Go Into The Story

The Spirit of the Spec

The creative empowerment of writing a spec script.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 6

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Script Analysis: “The Lighthouse” — Part 1: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Read and analyze the script for the hallucinatory horror movie.

On Writing

Writers hate formulas and checklists. It’s way more fun to masquerade as a natural shaman who channels beautiful pages as the oracle once…

Daily Dialogue — April 6, 2020

Jo: Can I call you Teddy? Laurie: Yes.

Sam, thanks for your contribution.

I look for inspiration everywhere and since I love music and was a musician for many years, I find a lot of wisdom in that arena.

Great Scene: “The Exorcist”

“The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you!”

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 5

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

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

The entire 6 part series delving into the award-winning film.

Interview: Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Ryan Reynolds

A recent live video appearance on the weekly podcast Scriptnotes.

Daily Dialogue — April 5, 2020

“Don Corleone.”

I bolton, thanks for your contributions this week, I enjoyed your reflections and observations.

Re Send in the Clowns: Both thematically relevant and ironic given the context of the song.

Here are some lines of dialogue which connect to the central psychological drama of the story…

You don’t listen, do you? I don’t think you ever really hear me. You just ask the same questions every week. “How’s your job?” “Are you…

Great take, I bolton.

Thanks!

Nice take, I bolton.

Protagonist: Arthur

I bolton, you zeroed in a theme I see in play in the story: Control.

So yes, he has given up attempting to “fit into society,” indeed, to control his darker impulses. Instead, he embraces his shadow and…

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 4

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Script Analysis: “Joker” — Part 6: Takeaways

Read and analyze the script for the Award-winning film.

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Siblings

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,342 consecutive days and counting.

Interview: Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonathan Demme

A conversation between the two directors from the 2013 Austin Film Festival.

Daily Dialogue — April 4, 2020

Lt. Lois Einhorn: What’s the point, Ventura? Ace Ventura: Only this.

Character Type: Angel

“Angels come in all shapes, sizes, and forms. Their presence in movies and culture reflects a desire on our part to believe in an…

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 3

This is the 11th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Script Analysis: “Joker” — Part 5: Dialogue

Read and analyze the script for the Award-winning film.

Writing and the Creative Life: Flow

We revel in it when we have it and curse it when we don’t.