Go Into The Story

Where to start when developing a story?

As always, my advice is: Begin with your story’s characters.

Interview (Video): Todd Phillips

A Venice Film Festival press conference with Joker co-writer and director Todd Phillips and the movie’s start Joaquin Phoenix.

Script to Screen: “Witness”

The movie’s title exists for a reason: Samuel witnesses a brutal murder.

Daily Dialogue — September 8, 2019

Brodie: After all he’s done to you, you should still kinda stick it to him. T.S. Quint: How do you propose I do that? Brodie: You stink…

2019 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 7

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Pictorial Element

“Most tableaus, of course, have been done many times. It is up to you to think up new and unique ways of combining beauty with drama in…

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Radio

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,132 consecutive days and counting.

Spec Script Deal: “The Present”

AGC Studios acquires drama comedy fantasy spec script written by Jay Martel. Via Deadline:

Daily Dialogue — September 7, 2019

Jackie Brown: …the money won’t convict him, guns will. Max Cherry: You’re rationalizing. Jackie Brown: Well, that’s what you do to go…

2019 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 6

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Characters

Not every character is created equal, but how we treat each one is equally important.

Spec Script Deal: “Shut In:

New Line Cinema acquires thriller spec script “Shut In” written by Melanie Toast. From Deadline:

Writing and the Creative Life: Think Psychologically

What makes a story resonate emotionally with a reader or viewer?

Daily Dialogue — September 6, 2019

“Get down.”

2019 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 5

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Writer’s Life: Inside and Outside the Story Universe

“Sometimes we are inside the story universe, rubbing elbows with our characters, listening to and watching them. Sometimes we step outside…

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “The Silence of the Lambs”

The entire 10 part series breaking down the 1991 Best Picture screenplay.

The Business of Screenwriting: Cynicism

“In a town built on dreams, all too often they turn into nightmares. Somebody gets screwed. Just the way it is. And that’s why cynicism is…

Daily Dialogue — September 5, 2019

Francine Parker: They’re still here. Stephen: They’re after us. They know we’re still in here. Peter: They’re after the place. They don’t…

2019 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 4

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

The Protagonist’s Journey as Fate

“What we call fate comes not from outside us but from within.”

Reflections on 2nd Annual Black List / Women In Film Feature Writers Lab

6 writers reflect on their experience in recent writers lab in L.A.

Script To Screen: “The Way Way Back”

A scene from the 2013 movie The Way Way Back, written by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.

Daily Dialogue — September 4, 2019

Perry’s Pizza Waitress: Linda, Linda, there he is. There’s that guy from the stereo store. Don’t you think he looks like Richard Gere…

2019 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 3

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.