Scott Myers

The Theology of Screenwriting, Part 13: Congregation

This week I continue to explore theological themes in relation to screenwriting, considering them metaphorically because in my view, we see these themes in movies all the time. By understanding them, we can use these theological themes to enhance the meaning and depth of our stories. For background on the

Script To Screen: “Airplane”

A scene from the 1980 comedy Airplane [written by Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry Zucker]. Setup: The flight crew has been taken down by food poisoning. Fortunately there is ex-pilot Ted Striker on board. Unfortunately he is psychologically scarred as a pilot from an event in the

Daily Dialogue — December 5, 2012

MOLINA: I’ve fallen in love with you. I’m sorry, Valentin. I wish it hadn’t happened. VALENTIN: I understand, Molina, don’t be ashamed. Both are silent. Valentin finally speaks with difficulty. VALENTIN: Can I touch you? MOLINA: If it doesn’t disgust you. (Pause) I’d like

Turning “No” into “Yes”

Received this email from writer Janna Gummo yesterday: Hi Scott, I just wanted to send you a little note of appreciation. I just finished writing my first feature script. I have to admit I was certain you were going to pick me to Go on the Quest with you and

“Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors”

Per The Hollywood Reporter: 1. Stephen King Known For: “The Shining,” “The Stand,” “The Shawshank Redemption.” 2. Elmore Leonard Known For: “Justified,” “Get Shorty.” 3. Nicholas Sparks Known For: “The Notebook.” 4. EL James Known For: “Fifty Shades of Grey.” 5. Suzanne Collins Known For: “The Hunger Games.” 6. Robert

“Zero in on themes”

Here’s a tip on how to zero in on themes. Just as you can generally surface a story’s central theme by following the Protagonist, you can do a similar thing by spending time with each primary character and considering what thematic dynamics they bring to the narrative table.

Movie Trailer: “Admission”

A Princeton admissions officer who is up for a major promotion takes a professional risk after she meets a college-bound alternative school kid who just might be the son she gave up years ago in a secret adoption. Written by Karen Croner, Jean Hanff Korelitz IMDB site Release Date:

The Theology of Screenwriting, Part 12: Baptism

This week I continue to explore theological themes in relation to screenwriting, considering them metaphorically because in my view, we see these themes in movies all the time. By understanding them, we can use these theological themes to enhance the meaning and depth of our stories. For background on the

Screenwriting 101: John Sayles

“It’s usually not a matter of lots of ideas, it’s a whole subject matter that I’m interested in. What I need to do is really think and condense it. Really think about what do I want to learn about this subject. So it’s not so much

Daily Dialogue — December 4, 2012

Ron: God, you are so beautiful. Veronica: We really should be going. I swore that I would never get involved with a coworker. Ron: Wait. What if, just for tonight, we weren’t coworkers? We were co-people? Veronica: I don’t… Ron: Shh. You be a woman. I’ll

December Script Reading & Analysis: “It’s A Wonderful Life”

The GITS Script Reading & Analysis script for December is the classic 1946 holiday movie It’s a Wonderful Life, screenplay by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and Frank Capra, story by Philip Van Doren Stern. The movie was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and co-writer Frank Capra won

Go On Your Own Quest, Week 20: First Draft

Several readers emailed me about aggregating the entire series of posts we have been running in association with the Go On Your Own Quest initiative. Here is Week 20: First Draft. “Bad movie dialogue speaks in complete sentences” [Paul Thomas Anderson] “Every scene should advance the story” [Philip Dunne] “Each

More 2012 movie scripts available online — free and legal

Thanks to Inger Fountain for the heads-up on more 2012 movie scripts made available by the studios. You may download them at Inger’s site here or at Rope of Silicon which does a great job tracking these script releases. Current titles available: Anna Karenina (Focus Features) Arbitrage (Lionsgate

“Your story’s emotional life”

I have nothing against intellect. I love to think. I sometimes joke I like the concept of people better than people! Intellect is a critical aspect to everything we do including the story-crafting process. However I am convinced that what is most at work when a moviegoer makes a

Movie Trailer: “Now You See Me”

Yahoo! Video PlayerEdit descriptiond.yimg.com FBI agents track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money. Screenplay by Ed Solomon and Boaz Yakin & Edward Ricourt, story by Boaz Yakin & Edward Ricourt IMDB site Release Date: 7

The Theology of Screenwriting, Part 11: Revelation

As many of you may know, I have a background in the academic study of theology, a B.A. in religious studies from the University of Virginia and a Masters of Divinity degree from Yale. So it is only natural I bring that perspective to how I view and understand

On Writing

“People on the outside think there’s something magical about writing, that you go up in the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a story, but it isn’t like that. You sit in back of the typewriter and you work, and

Daily Dialogue — December 3, 2012

Joe: What the hell are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at Elton John’s. Billy: Well, I was there for a minute or two and then I had an epiphany. Joe: Really? Billy: Yeah. Joe: Come on. Just come up. So what was this epiphany? Billy: Erm,

Interview: Luke Myers

Recently I put together the 10,000th GITS post. In honor of that milestone, I ran a contest which was won by Kevin Gilbert [the prize was a conversation with me about one of his story treatments]. His suggestion: Interview my son Luke who provided inspiration for this blog by

Keys to the Craft: Think Concepts. Watch Movies. Read Scripts. Write Pages. Live Life.

Keys to the Screenwriting Craft: Think Concepts. Watch Movies. Read Scripts. Write Pages. Live Life. Here is a compilation of the series on screenwriting I wrote this week: Think Concepts. Watch Movies. Read Scripts. Write Pages. Live Life.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Writing for the Censors [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 (November 26-December 2, 2012)

Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari sell thriller spec script “Leave” for QED International William Broyles, Jr. writing sports drama “MacFarland” for Disney. Matt Cameron adapting “Violet Town” for Mushroom Pictures. Christ Columbus adapting his fantasy novel “House of Secrets” for Rise Entertainment. Derek Connolly writing untitled animation project for Pixar.

Video Interview: Robert Towne

A lengthy interview with screenwriter Robert Towne at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica on July 23, 2011 in which Towne provides ample details about numerous projects including The Last Detail, Chinatown and Shampoo. Here is Part 1 of 7: For the rest of the interview, go below the fold.

Daily Dialogue giving birth special

In honor of this week’s Daily Dialogue theme — giving birth — this video compilation called “The Movie Guide to Child Birth”: HT to @BillieJeanVK for posting that link.

Daily Dialogue — December 2, 2012

“Oh, Miss Scarlett! I don’t know nuthin’ ‘bout birthin’ babies.” — Gone With The Wind (1939), screenplay by Sidney Howard, novel by Margaret Mitchell The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is giving birth, suggested by blknwite. Trivia: While directing the scene where Prissy says “Oh Miss Scarlett! I don’