In this lost episode from the archives, Geoffrey D. Calhoun sits down with screenwriting legend Dave Trottier, aka Dr. Format and author of The Screenwriter’s Bible. Together they explore the evolving rules of formatting, the balance of art and craft in screenwriting, and why clarity and consistency are vital to getting noticed in Hollywood. Dave also shares his insights on scriptments, bolding slug lines, writing natural dialogue, and building characters that leap off the page.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why screenwriting is both an art and a craft—and how to balance the two
- How formatting guidelines evolve to improve readability for script readers
- The growing trend of “scriptments” and who they really benefit
- Tips on character descriptions that avoid clichés and create depth
- How to write dialogue with clarity, subtext, and natural flow
- Why exposition should emerge naturally rather than through obvious info dumps
Key Moments
- 00:23 – Welcoming Dave Trottier, Dr. Format and author of The Screenwriter’s Bible
- 01:27 – Balancing art and craft in screenwriting
- 03:27 – How formatting evolves with the industry
- 07:45 – The rise of the “scriptment” and Dave’s reaction to it
- 14:30 – Clarity, consistency, and avoiding reader confusion
- 18:20 – Moving past superficial character descriptions
- 23:26 – Writing natural dialogue and handling exposition
- 26:01 – Subtext: one of the last, but most powerful skills to master
About the Guest
Dave Trottier is best known as Dr. Format, the go-to expert on screenwriting rules and formatting. He is the author of the industry-standard book The Screenwriter’s Bible and teaches courses on screenwriting at Script University and through his own platform
KeepWriting.com.
About the Host
With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode
- The Screenwriter’s Bible by Dave Trottier
- KeepWriting.com – Dave’s official website
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