John Collee talks ‘Boy Swallows Universe’ and mentoring emerging writers

If you can tell a story in the pub, you can write a film script: You just need to know the techniques.

So says Master and Commander, Happy Feet, Tanna and Hotel Mumbai scribe John Collee, who is emphatic that there is no “dark magic” to screenwriting. It’s a craft that can be learned like cinematography or directing. He even compares it to furniture making or architecture.

“I don’t think there’s any such thing as a born storyteller. Everyone tells ...