Go Into The Story

Daily Dialogue — July 19, 2018

“A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you’re not enough without one, you’ll never be enough with one.”

Reader Question: What should I do if a project sells in Hollywood which is similar to a script I’m…

Before you jump, step back from the ledge, and consider the following.

Writing Mantra: “Writing equals butt on chair” (*)

Makes sense… but what’s the asterisk for?

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 16: “Hanna”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Script To Screen: “Get Shorty”

A scene from the 1995 movie Get Shorty, screenplay by Scott Frank, book by Elmore Leonard.

Daily Dialogue — July 18, 2018

“Because a man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.”

Agree, Ladipo.

Thanks, Ladipo, for your comments!

2018 Willamette Writers Conference

My schedule at the Portland, Oregon event August 2–5.

“One [blank] at a time”

Goals are only helpful if you can keep them. Hence: “One [blank] at a time.”

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 15: “Nebraska”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Screenwriting 101: Don Winslow

“I’m not one of those novelists who looks at screenwriting as a lesser form — it’s an extremely demanding art that requires incredible…

Daily Dialogue — July 17, 2018

Aaron: I know you care about him. I’ve never seen you like this about anyone, so please don’t take it wrong when I tell you that I believe…

Dave, did you hate Greenberg enough to want to keep READING the script?

The major studios would NEVER put out a movie with a Protagonist as unlikable as Greenberg. But Noah Baumbach can do it because… he’s Noah…

How do the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting readers judge a script?

The criteria they use provides a good list of questions for screenwriters to assess their own writing.

“When should I enter and exit a scene?”

In some ways, it’s as important what you omit from a scene as what you choose to keep.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 14: “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

On Writing

“A writer — and, I believe, generally all persons — must think that whatever happens to him or her is a resource. All things have been…

Daily Dialogue — July 16, 2018

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care…

Interview (Video): Boots Riley and Lakeith Stanfield

Q&A with the writer-director of Sorry to Bother You and one of its lead actors.

Screenwriting News (July 9-July 15, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Francois Truffaut interviews Alfred Hitchcock

25 episode series from a week-long 1962 conversation between the two great filmmakers.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 13: “Greenberg”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Daily Dialogue — July 15, 2018

She asks me why I’m just a hairy guy I’m hairy noon and night Hair that’s a fright I’m hairy high and low Don’t ask me why Don’t know It’s…

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 350th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

Interview (Written): Brad Bird

The writer-director talks about The Incredibles 2.