Go Into The Story

Mark, I couldn’t agree more.

I agree with you: Laura is a fantastic character. The script does a great job on all fronts, but especially with she and Logan, that…

Peter, the kidnapping angle is something, I believe, has been worked in movies before like Room…

When I was a child, my parents’ best friends were another Air Force couple whose son Scott went to the Air Force Academy and became an F-5…

Roo, absolutely.

We get it: We’re not writing a novel. Movies are essentially an externalized reality — Action and Dialogue. But SCRIPTS are about getting a…

Scene-Writing Workshop

I’m reprising my one-week Scene-Writing Workshop which starts Monday.

Script Analysis: “Logan” — Part 1: Scene By Scene Breakdown

Read the script for the hit superhero movie and analyze it all this week.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 9

This is the 9th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Last week I provided a daily explanation about why you should make it a habit…

On Writing

“Writing may or may not be your salvation; it might or might not be your destiny. But that does not matter. What matters right now are the…

Daily Dialogue — April 9, 2018

“Bart, I’ve been kicked around all my life, and from now on, I’m gonna start kicking back.”

Screenwriting News (April 2-April 8, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 8

This is the 9th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Go Into The Story Interview: Jen Bailey and Max Lance

My interview with the 2017 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

Interview (Video): Paul Thomas Anderson and Richard Linklater in Conversation

A half-hour talk between the pair of noted writer-directors.

Daily Dialogue — April 8, 2018

“4th wall break inside a 4th wall break. That’s like… 16 walls.”

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 336th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 7

This is the 9th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Interview (Part 6): Jen Bailey and Max Lance

My interview with the 2017 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Femme Fatale

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 3,614 consecutive days and counting.

Daily Dialogue — April 7, 2018

“Top five things I miss about Laura. One… sense of humor. Very dry, but it can also be warm and forgiving. And she’s got one of the best…

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 6

This is the 9th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…

Reader Question: Who is the Nemesis in “character driven” films?

Is it necessary for more character-oriented movies to feature a specific Antagonist figure?

Interview (Part 5): Jen Bailey and Max Lance

My interview with the 2017 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

Writing and the Creative Life: “Nothing succeeds like failure”

Re-thinking the role of failure in the creative life.

Daily Dialogue — April 6, 2018

Man in White Suit gets up out of his front row seat in the movie theater and approaches the camera:

“How 50 Famous Female Characters Were Described In Their Screenplays”

A journey through many scripted female character introductions, both fascinating… and educational.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 5

This is the 9th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my…