Scott Myers

Written Interview: Tony Gilroy

With Duplicity still in some theaters and State of Play debuting this weekend, it’s fitting to feature a couple of interviews with writer-director Tony Gilroy. In addition to writing and directing Duplicity and co-writing the screenplay for State of Play, Gilroy’s credits include The Cutting Edge

Daily Dialogue — January 14, 2012

The last hand of the game which includes Bond and his buddy Le Chiffre… Bond: Fourteen million, five hundred thousand all in. [crowd gasp] [Le Chiffre ponders. Strains. Checks his cards. Finally…] Le Chiffre: Well, I think I will call you on that one. [He goes all in.] Dealer: Call.

GITS Script Reading & Analysis, Week 15: “The Sixth Sense”

So after a lively discussion here on the blog, through Twitter and email, there seems to be a consensus that we continue to read and analyze movie scripts, but only do it once per month. This allows people time to read the script, think about it, then pull together their

Spec Script Sale: “Everybody Wants Head”

Sentinel Pictures and Cinetic Media partner to acquire indie comedy spec script “Everybody Wants Head” from writers Peter Hoare and Christopher Lilli. Per Variety: Story centers on a man with extreme OCD who inadvertently meets a shameless sex addict in group therapy. After a series of unfortunate events, the two

Joseph Campbell: “All the gods are within you”

“All the gods, all the heavens, all the hells, are within you.” — Joseph Campbell For the final post in this week-long series on Joseph Campbell, we have another example of an observation by the scholar that is applicable to the writing process on multiple levels, all of which point

Rewriting Your Script

We’ve all heard the saying, “Writing is rewriting.” But what? And how? When Tom Benedek and I launched Screenwriting Master Class, we knew we had to come up with something more than just a set of generic platitudes. Instead we needed to cull through our five decades of experience

Spec Script Sale: “Flashback”

Spec Script Deal: “Flashback” Endgame Entertainment acquires sci-fi spec script “Flashback” from writer Will Honley. Per Deadline: After becoming the first human to break the speed of light, a NASA pilot is struck with amnesia, and in the search for the memories of who he was, he discovers he

The Katzenberg Memo [Part 5]

In January 1991, Jeffrey Katzenberg, then the head of Disney’s motion picture divisions, wrote a memo that ended up being circulated throughout Hollywood. Even though it is 21 years old, it is remarkably relevant to the current movie business. For example, the United States was in a recession as

Great Character: George Spigott / The Devil (“Bedazzled”)

If you want to enjoy a kitschy bit of late 60s cinema, you could do worse than the 1967 film Bedazzled. With a screenplay by Peter Cook, based on a story by Cook and Dudley Moore, the comedy duo also starred in the movie: Here’s the summary of the

Daily Dialogue — January 13, 2012

Bateman takes out his wallet and pulls out a card. PRICE (Suddenly enthused) What’s that, a gram? BATEMAN New card. What do you think? McDermott lifts it up and examines the lettering carefully. McDERMOTT Whoa. Very nice. Take a look. He hands it to Van Patten. BATEMAN Picked them

What is your favorite Nemesis character?

Received this tweet from @khanb1: Whats your fav nemesis archetype of all time? I want to know, what makes for a memorable nemesis? Someone we love to hate? I thought that would make an excellent question for the GITS community. What is your favorite movie Nemesis? To get this party

Google+ and other techie things

With news that Google is dropping Google Friends Connect, that will mean some changes at GITS. I’ve been using GFC as a way for people to join the site and manage comments. Also along with site traffic, it helps me to monitor how what I do connects with what

Movie Trailer: “Moonrise Kingdom”

Written by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola IMDB site Release Date [U.S.]: May 25, 2012

Joseph Campbell: “We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned”

“We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” — Joseph Campbell This is the fourth in a series of posts I’ve been writing this week to expand our shared consciousness about what Joseph Campbell

Pitch Sale: “Untitled Alien Invasion Project” [F. Scott Frazier]

I normally only note pitch sales on the @ScreenwritingMC Twitter feed, but this one is special. Per TheWrap: F. Scott Frazier has moved from selling spec scripts to selling pitches: Universal has purchased the young writer’s pitch for an alien invasion movie for a mid-six figure price. — — Frazier’

“Hollywood’s global strategy: Made in America, but not for Americans”

More fodder for the “screenwriters better pay attention to movie studios’ focus on international market” message I’ve been drumming away at almost as long as I’ve been hosting this blog. Great analysis by Patrick Goldstein [The Big Picture / LAT]: Moviegoing may be lagging in the U.S., but

The Katzenberg Memo [Part 4]

In January 1991, Jeffrey Katzenberg, then the head of Disney’s motion picture divisions, wrote a memo that ended up being circulated throughout Hollywood. Even though it is 21 years old, it is remarkably relevant to the current movie business. For example, the United States was in a recession as

The Business of Screenwriting: God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason

I’m at lunch with our agents in Beverly Hills. It’s February, 1987. The deal where Universal Pictures bought our spec script K-9 is finalized and our agents are setting up meet-and-greets for us all over town. Amidst the jovial banter befitting the successful consummation of

Daily Dialogue — January 12, 2012

[the inmates are playing cards and betting with cigarettes] Martini: [rips a cigarette in half] I bet a nickel. McMurphy: Dime’s the limit, Martini. Martini: I bet a dime. [Puts the two halves onto the table] McMurphy: This is not a dime, Martini. This is a dime. [shows a

“The Devil Inside” and Found Footage movies

This weekend saw a shocking box office success of The Devil Inside. Pre-release audience polling suggested the movie would hit $15M in opening weekend revenues, but instead the film raked in $34M. That sound you hear in Hollywood are heads exploding. The ROI on TDL, which cost $1M to

Joseph Campbell: “Where you stumble, there lies your treasure”

On Monday, I wrote the first in a series of posts this week on Joseph Campbell, using as a centerpiece one of his quotes: “What each must seek in his life never was on land or sea. It is something out of his own unique potentiality for experience, something that

“Ever heard of success by sending a script straight to an actor?”

So @JakeLasker tweeted this question to @Screenwritten [F. Scott Frazier] and myself: ever heard of success by sending a script straight to an actor? Frankly I could only think of one instance: Touching Home by Logan and Noah Miller. Found this interview. The relevant excerpt: DIM: How did you meet

The Katzenberg Memo [Part 3]

In January 1991, Jeffrey Katzenberg, then the head of Disney’s motion picture divisions, wrote a memo that ended up being circulated throughout Hollywood. Even though it is 21 years old, it is remarkably relevant to the current movie business. For example, the United States was in a recession as

Script To Screen: “Blade Runner”

Batty and Deckard’s final struggle from the movie Blade Runner, screenplay by Hampton Fancher and David Webb Peoples, based on a novel by Philip K. Dick. Set-Up: All of his kin are dead and Batty goes after Deckard. Here is the scene from the movie: Check this out:

Daily Dialogue — January 11, 2012

The poker game. Five card stud. Playing are Gambler, Koko, Dynamite, Blind Dick and Luke, bandaged. The mood of the barracks is quieter than usual. The men are still assessing the fight, uncertain as to who now is their leader, looking toward Dragline for an indication. Not playing, Dragline lies