Go Into The Story

Screenwriting 101: Cesar Vitale

“I get really frustrated when I watch a film and I can’t really tell what it’s about, even if it’s some vague sense of emotion. I have to…

Daily Dialogue —March 31, 2020

Woo: Put your diapers on, Lebowski. Jackie Treehorn wants to see you. Blond: Jackie Treehorn knows which Lebowski you are, Lebowski. Woo…

After having seen the movie, reading the script really puts a spotlight on Joker’s character arc.

In Joker, we even see it in the script’s use of name change: For much of the script, he is called Arthur. Eventually, his character name is…

Write a Worthy Nemesis

Workshop your story’s antagonist character in my 1-week online course. Begins Monday, April 6th.

2020 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 30

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Script Analysis: “Joker” — Part 1: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Read and analyze the script for the Award-winning film.

On Writing

“You better make them care about what you think. It had better be quirky or perverse or thoughtful enough so that you hit some chord in…

Daily Dialogue — March 30, 2020

“Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in. Not by the hair of your chiny-chin-chin? Well then, I’ll huff and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your…

2020 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 29

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”

The entire 6 part series delving into the award-winning film.

Great Scene: “Dog Day Afternoon”

“Attica! Attica! Attica!”

Interview: Graham Yost

A conversation from the 2018 Austin Film Festival with screenwriter and TV writer-producer whose credits include Speed, Justified, and The…

Daily Dialogue — March 29, 2020

“I do wish we could chat longer, but I’m having an old friend for dinner…”

2020 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 28

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Script Analysis: “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” — Part 6: Takeaway

Read and analyze the script for the Award-winning drama.

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Door

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,335 consecutive days and counting.

Script To Screen: “10 Things I Hate About You”

Kat reads a poem she wrote… a poem with a LOT of subtext!

Daily Dialogue — March 28, 2020

“This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off.”

Reader Question: Is it okay for the Antagonist drive the Plot?

“Many movies have a Protagonist who spends most of the time trying to figure out what the Nemesis is doing, the Nemesis the active…

2020 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 27

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Script Analysis: “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” — Part 5: Dialogue

Read and analyze the script for the Award-winning drama.

Writing and the Creative Life: Do It Because You Love It

Back in 2012, a longtime reader of the blog forwarded me some numbers in a post I titled: Facing the Odds. I included his observations in…

Daily Dialogue — March 27, 2020

“I’m not even gonna swat that fly. I hope they are watching. They’ll see. They’ll see and they’ll know and they’ll say, ‘Why, she wouldn’t…

Joseph Campbell word for word on The Hero’s Journey

Verbatim transcript from the excellent interview series “The Power of Myth.”

2020 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 26

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.