Step 1: Have A Big Table.

A Producer I was writing for, showed this to me when it came out 10 years ago. It's a decade later and I still come back to learn the lessons. A total master class in under 7 minutes!

I love that he calls his first draft his "vomit draft." An inspiring look behind the scenes of how one writer creates his screenplays.

when i watched this for the first time I didn't realise how much this truly impacted me as a writer. Now this is my guide for screen writing.

Wow the dedication to his craft is so amazing. No wonder he won an Oscar.

"A film is not what happened, a film is an impression of what happened."

This is my favorite tutorial ever on screenwriting. I come back to it again and again when I start getting lost in my scripts. His organization is such an inspiration and wonderful example. Thank you for this video!

He is such a brilliant writer who is also trying to change the world for good causes.

Never heard of this guy until now, but I really like his personality. He doesn't seem egotistical or like his way is the 'right' way. I also 100% agree with him that you can still be original. There are still plenty of weird pieces of art coming out to show that

A big thank you to 'Academy Originals' for this great film about the craft of screenwriting. Dustin Lance Black, you are a true inspiration.

The tears started to well up in my eyes as the video faded to black...

Such an inspirational man. I could listen to him talk all day.

This is so dang interesting. I wish it was longer.

I have so much respect and admiration for this man. Thank you for being so inspirational Dustin Lance Black

He is so on it, it's unreal.

What a beautiful insight into one's creative process. I hope I live long enough to see DLB the person brought to film but I will be just as happy to read a biography about his life, may be lucky enough to get if on audio with his amazing voice. He could read a phone book and I would listen. He is one of the great storytellers of his generation and I can't wait to see what comes next from his mind.

This video is my favourite out of all the videos available on youtube

Great video, and highlights the importance of process, which is so under-represented in the industry. I think every writer should watch this. Thanks for sharing, Mr. Black.

It sounds utterly exhausting. He has the work ethic of an ant. Blimey! He does deserve his Oscar and his beautiful house in Hollywood. Why aren't screenwriters paid more money for what they do?

Reading Mason Currey's _Daily Rituals: How Artists Work_ prompted me to note Black's own ritual which is: Get up at eight a.m. Start writing by eight-thirty or nine a.m. Break for lunch and exercise at gym Get back to writing until one a.m. Repeat six to seven days a week.

he is so inspiring

"OUR PERSONAL STORIES CAN CHANGE THE WORLD" Life sands still for no one, but our Truth, may have meaning for someone who is lost!

He's so incredible!!

This video was shown to me in a screenwriting class. I found it so inspiring. I’ve watched it many times since.

He's 40? What the hell.

I want that three-and-a-half-hour tutorial. Release it, Academy Originals. Now!

What a revelation not only for a screenwriter but also for an author writing a book. It's like first laying out the skeleton and then slowly building the body around the skeleton and finally bringing it to life. It's called creating. God did it. His creation can do it too. That's what an artist is all about. Thank you Lance for the inspiration.

So much respect for him and just screenwriters in general never knew quite how much effort is put into a play/film!🙊

Such an inspiring video!

I love this so so much.... so much. Does anyone know where the longer outtakes are?

Three and a half hours? It's just 6 minutes, where I can get the rest please?

I wonder if people who are fans of Under the Banner of Heaven know about this video. It’s crazy to see how far it has come now.

He’s so sexy. And his passion for what he does adds to that. Such an intelligent, caring and gorgeous man. I hope Tom realises how lucky he is and treats him well. Wasn’t too thrilled about Tom covering his face and making things worse for Lance on that recent CCTV clip with that woman who attacked him. Poor Lance he seems to have gone through so much. I hope he’s leading a good and happy life now.

Thumbs up if you wish you a had a magnificent table like the one that Dustin has in his kitchen! 4:42 :)

I would be interested in seeing a blog post or something from him in which he shares his deleted scenes. Such an interesting writing process.

I love this video so much. I share this video to everyone who asks me about creative processes. I use this process for everything from screenwriting, storyboarding , comic book panels, and even D&D encounters. Hope this video never goes down.

Dustin: “This will be a 3 and a half hour tutorial” Academy: “We’ll give you 6 minutes”

Absolutely fantastic. I love the process he's talking about, I may have to implement it.

When someone says a movie or a script is cliche or the "same ole thing" I always say it's not about the story similarity, it's about how the story is told.

This is a fantastic and very dedicated process. Very commendable. Great video as well, thanks to all those involved!

I hope he doesn't leave the kitchen wind open *gust of wind*

Loved this. Keep them coming.

This brilliant, inspirational man.

This is a wonderful glimpse into the creative process---(of Dustin Lance Black)--it also demonstrates that bringing 'inspiration' to fruition requires a major obsessive-compulsive personality streak and extreme dedication to detail.

Love this so much! Thank you for sharing!

What an inspiring look into the works of Dustin Lance Black.

thanks for sharing...

Thank you for alerting us to this Dustin!

This was actually a beautiful video. Thank you.

He is really an interesting and talented too. Wish I had the dedication he has with all his work.

Wow. My admiration to this guy.

this guy is very likeable and appreciate all he has shared here

Very inspiring!!

That was great, lot of inspiration emmanating from this mind,

Is there a longer version ?

Wonderful. Will share this with my screenwriting students. This is exactly how I wrote a 45-minute planetarium video for the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. Thank you for sharing this with us!

I recently finished the first draft of my first screenplay and I felt as Black did; I "regurgitated" it.

Wow, great video a perfectionist writer

This guy is 40. Whaaaaaat?

Thanks a lot for the video!! :D

One thing about It was not cut out to be a writer but DUSTIN LANCE BLACK was and he is fantastic writer have read his book Mama's Boy

“A personal story can change the world”

That was great. Interesting insight.

A writer seems to get lost when they writes! It must be very lovely as well frustrating job to do. DLB is an inspiring person. I wish to see more of amazing works from him. It was a beautiful video.

The Land of Lost Scenes can becomes the biggest continent of all.

I hope our Feature film "PotHoles" i'm writing with actress Tina Lameman, a true story of my life with my best friend Gina will help others struggling with addiction and mental illness. Thank you for sharing ur process Dustin! ｼ

He said this is going to be a 3.5 hour tutorial? Where's the rest of it?

I like how (talking nonfiction) he doesn't try to make characters relatable, but makes them specifically "them." If you think about it, that works for fiction as well; there's a ton of classic literary characters that completely fit his suggestion.

Oh my Word! That's the script for "The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight". If you love chick-lit and Lance (duh!), please read the book. It won't win the Pulitzer, but who cares if you are entertained for a couple of days, right?

I want a film on Dustin Lance Black.

Parabéns! Excelente! Vou associar teu método a escrita de romances. Uso o soft Scrivener, mas nada fica tão claro quando se usa cartão dispostos sobre uma mesa, pois se enxerga tudo...

Meticulous approach. You gotta love stationery!

I love how he uses note cards. Does anyone know how he prints the cards, what kind of printer, what software, etc.? I have been trying to research this, but my google-fu is off. I need the most painless setup possible.

Respect writ large.

So coo

Jesus christ he looks younger than me, how is he 43? Imma need you to tell me your skin care routine bro, and I really hope it's not the blood of virgins.

How do we get the 3 1/2 hour version?

Complex intricate research is great for some screenwriters, but most screenwriters, in my opinion, write for entertainment purposes, fun to watch, suspenseful and believable stories. Some of the most popular musical pieces are the simplest written motifs, compared to the studious complex dissonant wonders of the masters. Telling a story is writing an engaging plot that catches you at the beginning and revealing to you a most unexpected ending you never thought would happen that way. Then again, it could be so simple that you can guess the ending and still win an award. Personally, I start with writing a treatment (short story) from a logline, or vice versa, then a simple outline of the story. Then I block (sequence), certain essential scenes watching for consistency, fun and continuity, then use index-cards to block the storyline untill if flows smoothly [by index cards] before writing the script [limit 30-40 cards or less/ 90 minute movie; my goal] . Finally, I re-write [edit/add it] the script until it’s a movie. If it makes me want to eat pop-corn right away I think it’s ready to sell. JB

Nice big table

Brilliant six minutes about writing. Is this part of a series from established screenwriters? Academy Originals, would you please try and get some of the following talents to discuss their process? Kerry Ehrin, Meredith Averil, Kevin Williamson, Ryan Murphy, Nic Pizzolatto, Noah Hawley, and Pete Docter....?

I have addictions and one is writing and trying to tell a story and why i'm telling it. The other addiction is drinking a few beers and listening to music and picturing scenes with those songs. I go to rehab to get rid of my writer's block.

i wanna spike jonze's process

how do we get the full 3hrs ???

what lens did they use to capture this video ?

Where do I find this full “3 hour” thing?

❤

Alright i don't usually comment on videos but this was helpful

where can I find the original, full "3:30 hour" video, please? Thanks.

where to watch 3 1/2 hour tutorial, please guide me , i am trying to find it out on the internet, havn't got it yet

@academy originals Can I get to allow to upload a Korean translation of the subtitle? I made the SRT file already. Please reply my comment to get your response whether is allowed of not.

he said 3 an half hours tutorial...? where's the rest?

using notecards is how I learned to write a termpaper

First thing he says is "this will be a 3 1/2 sort of tutorial on my process". Is this a short from an online course, or something? Anyone have the link to the full-length video?

They should have done this for the new Star Wars movie...

so how would you do this for a miniseries or a TV series?

I'm confused as to why writers believe personal stories change the world. Is this literal or figurative? Either way, what is it supposed to mean?

6:36-----> BAREFOOT BANDIT *If you guy's don't know that story, read up about it (SERIOUSLY). NO LIKE GOOGLE IT, don't just read this and move on. *It's about: "A teenager from the wrong side of the tracks with virtually no education but balls as big as the great outdoors, teaches himself how to fly using a DVD and then goes on a tear, stealing five single-engine airplanes worth millions"(amazon reviewer).

He clearly does not share the space with a cat.

This process is unbelievable! We're looking forward to the day that it doesn't have to be done by hand. We're going to change things big time and help screenwriters save so much time with the SoCreate Screenwriting Platform.

specificity is the enemy of the reader's imagination