About: Every Friday, I review a script from the readers of the site. If you’re interested in submitting your script for an Amateur Review, send it […]

I was originally going to post something else today but had to scrap it at the last second. So I decided to post my character checklist document instead. This is something I’ll occasionally send off to people I give notes to who are having trouble creating interesting characters. The problem with most screenplays isn’t that […]