Go Into The Story

Daily Dialogue — January 22, 2020

The Count: This was the deal: I asked all of you to demand of me to do a very foolish thing, and you sent in ideas in their millions. But…

Story Summaries: From Loglines to Beat Sheets

Learn six different types of story summaries and how to use them to develop your scripted projects.

Script Analysis: “Hustlers” — Part 2: Plot

Read the script for the surprise hit comedy drama and analyze all week.

2020 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 15

A chance for you to work on your dialogue chops and win free prizes!

Screenwriting 101: Allan Durand

“If you’re going to write a screenplay, it better interest the living hell out of you, either the story or the amount of money you’re…

Daily Dialogue — January 21, 2020

Honeycutt: He tell you his name yet? Coach Jones: He doesn’t talk too much, but he’s sure taking a liking to that radio.

Great comments, Tara.

I also think your comparison to Uncut Gems is an apt one. The separation between the Haves and the Have Nots, or, too, the Shrinking Middle…

This is not a story that would otherwise interest me, but I enjoyed the script a lot.

A couple of initial takeaways: It’s easy to see why Lorene Scafaria, who wrote and directed the movie, would have been attracted to the…

Reader Question: Are there differences between seeking representation with a manager versus and…

The answer is yes. As one manager put it to me: “Agents wear suits, managers wear blue jeans.” Why that makes a big difference to you.

Script Analysis: “Hustlers” — Part 1: Scene By Scene Breakdown

Read the script for the surprise hit comedy drama and analyze all week.

2020 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 14

A chance for you to work on your dialogue chops and win free prizes!

On Writing

“I try to base my revision on a re-reading of what I’ve done so far, imitating, so far as it’s possible, a first-time reader. That is, I…

Daily Dialogue — January 20, 2020

“You ever find yourself being completely smothered by somebody?”

The Theology of Cinema: Incarnation

“If the theological precept of incarnation is ‘God become Man,’ the movie metaphorical view may be this: The Protagonist goes on a journey…

Go Into The Story Interview: Walker McKnight

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

2020 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Week 3

Writing prompts #9–13. Practice writing dialogue. Win a free class with me.

Rian Johnson’s outline for ‘Knives Out’

The writer-director of the smash hit movie tweeted the image this week.

Daily Dialogue — January 19, 2020

Ellie Andrews: I’ll stop a car, and I won’t use my thumb! Peter Warne: What’re you gonna do? Ellie Andrews: It’s a system all my own.

Switch Protagonist = Story Concept

How many different ways can The Wizard of Oz be told?

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Radio

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,265 consecutive days and counting.

Interview (Part 6): Walker McKnight

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Daily Dialogue — January 18, 2020

Roland Turner: What’s the “N” stand for? Lou N. Davis? Llewyn Davis: Llewyn. Llewyn, L-L-E-W-Y-N. It’s Welsh. Roland Turner: Well, it would…

“Do it. Or don’t do it. But you know. You. Know.”

The story behind the best advice for anyone considering a writing career.

Interview (Part 5): Walker McKnight

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

2020 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 13

A chance for you to work on your dialogue chops and win free prizes!