Voice – A Writer’s Journey
Our gratitude to Master Cat! Anne Lower, who has outdone herself (a difficult feat) with this brilliant, writerly, and soulful advice: A couple of weeks ago, I was meeting with an executive to discuss my scripts. He ordered up one in particular, not because he was interested...
Caddyshack Beat Sheet
Thanks to Michael Kurinsky for this breakdown. After many years at Walt Disney Feature Animation, Michael joined Sony Pictures Animation in 2004 and served as a Visual Development Artist on the 2006 release, Open Season. Michael art directed Sony’s 2009 release, Cloudy with a Chance...
From the Best of Blake’s Blogs: “Closer”
Every once in a while, we’ll re-post one of Blake’s inspirational blogs. This was first published on June 19, 2008. Its message this June — in fact, every June — still resonates. Every “no” is one step closer to a “yes.” That’s a little motto...
Kung Fu Panda Beat Sheet
With the sequel to DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda opening this weekend, what better time to post our beautiful illustrated beat sheet for the original? We’re showing the first two beats below, followed by a link to download the entire 10-page breakdown, which was written...
How Blake Made Me a Believer
Jenny Gardiner is the author of the award-winning novel Sleeping with Ward Cleaver; the memoir Winging It: A Memoir of Caring for a Vengeful Parrot Who’s Determined to Kill Me; the novels Slim to None and Over the Falls; and a contributor to the upcoming...
William Neal Harrison on “Dialogue and Movie Narrative”
William Neal Harrison is co-founder of the program in creative writing at the University of Arkansas. He wrote the original Rollerball, as well as Mountains of the Moon and A Shining Season for television. It is an honor to have this original piece from him....
Erik Bork on ‘The Importance of Point of View’
Our guest blogger, Erik Bork, is best known for his work as a writer-producer on the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers and From the Earth to the Moon, for which he won two Emmy and two Golden Globe Awards. He has also written original pilots...
Inception Beat Sheet
Thanks to Master Cat Anne Lower for this masterful breakdown: Year of Release: 2010 Written and Directed by Christopher Nolan Genre: Golden Fleece Subgenres: Institutionalized, Rite of Passage. Nominated for over 15 awards for best original screenplay, and soaring away with the coveted WGA award...
From the Best of Blake’s Blogs: Be Bold
Every once in a while, we’ll re-post one of Blake’s inspirational blogs. This was first published on May 15, 2008. Needless to say, it still resonates. What are you afraid of? I ask because I’m in the middle of writing Save the Cat! Strikes Back...
The Fighter Beat Sheet
Today’s guest blogger, Anne Lower, is a true friend of STC! Anne was mentored by Blake, worked with us for a wonderfully collaborative period, and is a brilliant and articulate member of the writing community. Check out Anne’s blog, Princess Scribe. And a basketful of...
