Go Into The Story

Movie Analysis: “The Silence of the Lambs” — Part 3: Characters

Watch this critically acclaimed movie and analyze it all week.

Script To Screen: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

A scene from the wonderful 1986 comedy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, written and directed by John Hughes.

Daily Dialogue — May 23, 2018

Jed: The question is, do I have a God complex. Riley: Dr. Kessler says yes. Jed: …which makes me wonder if this “lawyer” has any idea what…

Dave, I don’t know if there is such a thing as typical when it comes to screenplays.

Here’s my breakdown of the plot per the script:

Some Thoughts on the Rewrite Process

In a guest post, screenwriter Tom Benedek (Cocoon) offers some reflections on the adage: Writing is rewriting.

Go Into The Story Resource: Writing and the Creative Life

Dozens of articles about creativity, what it is, how to nurture it, and steer our writing into the center of our creative soul.

Movie Analysis: “The Silence of the Lambs” — Part 2: Plot

Watch this critically acclaimed movie and analyze it all week.

Screenwriting 101: Scott Frank

“The first paragraph of a screenplay can tell you if they can write. The first five pages can tell you if they have a voice.”

Daily Dialogue — May 22, 2018

“For the last couple of months, Senator Rumson has suggested that being president of this country was, to a certain extent, about…

Kim, I agree with you: This is the top of the tops for a psychological thriller and it definitely…

First of all, I just thought it was so smart, so literary and knowing, and not just in a technological, police-procedural, serial-killing…

One thing the scene-by-scene breakdown makes abundantly clear is how the pace of the story hits…

This is the way it should be in most, if not all movies, an escalation of stakes and pace to build toward the climax of the story.

Go Into The Story Resource: Screenwriting Tweetstorms

Currently 60 Twitter threads posted by professional screenwriters, TV writers, producers, and others in the movie and TV business.

Movie Analysis: “The Silence of the Lambs” — Part 1: Scene By Scene Breakdown

Watch this critically acclaimed movie and analyze it all week.

On Writing

“A writer’s brain is full of little gifts, like a piñata at a birthday party. It’s also full of demons, like a piñata at a birthday party…

Daily Dialogue — May 21, 2018

Mark Zuckerberg: [stares out the window] No. Gage: Do you think I deserve it? Mark Zuckerberg: [looks at Gage] What? Gage: Do you think I…

Screenwriting News (May 14-May 20, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Tweetstorm: Amy Berg on Getting Hired Onto a TV Series Writing Staff

Some do’s and don’ts from a Hollywood showrunner.

Go Into The Story Resource: How To Read A Screenplay

If you’re serious about learning the craft, here are some ways to dig into scripts.

Interview (Written): Paul Schrader

A conversation with the screenwriter of such notable movies as Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.

Daily Dialogue — May 20, 2018

William Shakespeare: It’s as if my quill is broken… as if the organ of my imagination has dried up… as if the proud tower of my genius has…

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 342nd installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

Go Into The Story Interview: Bill Holderman and Erin Simms

My in-depth conversation with the co-writers (Holderman and Simms) and director (Holderman) of the comedy Book Club.

Go Into The Story Resource: The Theology of Screenwriting

A 25-part series that considers theological concepts as metaphors for significant psychological themes writers can use in their stories.

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Aaron Sorkin

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 3,656 consecutive days and counting.

Daily Dialogue — May 19, 2018

“You know you don’t have to act with me, Steve. You don’t have to say anything, and you don’t have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe…