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Daily Dialogue theme for the Month: Writers and Writing

In honor of the Zero Draft Thirty Challenge, we’re going to have one theme for the entire month of November. That theme: Writers and Writing Can you name this movie? Consecutive days of Daily Dialogue posts: 2,725. Over 400 people have committed to join me in the #ZD30SCRIPT

Interview (Written): Jonathan Ames

A Writers Guild of America, East interview with TV and screenwriter Jonathan Ames (Bored to Death, The Extra Man) about his new Starz series “Blunt Talk”. You are the Showrunner and Executive Producer of the Starz series BLUNT TALK, which recently wrapped its first season and has been renewed for

Daily Dialogue — October 31, 2015

“In ancient times, hundreds of years before the dawn of history, an ancient race of people… the Druids. No one knows who they were or what they were doing…” — This Is Spinal Tap (1984), written by Christopher Guest & Michael McKean & Harry Shearer & Rob Reiner The Daily Dialogue

Zero Draft Thirty: Get the damn thing done!

T minus 2 days. On November 1, the Zero Draft Thirty challenge kicks off! Zero Draft is what some writers call the vomit draft… or muscle draft… the just-get-the-damn-thing-done draft. And thirty is… well… the number 30 which is… oh, yeah… the number of days

Interview: Amy Koppelman and Paige Dylan (“I Smile Back”)

The movie I Smile Back is rolling out in select theaters this week. Starring Sarah Silverman in a breakout dramatic starring role, I had the opportunity to talk with Amy Koppelman, who wrote the novel upon which the movie is based, and co-writer of the screenplay adaptation along with

Movie Analysis: “Back to the Future” — Takeaways

A 5 part series on one of the most beloved movies of our generation. To quote the writing mantra I coined over 5 years ago: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. You will note which one comes first. Here are my reflections from that post about the importance of watching

Video: Stephen Beresford meets Islay Bell-Webb

BAFTA has a new series called Guru Encounters in which established writers meet with younger writers to share their wisdom. Here iStephen Beresford (Pride) talks with Islay Bell-Webb. “The truth is when you first start out, the distance between your taste and your ability is absolutely vast. The only

“It works!”

I received an email yesterday from Dawn LeFever, a talented writer who worked with me in my Prep: From Concept to Outline workshop back in October 2014. Hey Scott - Hope you and your family are well. I know you are about to begin another prep course and I thought I’

Daily Dialogue — October 30, 2015

Pageant Official Jenkins: [outraged at Olive’s talent act] What is your daughter doing? Richard: She’s kickin’ ass… that’s what she’s doing. — Little Miss Sunshine (2006), written by Michael Arndt The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Embarrassment. Trivia: Michael Arndt had to quit his job as

Zero Draft Thirty: Trust the Process

T minus 3 days. On November 1, the Zero Draft Thirty challenge kicks off! Zero Draft is what some writers call the vomit draft… or muscle draft… the just-get-the-damn-thing-done draft. And thirty is… well… the number 30 which is… oh, yeah… the number of days

Interview (Part 4): Amy Koppelman and Paige Dylan

The movie I Smile Back is rolling out in select theaters this week. Starring Sarah Silverman in a breakout dramatic starring role, I had the opportunity to talk with Amy Koppelman, who wrote the novel upon which the movie is based, and co-writer of the screenplay adaptation along with

Movie Analysis: “Back to the Future” — Themes

Another in our bi-weekly series in which we analyze movies currently in release. Why? To quote the writing mantra I coined over 5 years ago: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. You will note which one comes first. Here are my reflections from that post about the importance of

Video: Sally Wainwright meets Matthew Barry

BAFTA has a new series called Guru Encounters in which established writers meet with younger writers to share their wisdom. Here Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax) talks with Matthew Barry. “Story is hard work. Stories don’t just come out of ether. A tiny idea might come

Writing and the Creative Life: Why creativity thrives in the dark

Back in 2009, I was up working in the middle of the night, as I always do, when I was inspired to write this reflection: Is there anything more profoundly intense than pounding out pages… Yanked from that story universe you’ve created… Then in the thick silence of night’

Daily Dialogue — October 29, 2015

POLICE DETECTIVE: Tell me again. TERRY: If you’d stop picking your teeth you could hear what I had to say. POLICE DETECTIVE: We gotta get the facts. MARTY: What are you doing here? What happened? TERRY: I told him not to call anybody, but they fished your card out

Zero Draft Thirty: Your characters want you to tell their story

T minus 4 days. On November 1, the Zero Draft Thirty challenge kicks off! Zero Draft is what some writers call the vomit draft… or muscle draft… the just-get-the-damn-thing-done draft. And thirty is… well… the number 30 which is… oh, yeah… the number of days

Interview (Part 3): Amy Koppelman and Paige Dylan

The movie I Smile Back is rolling out in select theaters this week. Starring Sarah Silverman in a breakout dramatic starring role, I had the opportunity to talk with Amy Koppelman, who wrote the novel upon which the movie is based, and co-writer of the screenplay adaptation along with

Movie Analysis: “Back to the Future” — Characters

Another in our bi-weekly series in which we analyze movies currently in release. Why? To quote the writing mantra I coined over 5 years ago: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. You will note which one comes first. Here are my reflections from that post about the importance of

Video: Abi Morgan meets Bola Agbaje

BAFTA has a new series called Guru Encounters in which established writers meet with younger writers to share their wisdom. Here is Abi Morgan (Shame, The Iron Lady, Suffragette) in conversation with playwright-screenwriter Bola Agbaje (Gone Too Far). “One of the ways to survive in the industry is keeping

Great Scenes: “Big”

It’s a wonderful thing for a screenwriter when you confront a typical story issue and come up with a great solution that not only services the plot, but also create a memorable scene. Such is the case with this famous keyboard-dance scene from the movie Big. The credited

Daily Dialogue — October 28, 2015

Lillian: Annie, everybody is really sick from that restaurant. (Her stomach churns loudly) Ooh. Annie: I bet it wasn’t the restaurant. Lillian: No no no no. Annie: Lilian Lillian: Oh, no. Annie: Where are you going? Lillian: I need a bathroom. Lillian exits the bridal store and rushes across

Zero Draft Thirty: The Despair of the Blank Page

T minus 5 days. On November 1, the Zero Draft Thirty challenge kicks off! Zero Draft is what some writers call the vomit draft… or muscle draft… the just-get-the-damn-thing-done draft. And thirty is… well… the number 30 which is… oh, yeah… the number of days

Interview (Part 2): Amy Koppelman and Paige Dylan

The movie I Smile Back is rolling out in select theaters this week. Starring Sarah Silverman in a breakout dramatic starring role, I had the opportunity to talk with Amy Koppelman, who wrote the novel upon which the movie is based, and co-writer of the screenplay adaptation along with

Movie Analysis: “Back to the Future” — Plot

Another in our bi-weekly series in which we analyze movies currently in release. Why? To quote the writing mantra I coined over 5 years ago: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. You will note which one comes first. Here are my reflections from that post about the importance of

Video: John Hodge meets Nat Luurtsema

BAFTA has a new series called Guru Encounters in which established writers meet with younger writers to share their wisdom. Here is John Hodge, whose film credits include Trainspotting and The Beach, in conversation actress and writer Nat Luurtsema. “You have to be cynical, but also hopeful at the same