Go Into The Story

Writing Goals: 2019 [Part 6] — Schedule

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2018 and will do in 2019.

Update: 2018 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 4 New Script, 12 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

On Writing

“You must once and for all give up being worried about successes and failures. Don’t let that concern you. It’s your duty to go on working…

Daily Dialogue — December 10, 2018

“I might be the only person on the face of the earth that knows you’re the greatest woman on earth. I might be the only one who appreciates…

Ira, I will be expanding these ideas in the form of a book I’ve been commissioned to write.

Someone could argue, “How can I expect working with characters to lead to the story’s structure? Their lives are as messy and convoluted as…

There are LOTS of great stories in movie theaters and via streaming services.

Find your indie film movie theater and support those movies. That’s the way to grow the market for compelling, different stories.

Screenwriting News (December 3 — December 9, 2018)

Dave Callaham writing tentpole movie “Shang-Chi” for Marvel Studios, Inc.

Spec Script Deal: “The Best Friends”

TriStar Pictures acquires comedy spec script “The Best Friends” written by Chad Kultgen and Amy Rhodes. From Deadline:

Great Scene: “Rocky”

How budget issues helped to create the memorable ice rink scene.

Interview (Video): Barry Jenkins

A 75-minute master class and a 35-minute interview with Jenkins and cast members of the new film If Beale Street Could Talk.

Daily Dialogue — December 9, 2018

“Great moments… are born from great opportunity. And that’s what you have here, tonight, boys. That’s what you’ve earned here tonight. One…

Same here, Roo, although I have to say I am constantly amazed at how time seems to ‘stretch’ when…

Funny, I just remembered a friend whose house I visited years ago. A writer, I saw her study and she had tacked up at her desk in big black…

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 370th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

Writing Goals: 2019 [Parts 1–5]

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2018 and will do in 2018.

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Profession of Love

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 3,859 consecutive days and counting.

Interview (Video): Brad Bird

A 75-minute conversation with the writer-director of Incredibles 2.

Daily Dialogue — December 8, 2018

Larry: [Larry jogs out to the mound to break up a players’ conference] Excuse me, but what the hell’s going on out here? Crash Davis: Well…

“The Lady Hero’s Journey”

A whimsical take on a female iteration of the Hero’s Journey.

Writing Goals: 2019 [Part 5] — Going Public

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2018 and will do in 2019.

Video: Screenwriters provide writing tips

Insights into the craft from Variety’s 2018 “Ten Screenwriters to Watch.”

Writing and the Creative Life: Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling (Part 2)

“The intriguing thing here is that while we, as writers, are thinking about emotions and psychology, much of it apparently boils down to a…

Daily Dialogue — December 7, 2018

Coach Bud Kilmer: [to the trainer, at halftime in the trainer’s room, with Wendell on the table] Give him the shot! Mox: If you give him…

I get more the point you’re making.

I know a couple of professional script readers whose judgment I respect and feel comfortable recommending to provide not only a qualified…

Jessica, congratulations on your double good news re twins.

With twins, I’m sure all bets are off for getting much writing done for the first few / several months, as they should be. Parenting comes…

Reader Question: What guidelines are there for using scene headings / primary slug lines?

“If you read, say, 20 screenplays by working, contemporary screenwriters — and you should be reading scripts anyhow! — you will note…