Go Into The Story

Screenwriting 101: Cesar Vitale

“If you don’t like reading that much, chances are you’re not going to be a very good writer. Just read as much as you can, watch as many…

Daily Dialogue — February 26, 2019

Ray “Bones” Barboni: Let me explain something to you. Momo is dead. Which means that everything he had now belongs to Jimmy Cap, including…

Character Development Keys

Starting March 4, my 1-week online class not only immerses you in five key archetypes, you also use them to workshop one of your stories.

Go Into The Story Interview: Joey Clarke Jr.

My interview with the 2018 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Star Sympathy

“Be sure your audience is stirred to real sympathy, throw that sympathy to the star part, and be sure that this star part which you have…

On Writing

We’re all there trying to make the story, novel, or chapter as good as it can be. It’s a constant struggle to get it down, get it clear…

Daily Dialogue — February 25, 2019

Reporter: [to Al Capone] An article, which I believe appeared in a newspaper, asked why, since you are, or it would seem that you are, in…

Screenwriting News (February 18 — February 24, 2019)

Script sales, pitch deals, greenlit projects, talent attachments, and more.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Theme

“Found your story on an original truth of such universal interest that when your climax comes everybody in the audience from stenographer…

Interview: Anna Bowden & Ryan Fleck

A video featuring the co-writers and directors of the new Marvel movie Captain Marvel.

Spec Script Deal: Untitled Chris Borrelli Action Thriller

Universal Pictures acquires action thriller untitled spec script written by Chris Borrelli. Via Deadline:

Daily Dialogue — February 24, 2019

“You’ve been formally charged with three counts of murder, the bombing of government property, conspiracy to commit terrorism, treason…

Two keys to long talking head scenes: (1) You, as a writer, have to ABSOLUTELY justify the scene’s…

The actual content of the dialogue can be fascinating as with the U.S.S. Indianapolis monologue in Jaws. But you can also lean into the…

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 380th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Situation

If you are a screenwriter, you should know about Anita Loos. Loos was one of the most influential writers in the early stages of American…

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Barber Shop

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 3,936 consecutive days and counting.

Spec Script Deal: “Distant”

Amblin Partners acquires science fiction spec script “Distant” written by Spenser Cohen. Via Deadline:

Daily Dialogue — February 23, 2019

“Let me get right to the point. I’m smarter than you. And I’m gonna find out what I wanna know. And I’m gonna get it from you whether you…

Character Type: Angel

“Angels come in all shapes, sizes, and forms. Their presence in movies and culture reflect a desire on our part to believe in an…

Reader Question: Are there movies where the Protagonist is the Nemesis?

Is it possible for the Protagonist to also be the story’s Nemesis? A deep dive into Fight Club, The Shawshank Redemption, and Carl Jung.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Crisis and Conflict

If you are a screenwriter, you should know about Anita Loos. Loos was one of the most influential writers in the early stages of American…

Writing and the Creative Life: “Believing is seeing”

A twist on the old saying, “Seeing is believing.”

Daily Dialogue — February 22, 2019

Col. Hans Landa: [to Aldo] So you’re “Aldo the Apache.” Lt. Aldo Raine: So you’re “the Jew Hunter.” Col. Hans Landa: A detective. A damn…

Great Scene: “Pulp Fiction”

Does Ezekiel 25:17 ring a bell in this classic Tarantino scene?

Reader Question: Could you explain how writing credits work?

A deep dive into the mysteries of screenwriting credits.