The Screenplay Lab

This week, we're diving deep into A Complete Unknown, the stunning biopic about Bob Dylan, penned by the legendary James Mangold and Jay Cocks. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards (Best Adapted Screenplay), this script chronicles Dylan’s journey from an unknown 19-year-old in New York to his groundbreaking electric performance at the Newport Folk Festival.  What to Expect in This Episode: Analyzing the screenplay’s unique structure, sparse yet brilliant action lines, and bold use of formatting. Exploring

This Week on The Screenplay Lab: We're diving deep into Robert Eggers' Nosferatu screenplay, a masterful reimagining of the gothic classic. Fresh off the presses, this screenplay showcases Eggers’ unique style—oscillating between lush, sprawling sentences and punchy bursts of intensity. What We’ll Cover: Robert Eggers: A modern trailblazer of psychological horror (The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman). The Story: A haunting tale rooted in 1830s Baltic German, dripping with eerie atmosphere,

A deep dive into the screenplay: Heretic by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed, becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. Heretic - screenplay  Watch the video of this podcast episode on YouTube. Jeff Barker - website Please subscribe, comment, and share with your screenwriting friends. Other ways to connect with Jeff Barker.

This is… THE SCREENPLAY LAB. My name’s Jeff Barker, and I’m a screenwriter. Join me as we analyze one screenplay at a time. I’m not talking about the film… I’m talking about the screenplay. This unique literary device creates a sensory explosion, causing the reader to make a movie in our own minds. We’re going to search for what brings the heat… Scarcity of words. Authentic dialogue. Unique narrative devices. Connecting tone to the theme. A story that doesn’t insult the reader’s intelligence but