“The number one metaphor I have in my mind for writing a screenplay is that...you're trying to climb a mountain blindfolded. And the funny thing about that is, you think, 'Okay, that's hard because you're climbing up a rock face, and you don't know where you're going, and you don't know where the top is, you can't see what's below you...' But actually the hardest part about climbing a mountain blindfolded is just finding the mountain.” ThinkingKnowsWritingTryingMindHardFacesNumbersRocksMountainFindingsOkayMetaphorHardestClimbsClimbingFunny ThingsScreenplaysClimbing MountainBlindfoldedClimbing Up Author:Michael Arndt
“I can write two scripts concurrently, but I usually prefer to do one at a time. However, I also usually have 5 or 6 story ideas that are percolating in my head at any one time, so it can get a little crowded in there.” WritingLittlesI CanTwoIdeasStoriesScriptsOne TimeCrowded Author:Michael Arndt
“In terms of writing characters or stories, at least initially, there's no difference between live-action and animation. A good story is a good story, whatever the medium.” WritingCharacterStoriesActionTermDifferencesMediumsAnimationGood Story Author:Michael Arndt
“In live-action, writing, production and editing happen in discrete stages. In animation, they overlap - happening simultaneously. This allows a real dialogue to occur between the writer, the director, the actors and the editor, and it makes the writing process a lot more collaborative and a lot less lonely.” WritingRealHappensActionActorsProcessStageDirectorsHappeningsLonelyProductionsDialogueEditorsEditingWriting ProcessAnimationDiscrete Author:Michael Arndt
“I like to begin every screenplay with a burst of delusional self-confidence. It tends to fade pretty quickly, but for me, at least, there doesn't seem to be any other way to start writing a script.” WayWritingSelfSeemsScriptsSelf ConfidenceFadesScreenplaysDelusional Author:Michael Arndt
“The great thing about the animation process is that is goes from, I write the lines, it goes to the actors, the actors bring a whole world to that, they bring the characters to life, then it goes to the animators, then it goes to the editor who cuts it together, and then you screen it and it goes back through the system again.” WorldWritingWholeCharacterTogetherActorsProcessLinesCuttingScreensWhole WorldGreat ThingsEditorsAnimationAnimator Author:Michael Arndt
“I figured I’d probably write 50 scripts in my life. Out of those 50, I figured maybe five would be produced, and that maybe one or two would be successful. So I always kind of expected I’d write at least one successful film in my life. [...] The way it all came together was kind of like Murphy's law in reverse—I don’t expect that kind of experience again any time soon.” WayWritingKindTwoWould BeTogetherFilmLawSuccessfulFiveScriptsExpectedBeing SuccessfulReverseMurphy Author:Michael Arndt
“Good writing is deceptive in that it hides its own artifice - it makes it seem easy.” WritingSeemsEasyGood WritingDeceptiveArtifice Author:Michael Arndt
“The best writing really does come from the deepest, most private part of you.” WritingDoePrivate Parts Author:Michael Arndt
“Writing a great script - not just a good one, but a great one - is almost an impossible task.” WritingImpossibleTasksScriptsGreat Ones Author:Michael Arndt
“If you write a bunch of different characters with a bunch of different opinions, you end up with these long scenes of everyone standing around talking.” IfsWritingLongDifferentEndsCharacterTalkingOpinionSceneStandingBunchDifferent CharactersDifferent Opinions Author:Michael Arndt
