Go Into The Story

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Cookout

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,377 consecutive days and counting.

Behind The Curtain: Greta Gerwig

Reflections on the screenwriting craft from the writer-director of the latest adaptation of Little Women.

Daily Dialogue — May 9, 2020

“Women make the best psychoanalysts until they fall in love. After that they make the best patients.”

What is the conflict in the scene?

Fact: There is almost nothing less entertaining than a scene with zero conflict and the characters all in agreement with each other.

Go Into The Story Resource: Reader Questions

Nearly 300 questions on virtually any subject related to screenwriting with my responses and feedback from GITS readers.

Script Analysis: “The Aeronauts” — Part 5: Dialogue

Read and analyze the script for the action adventure movie.

Writing and the Creative Life: The Tactile Experience of Writing

Words. Created. On. Paper.

Daily Dialogue — May 8, 2020

“I have the perfect weapon right here: these two hands.”

Go Into The Story Resource: Everything You Wanted to Know About Specs

A 20 part series, essential reading for anyone who is writing and hoping to sell a spec script.

Script Analysis: “The Aeronauts” — Part 4: Themes

Read and analyze the script for the action adventure movie.

Spec Script Deal: “2084”

Paramount Pictures acquires science fiction drama spec script “2084” written by Mattson Tomlin. Via THR:

The Business of Screenwriting: Never forget who the star is

“It’s no surprise that William Goldman began his excellent book ‘Adventures in the Screen Trade’ with a chapter titled ‘Stars.’ Of…

Daily Dialogue — May 7, 2020

Eve Kendall: You’ve got taste in clothes, taste in food. Roger Thornhill: [necks Eve] Hmm, And taste in women. I like your flavor.

Zakj, you came to the right place.

Movie Script Scene-By-Scene Breakdowns

Behind the Curtain

My Q&A with the founder of a valuable educational resource for the online screenwriting community.

Go Into The Story Resource: Conversations With Billy Wilder

A 28-part journey through the wonderful book “Conversations with Billy Wilder” focusing on the master filmmaker’s take on screenwriting and…

Script Analysis: “The Aeronauts” — Part 3: Characters

Read and analyze the script for the action adventure movie.

Spec Script Deal: Untitled Beck & Woods

Sony Pictures acquires an untitled science fiction project written by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. Via Variety:

Daily Dialogue — May 6, 2020

“Only one is a wanderer. Two together are always going somewhere.”

Absolutely right, Vera.

Good luck writing YOUR stories!

Reader Question: What are three good ‘how to’ scripts to read?

Three essential scripts for learning the craft.

Go Into The Story Resource: Interviews

Over the years, I have interviewed nearly 200 screenwriters, filmmakers, and industry insiders.

Script Analysis: “The Aeronauts” — Part 2: Plot

Read and analyze the script for the action adventure movie.

Screenwriting 101: Michael H. Weber

“I really like, when I’m alone, and when I’ve figured out something’s not working, and then I figure out a way to make it work. Or I’m…

Daily Dialogue — May 5, 2020

“The cities are full of women, middle-aged widows, husbands, dead, husbands who’ve spent their lives making fortunes, working and working…