In this episode of The Screenplay Lab, Jeff Barker deconstructs the provocative and award-winning screenplay for Babygirl (2024), written and directed by Halina Reijn and starring Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson. This psychological erotic thriller, produced by A24, subverts the genre by placing a powerful woman at the center of a dark, complex, and unapologetic power dynamic.

We explore the screenplay as a literary document, not just a blueprint for the film. From formatting and scene structure to dialogue, symbolism, and raw emotional dynamics, this in-depth exploration offers genuine insight for screenwriters, filmmakers, and storytelling enthusiasts.

📌 In this episode:

• What makes Babygirl’s screenplay bold and original

• The use of power, shame, and desire in character-driven storytelling

• How Halina Reijn formats scenes, montages, and intercut sequences

• Key screenwriting techniques: pre-laps, interiority, camera direction, and more

• Dialogue breakdowns that show character tension at its finest

• Themes of vulnerability, domination, and identity

Whether you're writing your first screenplay or are a seasoned professional, this episode offers a fresh perspective on crafting emotionally layered, visually rich, and thematically daring stories.

BABYGIRL SCREENPLAY

🎙️ About The Screenplay Lab:
Welcome to The Screenplay Lab, where we study and appreciate screenplays as stand-alone literary works, not just blueprints for film. We deconstruct a script in each episode, uncovering what makes it unique and exploring what writers can learn.

#screenwriting #filmmaking #movies #screenplay #Babygirl #moviemaking #nicolekidman #halinareijn

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There are screenplay breakdowns on:

• Anora (Mikey Madison) by Sean Baker
• Nosferatu (Lily Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgard) by Robert Eggers
• Heretic (Hugh Grant) by Scott Beck and Brian Woods
• A Complete Unknown (Timothee Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning) by James Mangold
• The Substance (Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley) by Coralie Fargeat
• A Real Pain (Kieran Culkin) by Jesse Eisenberg
• Conclave (Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow) by Peter Straughan
• The Brutalist (Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce) by Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
• Us (Lupita Nyong'o) by Jordan Peele (with Curry Barker interview)
• Babygirl (Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson) by Halina Reijn