Scott Myers

Spec Script Sale: “The Driver”

Voltage Productions and Solipsist Films acquire spec action-thriller “The Driver” from director-writer team Spenser Cohen and Zach Luna. Per THR: Driver centers on a man whose life suburban existence is flipped on his drive to work when he finds himself coerced to be the wheelman of an assembled

Great Characters: Dr. Strangelove (“Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Loved the Bomb”)

Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Loved the Bomb is one of my top five favorite movies, a brilliant satire on the Cold War. Living as a boy for four years on a SAC Air Force Base in Minot, North Dakota, home to the country’s

Daily Dialogue — December 16, 2011

The four of them are riding in the elevator. As luck would have it, they have the car to themselves. Rinky-drink elevator Muzak is playing. They are all silent. CLARENCE: Elliot. ELLIOT: Yeah? CLARENCE: Get on your knees. ELLIOT: What? Clarence hits the stop button on the elevator panel

Reader Question: How do I handle characters speaking in a foreign language?

Indicate the foreign language, but use English instead. A question from Matt: I am crafting a story, and the outline is pretty solid. I have fleshed out the characters, and I’m ready to start developing dialogue (and actually putting pen to paper on this script). Something keeps confusing me,

Charlie Kaufman BAFTA lecture [Part 3]

On September 30, 2011, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman gave a lecture at a British Academy of Film and Television Arts event. I thought his presentation offered such wonderful insights not only into Kaufman’s world view, but also the very act of creativity that we should go through the entire thing

2011 Report Card [The Wrap]: Sony Pictures

Every year, The Wrap does a ‘report card’ on the box office performance of all the major Hollywood studios. Today: Sony Pictures. Grade: B Sony fielded a string moderately-budgeted hits from the likes of Cameron Diaz and Adam Sandler, while launching a new family franchise with “The Smurfs.” Not

“Films of Danny Boyle” by Kees van Dijkhuizen

An excellent video compilation by Kees van Dijkhuizen: HT to @slashfilm for the link.

69th Golden Globe Nominations

Announced this morning: BEST SCREENPLAY — MOTION PICTURE Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, The Ides of March Michael Hazanavicius, The Artist Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, The Descendants Steve Zaillian, Aaron Sork, Moneyball BEST TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA AMERICAN HORROR STORY (FX)  Twentieth Century Fox

GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Buried” — Themes

This week we are analyzing the screenplay for the 2010 movie Buried, written by Chris Sparling. You may access the script here. Today we discuss the script’s themes. I reached out to Chris Sparling, the screenwriter of Buried to see if he would answer some questions about the movie

Spec Script Sale: “Secretaries Day”

Sony Pictures acquires comedy spec script “Secretaries Day” from writer Drew Pearce. No logline given. Pearce is repped by WME. By my count, there have been 108 spec script sales in 2011. Only 55 spec scripts sold in 2010. Only 68 spec scripts sold in 2009. Spec script sales are

The Business of Screenwriting: Page Count

The mysterious science of what happens when and where. It’s 1987. I have recently stumbled my way into Hollywood after selling a spec script. My introduction is a mystifying experience and as ignorant as I am about the ways of The Biz, I know this much: Having had zero

Daily Dialogue — December 15, 2011

Susanna and Raymond are dancing in the elevator after Raymond missed his date with Iris. Susanna: It’s nice. You’re very good. Iris missed a beautiful dance. Raymond: Yeah. Susanna: And a kiss. Raymond: Yeah, a kiss. Susanna: Have you ever kissed a girl? Raymond: I don’t know.

Filmography 2011

This is terrific, images from literally hundreds of movies from 2011. A reminder to writers: MOVIES ARE PRIMARILY A VISUAL MEDIUM! Edited by genrocks. More info here. HT to @FirstShowing for the link. Comment Archive

Reader Question: Is this a good time to be writing a script aimed at children?

From Marc Teichman: I have a question that some others may be interested in, but I haven’t seen the topic talked of too much by readers. The script I’m currently writing is in the childrens/young adult category. I feel like I’ve got a great story here

Video: Interview with Spielberg’s longtime collaborators

Scott Feinberg (THR) had a chance to do an unusual sit-down, chatting with a number of Steven Spielberg’s longtime collaborators: * producer Kathleen Kennedy, who has produced or executive produced the vast majority of Spielberg’s films since her first, E.T. (1982), and who has produced a grand

Charlie Kaufman BAFTA lecture [Part 2]

On September 30, 2011, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman gave a lecture at a British Academy of Film and Television Arts event. I thought his presentation offered such wonderful insights not only into Kaufman’s world view, but also the very act of creativity that we should go through the entire thing

2011 Report Card [The Wrap]: Warner Bros.

Every year, The Wrap does a ‘report card’ on the box office performance of all the major Hollywood studios. Today: Warner Bros. Grade: B It’s tough to criticize a year that included a $1.33 billion global box-office performance by the final “Harry Potter” movie, not to mention

“Films of David Fincher” by Kees van Dijkhuizen

An excellent video compilation by Kees van Dijkhuizen: HT to @slashfilm for the link.

GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Buried” — Characters

This week we are analyzing the screenplay for the 2010 movie Buried, written by Chris Sparling. You may access the script here. Today we discuss the script’s characters. Here is a list of the most prominent ones: Paul Alan Davenport [C.R.T. personnel director] Jabir [hostage taker] Linda

Script To Screen: “Up”

From the 2009 Pixar movie Up [screenplay by Bob Peterson and Pete Docter, story by Peter Docter and Bob Peterson & Thomas McCarthy], the Carl and Ellie married life sequence. Setup: Carl and Ellie get married. INT. CHURCH — DAY FLASH! A photo is taken of the wedding couple: Carl and

Daily Dialogue — December 14, 2011

ELEVATOR DOORS ROCKETING OPEN. We MOVE IN ON the young elevator operator who leers INTO CAMERA. He wears a brass-buttoned uniform, white gloves and a pillbox hat. The name BUZZ is stitched onto his breast pocket. As Norville enters the elevators: BUZZ Hiya, buddy! The name is Buzz, I

What question would you ask a screenwriter?

Not just one, but seven of them. And not just screenwriters, but writers who have sold spec scripts to break into the business. As recently as 1 or 2 years ago, they were aspiring writers. Now they are successful Hollywood screenwriters. What questions would you ask them if you had

Spec Script Sale: “Bodies at Rest”

Nasser Entertainment and Caliber Media Co. acquire thriller spec script “Bodies at Rest” from writer David Lesser. Per Variety: Story centers on three thugs who break into a morgue to cover up a crime and the medical examiner and assistant who must figure out a way to stay alive as

Reader Question: Can a writer-actor expect to play a role they wrote if they sell their script?

From Marc Teichmann: I highly doubt my situation is unique, but I haven’t seen it talked about much on the site. My writing partner is also an actress and a role in the script I’m currently working on (and roles in other scripts) was written for her to

Charlie Kaufman BAFTA lecture [Part 1]

On September 30, 2011, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman gave a lecture at a British Academy of Film and Television Arts event. I thought his presentation offered such wonderful insights not only into Kaufman’s world view, but also the very act of creativity that we should go through the entire thing