Scott Myers

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Kevin Smith

As we wrap up a week of sibling rivalry Daily Dialogue posts [thanks to Traci Nell Peterson for that recommendation], next week’s theme per a suggestion from Sean Harris is writer-director Kevin Smith. My guess we could subtitle this NSFW week given Smith’s propensity for profanity. No

The importance of getting your logline right

Comment Archive

GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Black Swan” — TweetCast transcript

On Wednesday, October 24, we had a live Tweet-Cast of Black Swan. What’s a TweetCast? At 8PM Pacific, people from around the world pushed Play on an electronic device and watched the movie, then commented on it real-time on Twitter. You may read the transcript here. As

Great Scene: Amadeus

This is one of my favorite all-time scenes, a brilliant inspiration for the viewer to hear what Mozart is ‘hearing’ in his own mind, but Solieri not to hear, both to give Solieri an actual taste of creative genius at work in the moment, and also to underscore to

Saturday Hot Links

Time again for another installment of Saturday Hot Links! Today: The Funniest Japanese Movie Star Advertisements Edition! Paul Thomas Anderson admires Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. The Guardian: Paul Thomas Anderson on The Master. Why do we say “pardon my French” when we curse. William Faulkner rights holders sue

Written Interview: Raymond Chandler (November 1945)

@FranklinLeonard forwarded this gem to me: A first person essay in Atlantic Monthly from November 1945 by famed novelist Raymond Chandler. He also dabbled in screenwriting, most notably a shared credit on Double Indemnity with Billy Wilder. Despite the fact they were nominated for an Academy Award, the two loathed

Daily Dialogue — October 27, 2012

BLANCHE: Oh, Jane, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ring for my breakfast. I was just wondering who all those people were at the back door. JANE: Wasn’t anything. Just that nosey Mrs. Bates going on about your picture last night. BLANCHE: Oh, really? Did she like

Udate on complimentary classes for “Quest” entrants

Last summer When I opened up submissions for “The Quest,” I said that everyone who submitted a logline would get a complimentary 1-week Core or Craft class with me through Screenwriting Master Class. Little did I know I would get over 1500 entrants. Nevertheless I am a man of

Great story!

Back in May when I first launched The Quest initiative — over 3,500 logline submissions from 1,500 entrants — I made a first cut of 21 writers based solely on the strength of their story ideas. One of those writers was Lynelle White. I spoke with Lynelle [as I did

Spec Script Sale: “Our Name Is Adam”

Paramount acquires science fiction spec script “Our Name Is Adam” from writer T.S. Nowlin. From Deadline: An astronaut who travels back in time and works with his younger self. Nowlin is repped by WME and Caliber Media. By my count, this is the 81st spec script sale in 2012.

Tom Hanks on “The Stephen Colbert Report”

If you’re a movie fan, you’ll love this bit: http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:cms:video:colbertnation.com:420595

“What are you afraid of?”

The single greatest inhibitor to creativity is fear. Do you recognize any of these ‘voices’: * I am afraid of typing FADE IN. * I am afraid I won’t be able to finish the script. * I am afraid I don’t have enough talent. * I am afraid the words won’t

Movie Trailer: “Iron Man 3”

Tony Stark uses his ingenuity to fight those who destroyed his private world and soon goes up against his most powerful enemy yet: the Mandarin. Screenplay by Shane Black and Drew Pearce IMDB site Release Date: 3 May 2013 (USA) Comment Archive

GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Black Swan” — Dialogue

This week we will be analyzing the screenplay for the 2010 movie Black Swan, screenplay by Mark Heyman and Andrés Heinz and John J. McLaughlin, story by Andrés Heinz. You may download an October 5, 2009 version of the shooting script here. A featurette on the importance of mirrors in

Great Character: Freddy Krueger (“A Nightmare on Elm Street ”)

This month’s Great Character: Boogeyman. Here is guest contributor Jason Cuthbert with a post about a notable Boogeyman: Freddy Krueger from the A Nightmare on Elm Street: Freddy Krueger might just be the Madonna of horror movie characters — a household name regardless of what generation you are from. His

Daily Dialogue — October 26, 2012

INT. POLICE STATION. WAITING ROOM Jeanie’s sitting on a wooden bench with a WASTED TEENAGE BOY in a Triumph t-shirt, long hair, torn jeans, creepers, studs and chains. He’s studying her. BOY: Drugs? JEANIE: No, thank you. I’m straight. BOY: I meant, are you here for

A different approach to “theme”

Everything I’ve ever read on the subject of theme in relation to screenwriting has felt either confusing or impractical. What does theme mean? How should we understand it? How can we use it in our writing? The ironic thing is theme is incredibly important: * Important in helping us find

Award Season screenplay download sites

It’s that time of year when the studios make screenplays available for download for award consideration. Here is the first set of links: Lorax Moonrise Kingdom ParaNorman Snow White and the Huntsman Ted This Is 40 HT to Inger Fountain for these links. Let’s track down all legal

Spec Script Sale: “Patrol”

Paramount acquires action thriller spec script “Patrol” from writer Jayson Rothwell. From Variety: The pic follows US Marines patrol who while chasing drug smugglers to a remote island, their mission takes an unexpectedly deadly twist. Rothwell is repped by WME. By my count, this is the 80th spec script sale

2012 Academy Nicholl Fellowship winners

The five winners of the 2012 Academy Nicholl Fellowships: Nikole Beckwith of Brooklyn, N.Y. for the screenplay Stockholm, Pennsylvania Sean Robert Daniels, Laezonia, Gauteng, South Africa, Killers James DiLapo, New York, N.Y., Devils at Play Allan Durand, Lafayette, La., Willie Francis Must Die Michael Werwie, L.A., Ca.

“Writing equals butt on chair” (*)

I can’t take credit for this line. I’ve seen it associated with Oliver Stone: “Writing equals butt on chair.” (*) Seems simple enough, right? At some point, you have to plant your ass in a chair and write the damn pages. However you will notice this — (*) — I added to

Movie Trailer: “Safe Haven”

A young woman with a mysterious past lands in Southport, North Carolina where her bond with a widower forces her to confront the dark secret that haunts her. Screenplay by Leslie Bohem and Dana Stevens, novel by Nicholas Sparks IMDB site Release Date: 8 February 2013 (USA)

GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Black Swan” — Themes

This week we will be analyzing the screenplay for the 2010 movie Black Swan, screenplay by Mark Heyman and Andrés Heinz and John J. McLaughlin, story by Andrés Heinz. You may download an October 5, 2009 version of the shooting script here. Today we discuss the script’s themes. There

The Business of Screenwriting: The Power of “No”

In the event you break into the business as a screenwriter, you need to be prepared to say this word: No. The simple fact is if you say “yes,” you can make a lot of money as a screenwriter. You can also end up writing a lot of crap. And

Daily Dialogue — October 25, 2012

Donald Kaufman: Anyway, listen, I meant to ask you, I need a cool way to kill people. Don’t worry, for my script. Charlie Kaufman: I don’t write that kind of stuff. Donald Kaufman: Oh, come on, man, please? You’re the genius. Charlie Kaufman: Here you go. The