Scott Myers

Movie Trailer: “Welcome to Pine Hill”

Written by Keith Miller A recently reformed drug dealer, now working as a claims adjuster by day and bouncer by night, receives earth-shattering news, compelling to make peace with his past and search for freedom beyond the concrete jungle of New York City. IMDB site Release Date: 1 March

‘Similar But Different’ (Part 1: Remakes)

Perhaps you are sick of me talking about how Hollywood approaches moves and TV with the business ethos of ‘similar but different,’ a subject I have explored here, here, here, and here among many other posts. Hey, I am sympathetic to you. However since now more than ever Hollywood is

On Writing

“I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide.” — Harper Lee

Daily Dialogue — March 25, 2013

Kicking Bird: [in Lakota; addressing the village council] He may be a special man or even a god. I ask that Chief Ten Bears give us permission to talk with him. Murmurs around the council as Wind in his Hair rises to speak. Wind In His Hair: [in Lakota; subtitled]

Go Into The Story Week In Review: March 18-March 24, 2013

5 Screenwriting Skills: #1 — Talent 5 Screenwriting Skills: #2 — Knowledge 5 Screenwriting Skills: #3 — Experience 5 Screenwriting Skills: #4 — Voice 5 Screenwriting Skills: #5 — Conviction The Business of Screenwriting: Everything You Wanted to Know About Specs [Part 6: Rolling Out a New Writer’s Spec Script] Culture Trends and Hollywood:

Interview: Carter Blanchard (2012 Black List)

Carter Blanchard is a great example of talent meeting persistence. His first writing credit is a short film he directed in 1989. Since that time, he has landed numerous writing assignments and sold multiple spec scripts including “Virus” (1994), “Frigid & Impotent” (1995), ”Bedbugs” aka “Dead Asleep” (2004), and “Near

“Movies reimagined for another time & place”

Insanely cool! I mean seriously! From artist Peter Stults. You can see 17 of his reimagined movie posters here. I can’t remember how I found the link, but thanks to whoever it was. Comment Archive

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Final Close-Up [Part 2]

If you are a screenwriter, you should know about Anita Loos. Loos was one of the most influential writers in the early stages of American cinema, associated with 136 film projects per IMDB. Married to writer John Emerson, the pair wrote one of the first books on screenwriting in 1920:

Screenwriting News (March 18-March 24, 2013)

Jess Andrews adapting “Crazy U: One Dad’s Crash Course In Getting His Kid Into College” for New Line. Gil J. Botello and Vincent Baksanski adapting religious drama “Christ is Risen” for Grindstone Pictures. Matt Cook sells untitled heist pitch to 20th Century Fox. Josh Epstein and Kyle Rideout drama

Daily Dialogue — March 24, 2013

RUSSO: Will you stop it! POPEYE: I’ll bust you! RUSSO: Come on! POPEYE: Will you let me at him! I want to bust him! I want to bust him! RUSSO: Let me talk to him. POPEYE: You got a friend here, buddy. You got a friend! RUSSO: You gonna

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Culture Clash

This week’s theme — arrest, suggested by Teddy Pasternak — has been going quite well and thanks for all your recommendations. But it’s time to think about next week’s theme which is Culture Clash, suggested by Debbie Moon: The usual drill: * Copy/paste dialogue from IMDB Quotes or some

Interview: Carter Blanchard (2012 Black List) — Part 6

Carter Blanchard is a great example of talent meeting persistence. His first writing credit is a short film he directed in 1989. Since that time, he has landed numerous writing assignments and sold multiple spec scripts including “Virus” (1994), “Frigid & Impotent” (1995), ”Bedbugs” aka “Dead Asleep” (2004), and “Near

Great Scene: “The Fabulous Baker Boys”

Here’s a great scene involving music: Susie (Michelle Pfeiffer) vamping it up atop a Steinway piano in a slinky red dress, crooning “Makin’ Whoopee.” INT. “KING’S MANOR” DINING ROOM — NIGHT A banner stretched between two chandeliers, proclaims “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” As the CAMERA DESCENDS, Jack can be heard

Saturday Hot Links

Time for another installment of Saturday Hot Links. Today: The Bill Hicks Edition! Happy 7th Birthday, Twitter! [video] Director Gavin O’Connor replaces Lynne Ramsay on “Jane Got a Gun”. Warner Bros. opens San Francisco game studio. Watch 24 hours of Internet activity around the world in 8 seconds [video]

Written Interview: Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt (“Olympus Has Fallen”)

Scriptmag.com interview with Olympus Has Fallen screenwriters Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt [interviewer: Ryan Kelly]: RK: Let’s talk Olympus Has Fallen. Tell me about the film. CR: The original idea I had several years ago was, “What would be the most impossible building to take over in the

Daily Dialogue — March 23, 2013

As John opens the door, DETECTIVE QUINN shows his badge. DETECTIVE COLLERO and a team of detectives push past. John has no time to react. DETECTIVE QUINN: Police. Mr. Brennan? LUKE sees the police rush past him and gets scared. DETECTIVE QUINN: My name is Detective Quinn. This is a

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Culture Clash

This week’s theme — arrest, suggested by Teddy Pasternak — has been going quite well and thanks for all your recommendations. But it’s time to think about next week’s theme which is Culture Clash, suggested by Debbie Moon: The usual drill: * Copy/paste dialogue from IMDB Quotes or some

Interview: Carter Blanchard (2012 Black List) — Part 5

Carter Blanchard is a great example of talent meeting persistence. His first writing credit is a short film he directed in 1989. Since that time, he has landed numerous writing assignments and sold multiple spec scripts including “Virus” (1994), “Frigid & Impotent” (1995), ”Bedbugs” aka “Dead Asleep” (2004), and “Near

Why is domestic B.O. down 12.9% this year?

How about this from TheWrap: The box office’s doldrums can be blamed on a lack of diversity, National Association of Theatre Owners President and CEO John Fithian told reporters Thursday. In particular, Fithian said that a lack of family films and a glut of violent action movies contributed to

Movie Trailer: “Star Trek Into Darkness”

Written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman & Damon Lindelof, characters by Gene Roddenberry After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.

5 Screenwriting Skills: #5 — Conviction

During the nearly 5 years I’ve run this blog, I have been privileged to do one-on-one interviews with a number of screenwriters, especially this year as I set a goal to post a Q&A per week for 2013. Over the course of those interviews, it’

Great Character: Bridget Gregory (“The Last Seduction”)

This month’s theme: Femme fatale. Today’s guest post by Jason Cuthbert features Bridget Gregory from the 1994 movie The Last Seduction, written by Steve Barancik. What kind of woman marries a drug dealer only to rob him and run off with $700,000? The answer is a frozen-

Daily Dialogue — March 22, 2013

JACK: Move! WILL: No. I can not just step aside and let you escape. Jack cocks the pistol. Will stares back. The stand-off lasts a long moment. JACK: You’re lucky, boy — this shot’s not meant for you. Jack uncocks the pistol. Will is surprised, reassesses Jack – Suddenly,

Reader Question: How to write action with a marooned character?

A reader question from Robert: Hi Scott I have a question that’s a bit about the writing and a bit about the layout that you might find interesting to cover on the blog — which, BTW, even after all this time is still the best resource out there by a

Interview: Carter Blanchard (2012 Black List) — Part 4

Carter Blanchard is a great example of talent meeting persistence. His first writing credit is a short film he directed in 1989. Since that time, he has landed numerous writing assignments and sold multiple spec scripts including “Virus” (1994), “Frigid & Impotent” (1995), ”Bedbugs” aka “Dead Asleep” (2004), and “Near