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Understanding Screenwriting by Tom Stempel

Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan in the film SEE HOW THEY RUN. Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.
Understanding Screenwriting by Tom Stempel

Some Mildly Interesting Movies, a Good New Television Series, and if You Eat All of Your Veggies, You Will Get Two More Great Reads About Screenwriting For Dessert

By Tom Stempel
Three Thousand Years of Longing - ourtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Inc.
Understanding Screenwriting by Tom Stempel

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: A Great Read, and Some Sundries.

By Tom Stempel
Brad Pitt in Bullet Train. Sony Pictures
Understanding Screenwriting by Tom Stempel

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: A Great One, and Some Others.

By Tom Stempel
OFFICIAL COMPETITION Still 4-Courtesy of AccuSoft Inc. An IFC Films release.
Understanding Screenwriting by Tom Stempel

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Women From Across the Pond, Clothed and Unclothed

By Tom Stempel
02337-DOWNTON ABBEY A New Era, a Focus Features release. Credit Ben Blackall © 2022 Focus Features LLC
Understanding Screenwriting by Tom Stempel

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: The Return of People, Jets, and Dinos We Loved. Sort of.

By Tom Stempel
EEEAAO-CourtesyA24
Film Reviews

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Stars and Actors

By Tom Stempel
On the Rocks-A24
Understanding Screenwriting by Tom Stempel

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Variety is the Spice of Life

By Tom Stempel
LICORICE PIZZA - Courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Inc.
Film Reviews

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Connections

By Tom Stempel
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Understanding Screenwriting by Tom Stempel

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Autumn Snows

By Tom Stempel
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Screenwriting How-To Articles

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING:  Where Were You in ’69?

By Tom Stempel
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Screenwriting How-To Articles

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Can’t We Get a Smile Here?

By Tom Stempel
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Screenwriting How-To Articles

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Smart People, Smart Movies

By Tom Stempel
Tom Stempel reviews Captain Marvel, Shazam!, and Us. Explore the screenwriting hits, misses, and opportunities for storytelling that got lost.
Screenwriting How-To Articles

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Leotards and Jumpsuits

By Tom Stempel
In Tom Stempel's monthly column on Understanding Screenwriting, he analyzes On the Basis of Sex, Cold War, Madam Secretary, and If Beale Street Could Talk.
Screenwriting How-To Articles

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Time Passes, Things Change

By Tom Stempel
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Screenwriting How-To Articles

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Now These Are, Mostly, More Like It

By Tom Stempel
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Screenwriting How-To Articles

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Two Notes, Three Disappointments, and Two Appreciations

By Tom Stempel
Tom Stempel analyzes A Simple Favor; The Old Man and the Gun; Juliet, Naked; The Book Shop; Operation Finale; Colette; All About Nina; The Sisters Brothers; and the book, When Women Wrote Hollywood.
Screenwriting How-To Articles

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Lots of Women and a Few Guys

By Tom Stempel
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Screenwriting How-To Articles

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: People of Many Colors

By Tom Stempel
Tom Stempel examines the films Tully, Disobedience, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Ocean’s 8 to showcase the effective (or not effective) use of plot twists.
Screenwriting How-To Articles

UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Sometimes the Plot Twists Work, Sometimes They Don't

By Tom Stempel
Film historian and author Tom Stempel continues his long-standing "Understanding Screenwriting" column on Script's site, exploring current and past films from the perspective of the screenplay itself.
Screenwriting How-To Articles

Understanding Screenwriting from the Script Up

By Tom Stempel