The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna 281 | Wicked: For Good Writer Dana Fox on High-Concept Movie Ideas
Jan 15, 2026
Dana Fox, a renowned TV and film writer known for her work on Wicked and Cruella, discusses the importance of high-concept ideas in today's film landscape. She emphasizes the value of a strong premise, encouraging emerging writers to sell their ideas before perfecting the execution. Dana shares insights on structuring stories for emotional impact across two films, and how lessons from musical writing can enhance screenplays. Plus, she reveals her strategies for staying productive and offers practical tips for crafting compelling stories.
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Change Collaboration With The Process
- Collaborate by ideating and breaking story together before writing any pages.
- Let the collaboration evolve with each stage: talk early, split scenes later, then merge drafts.
Every Beat Must Change The Story
- Make every scene, especially songs, change something; remove scenes that don't move the story.
- Treat non-musical scenes the same way: each must alter the situation or emotional state.
Learn Economy In The Edit Room
- Use the editing room to learn economy: cut early and cut ruthlessly.
- Be a director in your head and trim anything you would cut in the edit.