Go Into The Story

Ways To Write (Part 1): Email

How writer-director Judd Apatow emailed himself notes which became the foundation for the movie Knocked Up.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 29: “Lincoln”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Screenwriting 101: Damien Chazelle

“I feel like you can tell when movies start from a theme or intellectual question, and they’re not that interesting. I want to start from a…

Daily Dialogue — July 31, 2018

Annie Wilkes: The swearing, Paul. There, I said it. Paul Sheldon: The, uh, profanity bothers you? Annie Wilkes: It has no nobility. Paul…

Darth Vader was on screen in the first Star Wars movie for 8 minutes and 6 seconds

Screenwriter Tom Benedek (Cocoon) analyzes Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope and how George Lucas maximized Darth Vader’s screen time.

Your story’s emotional life

When people watch a movie, they want to FEEL something.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 28: “The Spectacular Now”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

On Writing

“Writing is only one word at a time. It’s not a whole bunch of things happening at once. Various things can present themselves, but when…

Daily Dialogue — July 30, 2018

Margaret White: He’s not coming. Carrie: He is coming, Mama. Now stop it. I’m nervous enough. Margaret White: No, he’s not coming. He’s not…

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Stephen King

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 3,726 consecutive days and counting.

Screenwriting News (July 23-July 29, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Reader Question: How can I immerse myself in the story I’m writing?

“I find I get way too many projects on the front burner, which is overwhelming.”

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 27: “Wreck-It Ralph”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Interview (Written): Katie Silberman

Conversation with the screenwriter of the romantic comedy Set It Up.

Daily Dialogue — July 29, 2018

Holland March: Munich. Jackson Healy: What? Holland March: Guy without his balls. A Munich. Jackson Healy: Munich, is a city in Germany…

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 352nd installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 26: “American Hustle”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Interview (Written): Boots Riley

Conversation with the writer-director of the lauded independent film Sorry to Bother You.

Daily Dialogue — July 28, 2018

Detective Tom Polhaus: [picks up the falcon] Heavy. What is it? Sam Spade: The, uh, stuff that dreams are made of.

Q&A: Michael Arndt

My exchange with the screenwriter of Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3 about his newest video: “Endings: The Good, the Bad and the…

Spec Script Deal: “Suicide 21”

Catapult Entertainment Group and Needle’s Eye Productions acquire science fiction thriller spec script “Suicide 21” written by Greg Wayne.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 25: “The Kids Are All Right”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Writing and the Creative Life: The Joy of Running… Creatively Speaking

“Does some creative block have you feeling stuck? Go for a run. Are you deliberating between one of two potentially life-altering…

Daily Dialogue — July 27, 2018

Phil: Do you ever do anything that doesn’t end in a stand-off, Chow? Mr. Chow: I a international criminal. It always ends like this. I met…

Concur re “long, hard slog,” that should be what you prepare yourself for.

The most solid advice I’ve heard about working in Hollywood — and this extends to everyone involved in a writer’s life including talent…