Film Courage: How do you define story? How do you teach it to clients and students? Glenn Gers, Screenwriter: I think the basic idea of a story is that you’re going to be following a character or characters. It’s entirely possible to tell the story of multiple characters. You don’t…

Chris Gore, Founder/Owner of FilmThreat/Author/Filmmaker: Do I want to see the sequel to A Christmas Story starring Peter Billingsley as a grown-up version of himself? Maybe if it’s set in the 60’s. Film Courage: Chris, without checking your phone can you name all of the Christmas films you can…

Christopher Riley, Screenwriter, Author, and Instructor: And as we turned into the entrance to the ER we looked at each other and I think Kathy was the one who said “In this moment our lives are changing forever.” Film Courage: You and Kathy have a new book that just…

Film Courage: I think you’ve said you write for emotion not for gimmicks? Kelly Edwards, Staff Writer, Author, Producer: Yeah, I think that sometimes particularly when writers are starting from concepts and not really delving into the reason why people show up which is the character. Characters are motivated…

Gary W. Goldstein, Author/Producer: This isn’t a negative, it’s just to be expected the studio would bring in other writers. Film Courage: Three Thousand [renamed Pretty Woman] was initially in a kind of one-room scenario (a hotel room)? Gary: It was in a hotel, very simple locations, it’s all…

Pete Chatmon, Director/Podcaster/Author: Sometimes when you’re trying to make that transition, you’re on two surfboards but you can’t ride them both at the same time, it’s impossible. Film Courage: How many years was it between showing at Sundance and getting your first television directing job? Pete: I went to Sundance…