Go Into The Story

Mark, those four questions you took away from the Doran post bring to mind none other than Pixar…

First, they NEVER green light a project unless they have a clear understanding of what the story’s key point(s) of universal emotional…

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 371st installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

Writing Goals: 2019 [Parts 1–10]

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2018 and will do in 2019.

Daily Dialogue theme next week:

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 3,866 consecutive days and counting.

Interview (Written): Anthony McCarten

The New Zealand screenwriter talks about writing Bohemian Rhapsody.

Daily Dialogue — December 15, 2018

“Thomas Kent”: Tell me how you love her, Will. William Shakespeare: Like a sickness — and its cure, together. “Thomas Kent”: Oh, yes. Like…

Update: 2018 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts, 14 Total

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

Writing Goals: 2019 [Part 10] — Trust the Process

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2018 and will do in 2019.

Minimum Words, Maximum Impact

The origin and importance of one of the best screenwriting mantras… ever!

Writing and the Creative Life: Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling (Part 3)

“Every storytelling exercise should begin by asking: Who is my audience and what is the message I want to share with them? Each decision…

Daily Dialogue — December 14, 2018

“If you’d just give me a chance, I’ve got poetry in me.”

Reader Question: Should I reference other movies when pitching my own?

“I have heard/read that most Hollywood types believe it to be amateurish, while others feel it gives the reader a better sense of the…

Writing Goals: 2019 [Part 9] — The Only Way Out Is Through

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2017 and will do in 2018.

Test your story concept

If your goal is to traffic in mainstream, commercial movies, I cannot overstate the importance of your spec script’s story concept. As I…

The Business of Screenwriting: The Crazed Life of a Studio Executive

There is nothing laid-back about movie execs who live life in the fast lane and this impacts you — the writer.

Daily Dialogue — December 13, 2018

“I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.”

John, congrats on your wedding (vows). Lots of pressure there and evidently, you nailed it.

If you aren’t in the habit of reading movie scripts, I’d recommend you add that to your regular study practice. A huge benefit to see how…

Ezra, it all comes down to one thing: Your script.

So focus on the WRITING. As a reference, read professional screenplays. Read dozens of them. Your script needs to measure up to those…

Test your story concept

If your goal is to traffic in mainstream, commercial movies, I cannot overstate the importance of your spec script’s story concept. As I…

Set-up and Payoffs

One of the most important narrative elements screenwriters have available to us is set-ups and payoffs. The basic idea is this: We…

Writing Goals: 2018 [Part 8] — First Draft

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2018 and will do in 2019.

Spec Script Deal: “The French Quarter Will Not Be Spared”

Lionsgate acquires horror spec script “The French Quarter Will Not Be Spared” written by Anthony Jaswinski. From Deadline:

Script To Screen: “Lincoln”

A memorable scene from the 2012 movie Lincoln, written by Tony Kushner.

Daily Dialogue — December 12, 2018

“When I’m around you, I kind of feel like I’m on drugs. Not that I do drugs. Unless you do drugs, in which case I do them all the time. All…

Script To Screen: “Lincoln”

A memorable scene from the 2012 movie Lincoln, written by Tony Kushner.