Go Into The Story

Daily Dialogue — February 5, 2018

“You want a job? I got a job for you. Fix up this pigsty! You get a pretty God damn good salary for testing out this bed all day! You want…

For my takeaway, I’m going to go with special subcultures.

In Coco, it’s Mexican culture (general subculture), but even more specifically the special subculture of the land of the dead. Pixar likes…

Great post, Mark.

This is why the denouement is so important. We, as audience members, want that emotional resolution, to know how the experiences of the…

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “Coco”

The entire 6 part series delving into hit animated movie.

Spec Script Deal: “Varietal”

Universal Pictures acquires science fiction spec script “Varietal” written by Adam Bloom. From THR:

30 Days of Screenplays — Day 4: “Fargo”

Read 30 movie scripts in 30 days.

Interviews (Video): Paul Schrader

Several videos featuring the screenwriter of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.

Daily Dialogue — February 4, 2018

George Bailey: Now, will you do something for me? Zuzu Bailey: What? George Bailey: Will you try and get some sleep? Zuzu Bailey: I’m not…

This line from Ernesto’s acting role is a memorable one:

“I have to sing. It’s not just in me… It is me.”

The two most central themes in the story, it seems to me, are these.

This speaks directly to the thematic core of the Hero’s Journey and J. Campbell’s take: “Follow your bliss.” Find that which energizes you…

You make a really good point, Caliann: The opposition to Miguel’s ultimate goal — becoming a…

Indeed, since Ernesto appears to be Miguel’s great-great grandfather for a portion of the story, it’s fair to think of him wearing a…

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Bed

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 3,551 consecutive days and counting.

Script Analysis: “Coco” — Part 6: Takeaways

Read the script for the hit Pixar movie and analyze it all this week.

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 327th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

30 Days of Screenplays — Day 3: “American Beauty”

Read 30 movie scripts in 30 days.

Daily Dialogue — February 3, 2018

Cole Sear: I want to tell you my secret now. Malcolm Crowe: Okay. Cole Sear: I see dead people. Malcolm Crowe: In your dreams?

2018 London Screenwriters’ Festival

I’m pleased to announce I’ll be returning to the LSF in September.

Script Analysis: “Coco” — Part 5: Dialogue

Read the script for the hit Pixar movie and analyze it all this week.

30 Days of Screenplays — Day 2: “Witness”

Read 30 movie scripts in 30 days.

Writing and the Creative Life: Do It Because You Love It

Back in 2012, a longtime reader of the blog forwarded me some numbers in a post I titled: Facing the Odds. I included his observations in…

Daily Dialogue — February 2, 2018

Dale Doback: Hey. Are you awake? Brennan Huff: Yeah. Dale Doback: I can’t believe we actually have to move out of this house. Brennan Huff…

Caliann, interesting, isn’t it, that the script at 131 pages is only 105 minutes (actually probably…

1–6: Opening which establishes Miguel, his family history, his current family, and… “NO MUSIC!”

2018 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge!

31 days. Fade In. Fade Out. Write an entire zero draft.

Script Analysis: “Coco” — Part 4: Themes

Read the script for the hit Pixar movie and analyze it all this week.

Script Analysis: “Coco” — Part 4: Themes

Read the script for the hit Pixar movie and analyze it all this week.