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Script Analysis: “Midsommar” — Part 6: Takeaways

Read and analyze the script for the horror mystery which features a breakthrough performance by actress Florence Pugh.

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Bomb

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How I Wrote ‘Knives Out’

A Behind the Curtain video featuring director Rian Johnson on the writing of the screenplay for the hit movie Knives Out.

Daily Dialogue — June 6, 2020

“This is a magical room. Where does the water come from?”

Laura, I *totally* pegged Pele as a bad guy - in the sense that the outsiders were going to get…

The dialogue I want to focus on is this and it comes early in the Midsommar weekend:

An Argument Against Screenplay Formulas (Part 5): Times have changed and so have expectations for…

“Almost all of the most influential screenwriting gurus developed their screenplay formulas in the 1980s. While they may have tweaked…

Songwriters on Songwriting: David Byrne

“I think you have to wait for the inspiration, but unless you’re there, waiting at the bus stop… if you’re doing other things all day, a…

Script Analysis: “Midsommar” — Part 5: Dialogue

Read and analyze the script for the horror mystery which features a breakthrough performance by actress Florence Pugh.

Writing and the Creative Life: Why Creative People May Feel More Anxiety

I’m even nervous posting this…

Daily Dialogue — June 5, 2020

“It’s like there’s blood on my hands and it’s not coming off.”

An Argument Against Screenplay Formulas (Part 4): They make the job of a screenwriter more…

“Sometimes the formula in question has been created by someone who has never sold a script or worked as a professional screenwriter.”

Songwriters on Songwriting: Jackson Browne

“I relegate everything to the creative act as being what I’m here to do. And so anything that helps is something that I incorporate into my…

Script Analysis: “Midsommar” — Part 4: Themes

Read and analyze the script for the horror mystery which features a breakthrough performance by actress Florence Pugh.

The Business of Screenwriting: “Qualify the customer”

Okay, this week’s post is a blast from the past and only comes about due to a recent revelation from a TV producer I know that she has…

Daily Dialogue — June 4, 2020

“Anybody get to you yet?”

I stayed up to Stupid O'Clock and watched the movie.

For any of these type of movies, there's always this question: "Why don't you get the fuck away from here?" I had that feeling several…

Debbie, I remember reading an article about writer-director Robert Rodriguez, how he turned his…

As writers, we need our left brain, but we also needs our right brain. Think, yes. But also, FEEL!

J, great catch.

That line -- "one thing... that's what you've got to figure out" -- that is the essence of the Protagonist's journey. It's *inside*. It's…

An Argument Against Screenplay Formulas (Part 3): They diminish the craft of screenwriting

“The most important person in the motion picture process is the writer… and we must do everything in our power to prevent them from ever…

Songwriters on Songwriting: Joan Baez

“If you want to love your music, and not feel that you have to sell your ass down the river to get something going, you’re probably going…

Script Analysis: “Midsommar” — Part 3: Characters

Read and analyze the script for the horror mystery which features a breakthrough performance by actress Florence Pugh.

Great Scene: “No Country For Old Men”

“You need to call it. I can’t call it for you. It wouldn’t be fair. It wouldn’t even be right.”

Daily Dialogue — June 3, 2020

“I do have a test today, that wasn’t bullshit. It’s on European socialism. I mean, really, what’s the point? I’m not European. I don’t plan…

Laura, you've nailed the four primary plotline points.

Have you seen the movie yet?

Dantuma, you make a good point: After we read a script or watch a movie or TV episode, we can…

My concern, after having read quite literally thousands of screenplays, is that there is a kind of surface level understanding of…