Go Into The Story

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 25

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Script Analysis: “Waves” — Part 6: Takeaways

Read and analyze the script for the lauded indie drama.

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Motorcycle

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,363 consecutive days and counting.

Interview: Chuck Palahniuk, Jim Uhls, and David Fincher on ‘Fight Club’

An insightful 12-minute compilation of interview segments with the principal creatives behind the movie Fight Club.

Daily Dialogue — April 25, 2020

“I made no campaign promises, because until a few weeks ago I had no hope of being elected. Now, however, I have something more than a…

Learning the Craft

What is the craft? It’s not just writing a screenplay.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 24

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Script Analysis: “Waves” — Part 5: Dialogue

Read and analyze the script for the lauded indie drama.

Writing and the Creative Life: Is the key to creativity “unlearning”?

What if everything we have learned in our lives has actually diminished our creativity?

Daily Dialogue — April 24, 2020

Senator Joseph Paine: I wish to ask my distinguished colleague, has he one scrap of evidence to add now to the defense he did not give and…

Update: What is the third origin story about The Joker’s scars in The Dark Knight?

Announcing two winners in my recent contest.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 23

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Script Analysis: “Waves” — Part 4: Themes

Read and analyze the script for the lauded indie drama.

The Business of Screenwriting: Movie Stars

I am staring at a cardboard standup display of an iconic movie character from an Academy Award winning movie, one of the most famous…

Daily Dialogue — April 23, 2020

General James Mattoon Scott: And if you want to talk about your oath of office, I’m here to tell you face to face, President Lyman, that…

Laura, thanks for that.

P: Emily N: Tyler A: Luke M: ?? T: Ronald

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 22

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up…

Script Analysis: “Waves” — Part 3: Characters

Read and analyze the script for the lauded indie drama.

Interview: Paul Brickman

A conversation with the writer-director of the 1983 movie Risky Business.

Great Scene: “The Elephant Man”

It’s one of the most poignant, sad, and beautiful movie moments I can remember: The ending of The Elephant Man (1980). Directed by David…

Daily Dialogue — April 22, 2020

“What do we do now?”

I agree, Laura.

I’d be interested to break down the story in terms of sequences. I’m guessing there are at least 12, maybe 15.

Follow Your Bliss

In the face of an uncertain future, is there still relevance to the idea of identifying that which brings us joy… and doing that?

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 21

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up with…

Script Analysis: “Waves” — Part 2: Plot

Read and analyze the script for the lauded indie drama.