Go Into The Story

Screenwriting 101: Barbara Stepansky

“There’s no easy solution to rewriting. For me writing the first draft is much easier than going back and rewriting it. You see all your…

Daily Dialogue — February 4, 2020

Marty: I got a job for you. Private Detective Visser: Uh, well, if the pay’s right, and it’s legal, I’ll do it. Marty: It’s not strictly…

It’s a great script and I hope it wins Best Original Screenplay Oscar (and JoJo Rabbit wins Best…

The thing I noticed confirms my take when I watched the movie: The story shifts from Drama… to Thriller… to Horror. It does so seamlessly…

Keys to Handling Exposition

Take my 1-week online class to learn ways to make exposition entertaining.

2019 Spec Script Deal List

Every year since I launched the blog in 2008, I do a week-long analysis of the recent year in terms of spec script deals. This week, we…

Script Analysis: ‘Parasite’ — Part 1: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Read the script for the award-winning foreign film and analyze all week.

On Writing

“First, you look for discipline and control. You want to exercise your will, bend the language your way, bend the world your way. You want…

Daily Dialogue — February 3, 2020

Philip Marlowe: You know it just happens I got a bottle of pretty good rye in my pocket. I’d rather not get wet in here. Acme Book Shop…

The Theology of Cinema: Predestination

“The story you write about your Protagonist is in some ways predestined, the specific combination of the character’s life circumstances…

Go Into The Story Interview: Renee Pillai

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Great Scenes: “The Natural”

“He swings — violently and perfectly — the ball exploding off his bat.”

Daily Dialogue — February 2, 2020

“It’s only my imagination. Only my imagination.”

2020 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Week 5

Writing prompts #19–20. Practice writing dialogue. Win a free class with me.

Interview (Part 6): Renee Pillai

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Private Eye

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,279 consecutive days and counting.

2020 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Writers Panel

Spend 100+ minutes watching a conversation between screenwriters Stephany Folsom, Greta Gerwig, Noah Harpster, Christopher Markus, and…

Daily Dialogue — February 1, 2020

“She’s the one who killed his daughter. We have to get her out of here.”

Great Scene: “The Matrix”

“You take the blue pill, the story ends… you take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland.”

Interview (Part 5): Renee Pillai

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Writing and the Creative Life: Three Types of Creators

Perfecter. Innovator. Synthesizer. Which type of creative are you?

Daily Dialogue — January 31, 2020

“Karen. Karen. Poor baby.”

Character Type: Warrior

“The keys to Warrior characters is to determine who they fight… how they fight… and why they fight.”

Interview (Part 4): Renee Pillai

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

The Business of Screenwriting: Everything You Wanted to Know About Specs [Part 18]

“The Write What They’re Buying path is more about being similar. The Sell Them Your Dream path is more about being different.”

Daily Dialogue — January 30, 2020

“I live in my sister’s basement.”