Scott Myers

More proof you should be thinking internationally

From a Variety article titled “Studios setting tales far, far away”: With the exception of “Rango,” all of this year’s American-backed big-studio toons take place abroad, ranging from “Rio’s” beautiful Brazilian vistas to “Cars 2's” whirlwind tour of a world inhabited only by cars.

Audio Interview: Stanley Kubrick

Via FilmmakerIQ, a rare audio interview with Stanley Kubrick: For some fascinating video footage with Kubrick, go to this earlier GITS post.

Daily Dialogue — November 20, 2011

“Detective. Detective. DETECTIVE! You’re looking for me.” –- John Doe (Kevin Spacey), Se7en (1995), written by Andrew Kevin Walker http://static.movieclips.com/embedplayer.swf?config=http://config.movieclips.com/player/config/embed/jkB4f/%3Floc%3DUS&endpoint=http://movieclips.com/api/v1/player/test/action/&start=0&

GITS Script Reading and Analysis: Contained Thriller and Found Footage?

We have time for two more weeks of script analysis in 2011 (December 5–9, 12–16). Annika has suggested two sub-genres: Contained Thriller (still pretty hot in the marketplace) and Found Footage (really hot). I’m all for it, however my first question is what scripts are available

Daily Dialogue theme for next week???

This week has been cop meets crook. What about next week? Let’s think of a really great theme that can sustain at least 7 movies: dialogue from IMDB Quotes and accompanying video from MovieClips or YouTube. See you in replies! UPDATE: I’m calling an audible. The theme will

50 Iconic Writers Who Were Repeatedly Rejected

If you ever get dejected about your writing, consider this list. Here are just a few highlights: Margaret Mitchell: “Gone With the Wind” was rejected 38 times. Tony Hillerman: was told to “get rid of the Indian stuff.” Richard Bach: 18 publishers thought a book about a seagull was ridiculous

Documentary: “Raiding the Lost Ark”

Another ‘filmumentary’ from Jamie Benning: Raiding the Lost Ark is an in-depth insight into the making of the 1981 collaboration between Spielberg and Lucas. This fan made Filmumentary contains behind the scenes video, rare interviews with cast and crew, reconstructed deleted scenes and subtitled facts. This is a preliminary

Saturday Hot Links

Welcome to another edition of Saturday Hot Links served up with a side of mashed yeast! Today’s theme: Lego movie parodies. First This Is Spinal Tap: Hot damn! New episodes of “Arrested Development” via Netflix. Malcolm Gladwell in the New Yorker on Steve Jobs. 10 worst celebrity endorsements. Third

Written Interview: Errol Morris interviews Stephen King

Via the NYT: In the Nov. 13 issue of the Book Review, the documentarian Errol Morris reviews Stephen King’s new novel, “11/22/63.” The book, like the film Morris is currently completing, is about the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Because of their overlapping interests, and because Mr.

Daily Dialogue — November 19, 2011

Carl Hanratty: [Frank is making one last attempt to run by impersonating a pilot once again. Carl catches up with him at Dulles Airport] How’d you do it, Frank? How’d you pass the bar in Louisiana? Frank Abagnale, Jr.: [Frank continues to walk. Carl walks several paces behind]

Spec Script Sale: “The Duff”

CBS Films acquires teen comedy spec script “The Duff” from writer Josh Cagan. From The Wrap: Josh Cagan (“Bandslam”) adapted the comedy novel, which is set in high school and has narrative elements similar to “Easy A” and “Mean Girls.” In the book, a slightly awkward teen girl becomes tired

Writing Question: How do you outline?

This came up in a discussion the other day with a couple of writers, so I thought I’d take the pulse of the GITS community. If you’re the kind of writer who works up some sort of outline before you type FADE IN — and if you’re a

“Little Miss Sunshine”: Winning, Losing, and Story Themes

Stories should be about something. As a reminder, here is screenwriter Michael Arndt talking about the central theme in his film Little Miss Sunshine: Here is an excerpt from the video clip: “One of the things that was an impetus to write the script was I remember reading this interview

THR’s Director’s Roundtable

Video excerpt from a THR roundtable with movie directors Michel Hazanavicius, 44, (The Artist) Steve McQueen, 42 (Shame), Bennett Miller, 44 (Moneyball), Mike Mills, 45 (Beginners), Alexander Payne, 50 (The Descendants) and Jason Reitman, 34 (Young Adult). Nice to see some writer-directors in the group, but next time how

Movies You Made: “Strange Human Custom” by Matt McKenna

From filmmaker Matt McKenna, a short film called Strange Human Custom with this tagline: “Not only is he a space alien, but he’s rude too.” Matt’s YouTube channel Taco Wednesday: An independent film production group in Berkeley, California. Facebook Any comments for Matt on Strange Human Custom or

“Woody Allen: A Documentary”

Video excerpt from Woody Allen: A Documentary: It airs on PBS’ “American Masters” series Nov. 20 and 21. THR has some background here.

GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” — Dialogue

We wrap up our week long analysis of the script Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind by considering its use of dialogue. The standard set of questions: * What do you consider to be the most memorable lines, either good or… not so good? Why did they work — or not — for

Great Characters: Kikuchiyo (“Seven Samurai”)

One of the great movie roles of all time played by one of the greatest actors of all time: Kikuchiyo from the classic 1954 Japanese film Seven Samurai as played by Toshirô Mifune. The movie, written by Akira Kurosawa & Shinobu Hashimoto & Hideo Oguni and directed by Kurosawa, has

Daily Dialogue — November 18, 2011

[Foster and Mac have pulled a man over for speeding and are deciding what game to play] Mac: All right, how about “Cat Game?” Foster: Cat Game? What’s the record? Mac: Thorny did six, but I think you can do ten. Foster: Ten? Starting right ‘meow?’ [Mac laughs — they

Stories that “come from the heart”

In the current online screenwriting class I’m teaching “Pixar and the Craft of Storytelling,” we were talking about how one key to Pixar’s success with their movies (all twelve of them #1 hits) is that they tell stories that come from the heart. One of the writers in

Movies You Made: “The Sibling” (Norith Soth)

From filmmaker Norith Soth: A Christian boy decodes the Bible and realizes an alien invasion is imminent. Director: Norith Soth Writers: Norith Soth and Mikal Britt Producers: Mich Medvedoff and Taka Arai Starring: Malcolm Ridley, Latrell Hart, Rhonda Dunwood, Mark Ridley, Kiziana Jean-Louis, Khayyam Kain, Halldor Enard Fan The

GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” — Themes

This week we are analyzing the screenplay for the 2004 movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. You may access the 2003–02–04 version of the script [screenplay by Charlie Kaufman, story by Charlie Kaufman & Michel Gondry & Pierre Bismuth] here. Today we discuss the script’s themes.

Daily Dialogue — November 17, 2011

They administer CPR for a long beat. Mia gets out of the car and watches Brian, struck by how earnest he is. After a series of chest thrusts, Brian checks for a pulse. To his great relief, he finds one. BRIAN: He’s back. DOMINIC: He’s breathing. Dominic’s

Reader Questions

Been so busy, I haven’t had a chance to open up the gates for your questions for a while, so it’s time. Any pressing concerns or nagging issues about the craft, business or life of screenwriting, I’m happy to provide my two cents worth. And let me

Q&A: Screenwriter F. Scott Frazier (“The Numbers Station,” “Line of Sight,” “Autobahn”) — Part 3

Since 2010, screenwriter F. Scott Frazier has sold four spec scripts. That’s right four. I asked Scott to do an interview and he kindly agreed. Here is a brief bio Scott sent to provide some idea of his background: I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and have