Go Into The Story

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Midway in the Photoplay [Part 5]

“When you are at a loss to carry on the action, cut over to the parallel line of action which is taking place in the next street or the…

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Doctor

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,202 consecutive days and counting.

Interview (Written): Robert Eggers

Conversation with the co-writer and director of The Lighthouse.

Daily Dialogue — November 16, 2019

Clifford Worley: You’re Sicilian, huh? Coccotti: Yeah, Sicilian. Clifford Worley: You know, I read a lot. Especially about things… about…

Reader Question: How to go about the query letter process?

“Is there any direction as to how to go about the query process? Should I target a few dream-list agencies or should I paint the town with…

Why Low-Budget Horror Will Never Die

“But for all this buzz, just how many filmmakers and producers working in this high- (or low-, depending on how you look at it) end world…

Writing and the Creative Life: 14 Artists Break Down the Creative Process

Words of wisdom from filmmakers, poets, architects, sculptors, dancers, musicians, and more.

Daily Dialogue — November 15, 2019

Miles: Where do you live? Buck: In the city. Miles: You have a house? Buck: Apartment. Miles: Own or rent? Buck: Rent. Miles: What do you…

If you’re stuck in your writing…

A modest suggestion on how to find inspiration on the page.

The Return of Family Films?

With the launch of Disney Plus, the company is making live-action family movies like they used to do.

The Business of Screenwriting: Everything You Wanted to Know About Specs [Part 7]

“Having a major producer attached — somebody with a studio deal, multiple credits, relationships at the major agencies, independent…

Daily Dialogue — November 14, 2019

Detective Fronteiri: You filmed him dying. Lou Bloom: That’s my job, that’s what I do, I’d like to think if you’re seeing me you’re having…

The Importance of Theme in Writing a Screenplay About an Historical Figure

“You may very well have to shape the details and contour of your central character’s life-story to make it a movie. As they say in…

Hannibal Lecter in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ = Mentor?

A 7-minute video featuring… me.

Update: 2019 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 4 New Scripts, 12 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Daily Dialogue — November 13, 2019

Verbal: [referring to Rabin] That guy is tense. Tension is a killer. I used to be in a barbershop quartet in Skokie, Illinois. The baritone…

Ten Screenwriting Traits and Skills You Need

Free downloadable Go Into The Story eBook.

“When the student is ready, the teacher arrives”

In the Protagonist’s journey, they usually get the Mentor they need.

Theme = Meaning

More than just the moral or premise of the story, theme can best be understood to be about what a story MEANS.

Screenwriting 101: Quentin Tarantino

“Basically, my writing’s like a journey. I’ll know some of the stops ahead of time, and I’ll make some of those stops and some of them I…

Daily Dialogue — November 12, 2019

White approaches Loew in the bathroom after he refused to answer Exley’s questions.

Pitching Advice: Create a ‘Pitch Persona’

When you pitch a TV or movie project, your ability to perform in the room is critical.

Reader Question: Does a Mentor character always have to be right?

What if the Protagonist has to turn away from logic and follow their heart?

On Writing

“I have a sense of exile from thought, a nostalgia of the quiet room and balanced mind. I am a writer, and there comes a time when that…

Daily Dialogue — November 11, 2019

“Is it safe?”