Go Into The Story

Daily Dialogue — January 15, 2020

Scott: Let me handle this, I speak better German. Hello! Truck Driver: Hello! Scott: [in German] My German is ill, but I can understand on…

Interview (Part 2): Walker McNight

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

2020 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 10

A chance for you to work on your dialogue chops and win free prizes!

Screenwriting 101: James DiLapo

“I think act structure is extremely important. The midpoint is very crucial. It doesn’t have to be as overt as it is in the middle of this…

Daily Dialogue — January 14, 2020

Jay and Bob are walking backwards on the road, hitching still.

Interview (Part 1): Walker McNight

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

2020 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 9

A chance for you to work on your dialogue chops and win free prizes!

On Writing

“I’m a full-time believer in writing habits, pedestrian as it all may sound. You may be able to do without them if you have genius but most…

Daily Dialogue — January 13, 2020

“How long could we maintain? I wondered. How long until one of us starts raving and jabbering at this boy? What will he think then? This…

The central theme of The Farewell aligns with this observation by Francis Ford Coppola: “Always try…

So that’s a good takeaway, Kinshuk: Find that central theme in its simplest form and use that as a lens through which to craft and…

The Theology of Cinema: Hell

“What if we think of Act Two as Hell?”

2020 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Week 2

Writing prompts #4–8. Practice writing dialogue. Win a free class with me.

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

The entire 6 part series delving into the acclaimed drama comedy.

Daily Dialogue — January 12, 2020

“I think we should have a drink to the new Mrs. Rusty Trawler.”

Script Analysis: “The Farewell” — Part 6: Takeaways

Read the script for the acclaimed drama comedy and analyze all this week.

Let me add this exchange between Billi and her mother:

Billi: You know, one of the few good memories of my childhood were those summers at Nai Nais’s. They had that garden, Ye Ye and I would…

Kimshuk, you beat me to the proverbial punch as those were two I was going to highlight.

The second side and its reference to “an open mind” plays into the central tension of the story which is Billi having to open her mind to…

Reader Question: Are there any script rules that really shouldn’t be broken?

Or this: “How can you break screenwriting rules if there are none?”

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Hitchhiking

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,258 consecutive days and counting.

Interview (Written): Lena Waithe

In-depth conversation with the screenwriter of the movie Queen & Slim.

Daily Dialogue — January 11, 2020

“Some of the things you should be looking for during the dissection, the intestines will be going through their peristaltic action...”

Thanks for those observations, Kinshuk.

Thanks!

Script Analysis: “The Farewell” — Part 5: Dialogue

Read the script for the acclaimed drama comedy and analyze all this week.

2020 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 8

A chance for you to work on your dialogue chops and win free prizes!

Writing and the Creative Life: Your characters want you to tell their story

Lean into your characters. After all, it’s their story.