"The desire to be free as an artist is one of the most suicidal notions you can have." - Robert McKee But free from what exactly? Answer: Your audience. Audience is everything, and if you're completely "free", you most likely are not making decisions with the audience in mind. The triangle (writer, subject, audience) is key in all writing because all three parts are intimately connected. I am constantly amazed how often screenwriters fail to recognize that the primary goal of movie making is to entertain an audience. Sure, we have all kinds of film awards. But most…

Screenplay Genre: Comedy Movie Time: 100 Minutes 1. INCITING INCIDENT While on a flight, Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) gets into an argument with Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis). Ethan keeps repeating the words "terrorist" and "bomb". An uproar occurs, and Peter is taken down by an Air Marshal. Peter is cleared from any wrongdoing, but is still put on the "No-Fly List". (00:08:22) 2. LOCK IN (End of Act One) Peter realizes that his wallet must be on the plane, which is now somewhere over Oklahoma. He runs into Ethan who invites him to drive to Los Angeles with…