Nov 30, 2021
John and Craig celebrate the holidays by releasing a special premium episode on the 1988 Christmas classic: DIE HARD.
Die Hard created a new template for action movies, heroes, and villains, establishing tropes still seen in theaters. They discuss both structure and story to examine what screenwriters can take away from this film and why many have failed to replicate its success.
In our super-size bonus segment for premium members, John interviews DIE HARD screenwriter Steven E. de Souza, who shares credit with Jeb Stuart. Steven reveals how he choreographed action scenes using the building’s blueprints, why the story switches POV, and how improv added realism to the film’s marriage dynamics. It’s a great lesson in why a screenwriter’s job doesn’t stop when turning in the draft.
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Email us at ask@johnaugust.com
You can download the episode here.