Go Into The Story

Daily Dialogue — November 8, 2017

Randolph Duke: [Valentine overhears the Dukes talking in the bathroom] Pay up, Mortimer. I’ve won the bet. Mortimer Duke: Here, one dollar…

Reader Question: Is any exposition scene a “crock of sh*t”?

Responding to a 2005 David Mamet memo.

“Modern Writing Partners”

A guest tongue-in-cheek post by Anthony Giambusso.

The Rise and Fall of the Rom-Com

Did the success of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” indirectly lead to the decline of Hollywood studios’ interest in romantic comedies?

Script To Screen: “The Abyss”

One of the most dramatic scenes from the 1989 movie The Abyss, written by James Cameron.

Screenwriting 101: Greta Gerwig

“I think structure is so deep in us. We put it in stories we tell our friends or in emails we write. We want it. It’s how we create…

Daily Dialogue — November 7, 2017

Tiffany: Walk across the room. Pat: Can we do something else besides the dance deal? Tiffany: Are you fucking kidding me? Pat: I’m good…

The Quest

A comprehensive 24 week private one-on-one online screenwriting program.

Reader Question: Is it okay to pitch a story with an open ending that implies a sequel?

Is trying to tap into Hollywood’s franchise frenzy a smart idea or not?

Reflections of 2017 Black List Feature Writer’s Lab Participants

6 writers. 7 mentors. 6 days. 1 incredible experience.

Script To Screen: “A Serious Man”

Leave it to the Coen brothers (Joel and Ethan) to come up with a denouement in their 2009 movie A Serious Man that resolves virtually…

On Writing

“Don’t get me wrong, magic is cool. But a nervous mother singing to her child at night while something moves quietly through the dark…

Daily Dialogue — November 6, 2017

Hawk Hawkins: First one to pass out buys the beer tonight. Frank Corvin: You’re on.

2017 Award Season Screenplay Downloads

Get these PDFs now before the links disappear.

2017 Austin Film Festival: Scott Frank

A 3-part series of reflections on observations made by top Hollywood writer.

Screenwriting News (October 30-November 5, 2017)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Adopt a different writing persona

This is a first in this humble blog’s history: Another Dumb Little Writing Trick That Work, only this one isn’t my idea, but from some…

Interview (Video): Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

The writer-directors of the comedy ‘A Bad Mom’s Christmas’.

Daily Dialogue — November 5, 2017

“Hey, buddy, have yourself a good time?”

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Competition

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 3,460 consecutive days and counting.

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 314th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

Reader Question: What about a credit sequence at the beginning of a spec script?

I explain why you shouldn’t do it. And also how to handle it in a spec.

Conversations with Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond

A 10-part series with the writers of The Apartment and Some Like It Hot.

Producer Roundtable: Judd Apatow, Jason Blum, Eric Fellner, Amy Pascal, Seth Rogen, Ridley Scott

Part of The Hollywood Reporter’s annual sit-downs with Hollywood players.

Daily Dialogue — November 4, 2017

“You were going to ask me for a divorce so you could be with some fucking fuckhead Brian Speer? You kidding me? Who are you? The only thing…