Page One: “Dogma” (1999)

Written by Kevin Smith

The movie version of the opening:

One thing Kevin Smith has demonstrated as a screenwriter since his introduction to the world with his1994 movie Clerks: The dude can write dialogue. Hell, Clerks was almost all dialogue.

Here’s the thing about great dialogue: It’s actor bait. Like imagine Chris Rock reading this scene in Smith’s script and thinking, “I’d like to say these words with my mouth.”

So, here’s to great dialogue. Now the trick is… how to write it!

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

For more Page One posts, go here.

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