Daily Dialogue — March 11, 2019

Tony Mendez: [Reading a script] Fade in on a starship landing. An exotic, Middle Eastern vibe. Women gather, offering ecstatic libations to the sky gods. Argo. A science-fantasy adventure.
Lester Siegel: It’s in turnaround. It’s dog shit.
Tony Mendez: It’s a space movie in the Middle East. Does it matter?
John Chambers: [to Lester] Can we get the option?
Tony Mendez: [confused] Why do we need the option?
Lester Siegel: You’re worried about the Ayatollah? Try the WGA.

— Argo (2012), screenplay by Chris Terrio

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Hollywood Insiders.

Trivia: The screenplay for this film was featured in the 2010 Black List.

Dialogue On Dialogue: The WGA line is a great Hollywood insider line.