Go Into The Story

Screenwriting 101: Amy Berg

“There’s more rising and falling tension in a television show versus a film where it tends to be a more steady build to the climax… A way…

Daily Dialogue — May 28, 2019

Walter Sobchak: You want a toe? I can get you a toe, believe me. There are ways, Dude. You don’t wanna know about it, believe me. The Dude…

Movie Story Type: Revenge

There are genres (e.g., Action, Comedy, Drama). Cross genres (e.g., Action-Thriller, Comedy-Science Fiction). Sub-genres (e.g., Romantic…

Great Scene: “The Silence of the Lambs”

Two flashbacks to Clarice as a young girl are critical to the narrative. Plus, the script for a third flashback which was never shot.

Reader Question: Is it okay for there to be more action lines in an action script?

Once again into the breach against so-called screenwriting ‘rules’.

Go Into The Story Resource: Black List Writers on the Craft

Some of Hollywood’s top screenwriters share insights from my interviews.

On Writing

“The funny thing about it all is that literary talent isn’t rare. Lots of people can write good stories with good characters and great…

Daily Dialogue — May 27, 2019

“I’m getting a vibe like in a really weird way here.”

Zach, I’ve never heard of a situation in which a manager sought co-writing or story by credit with…

But to your point, yes, writers must be careful. And if a manger *were* to ask a writer for shared credit, I would recommend quitting that…

Screenwriting News (May 20-May 26, 2019)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Script To Screen: “Shakespeare in Love”

The final scenes from the 1998 movie Shakespeare in Love, written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard.

Reader Question: What about ageism and screenwriting?

And who is the oldest person to win an Academy Award for Best Screenplay?

Go Into The Story Resource: Character Introductions

Everything you need to know about the subject… and probably more.

Interview (Video): Katie Silberman and Olivia Wilde

The co-writer and director of the new comedy Booksmart.

Daily Dialogue — May 26, 2019

Peter Warne: [on telephone] Hey, listen, monkey face. When you fired me, you fired the best newshound your filthy scandal sheet ever had…

Thanks, Tara.

Such a tragedy re Adrienne Shelly…

Cameron, you sound like a writer who has been down the road on several writing projects and learned…

It’s an iterative process. Do a draft. Assess. Rewrite. Repeat.

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 392nd installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

Character archetypes

Analysis of five primary character archetypes: Protagonist, Nemesis, Attractor, Mentor, Trickster.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The “Interest” [Part 1]

“What he means by this “interest” query is to ask if your story has the element of human sympathy.”

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Diner

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,027 consecutive days and counting.

Interview (Video): Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely

The Season 9 episode of the PBS series “On Story” with the screenwriters of Avengers: Endgame as well as other Marvel hit movies.

Daily Dialogue — May 25, 2019

Michael Colin Gallagher: Why aren’t you married? Megan Carter: How do you know I’m not? Michael Colin Gallagher: I don’t see a ring. Megan…

Great Scene: “The Shawshank Redemption”

Red’s parole board scenes — three of them — are their own mini-story.

The Shawshank Redemption: Red as Protagonist

My take is The Shawshank Redemption is an example of a Dual Protagonist story. Here is an analysis of the movie with Red as a Protagonist…