Scott Myers

Analysis: “Drive” and “Dolphin Tale”

I’m guessing this will be the only review in the entire universe comparing Drive and Dolphin Tale, but from a screenwriting standpoint there are some important issues to be explored in relation to these two films. If you have seen either/both movies, hit the link below. If not,

“Why We Write”: Thania St. John

During the last WGA strike, TV writers Charles “Charlie” Craig and Thania St. John started a blog called Why We Write. They posed that question to a number of writers and over a period of several months, posted their answers on the site. As far as I can tell, the

Popcorn Fiction: “The Dead Lights” by Matthew Grainger

A new short story from Popcorn Fiction, the site hosted by screenwriter-novelist Derek Haas: This is a really great story from a gifted writer. Long-time fans of Popcorn Fiction will recognize the name Matthew Grainger from his story “Alive and Well,” which ran over a year ago. I

GITS Script Reading and Analysis Series: “Pan’s Labyrinth”

Welcome to Week 6 of the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series. This week we will be analyzing the screenplay for Pan’s Labyrinth (written by Guillermo del Toro), your selection for the Fantasy genre. If you haven’t had a chance to read the script yet, you can go

On Writing

“There are not many roads. There is only one road, infinitely connected, like the grooves on an old record, endlessly leading away from home and back towards home at the same time. It’s all one long journey and traveling is just what we do to stay alive… It’s

Daily Dialogue — October 10, 2011

“Plastics.” — Mr. McGuire (Walter Brooke), The Graduate (1967), screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry, based on the novel by Charles Webb http://static.movieclips.com/embedplayer.swf?config=http://config.movieclips.com/player/config/embed/hypVT/%3Floc%3DUS&endpoint=http://movieclips.com/api/v1/player/test/action/&

Why read scripts?

Tomorrow we move into Week 6 of the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series. The featured script: Pan’s Labyrinth, your selection for the Fantasy genre. You may access the script here. Why this series? Because reading scripts is an essential part of your growth as a screenwriter. Why read

Movie Trailer: “The Raven”

Screenplay by Ben Livingston and Hannah Shakespeare IMDB site. Release date: March 9, 2012 Comment Archive

Everything Is A Remix: “The Matrix”

Part of a series: Part One Part Two Part Three Kill Bill Which all underscores the unalterable truth of Hollywood’s fundamental operating philosophy: “Similar But Different.” Comment Archive

Video Interview: Orson Welles

The Internet never ceases to amaze me. Below is an excerpt from an interview with Orson Welles. I’ve never seen it before today, never even knew of its existence until I started bumping around the web. Two things about the interview. First, Welles reveals that the idea of ‘home’

Daily Dialogue — October 9, 2011

CRAIG: There’s a tiny door in my office, Maxine. It’s a portal and it takes you inside John Malkovich. You see the world through John Malkovich’s eyes. And then after about 15 minutes, you’re spit out into a ditch on the side of the New Jersey

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Memorable one-word lines

I had an idea this week for our next Daily Dialogue inspired by this: Arguably the most famous one-word line of dialogue in the history of cinema. That got me thinking: Are there other notable one-word lines of dialogue? I thought of a few, just enough to become

Inside the mind of Charlie Kaufman

Nice first-person essay by Charlie Kaufman in the Guardian. It covers his first writing job in TV, what he was thinking when he Being John Malkovich, and one key aspect of his philosophy of writing. But what really caught my eye is this story: I’ll tell you this

Ernest Hemmingway Nobel Prize speech

Ernest Hemingway Nobel Prize speech From David Dobbs at Wired: Yesterday, a few hours after the Nobel Prize for Literature had been awarded to Tomas Transtromer, I received from former Nobel staffer Simon Frantz an audio clip that seized my heart. It is a 1954 recording of Ernest Hemingway reading

Saturday Hot Links

Another edition of Saturday Hot Links, today drizzled with a hazelnut cream sauce. Today is “Arrested Development” day for reasons that will become clear as you read further. To celebrate, here are bloopers from Season 2: “Arrested Development” news: Mitch Hurwitz plans on doing a “limited” TV season before making

Video Interview: David Simon (UNC speech)

Recently David Simon spoke at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an event I was fortunate enough to attend. Simon, whose contributions to TV writing has been enormous, creating such unique series as “The Wire” and “Treme,” has strong political, cultural, and philosophical views, and he is decidedly

Daily Dialogue — October 8, 2011

INT. STARK’S OFFICE — DAY ARLO: I’m his sole representative, he’s my only employer and as such I have full authorization to speak on his behalf on all his business. I have with me a signed letter to that effect. He doesn’t negotiate his fee. He works

GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Pan’s Labyrinth”

We have completed Round 5 of our weekly GITS Script Reading & Analysis series. #1: Gladiator (Action) #2: Bridesmaids (Comedy) #3: Good Will Hunting (Drama) #4: The Silence of the Lambs (Thriller) #5: Toy Story 3 (Family) I have started an archive for the series here where GITS readers may

Reader Question: What is the best day job to have while writing spec scripts?

From Charlotte: I have a question: I browsed your Q&A section, and I searched for the words “job” (as in day job). I didn’t find anything. What I’m curious about is — in your opinion, what is the best type of day job to have (with benefits)

“Democrats vs. Republicans: Stars they Won’t Pay to See; Movies They Hate and Love (Poll)”

Via THR: An exclusive THR/Penn Schoen Berland study reveals why Dems and Republicans like different films — and which actors each side absolutely refuses to pay to see. Among the poll’s findings: ► Democrats are bigger moviegoers This is likely fueled by Hollywood’s reputation — among both parties — for churning

“Why We Write”: Mary Elena Rodriguez

During the last WGA strike, TV writers Charles “Charlie” Craig and Thania St. John started a blog called Why We Write. They posed that question to a number of writers and over a period of several months, posted their answers on the site. As far as I can tell, the

Movie Trailer: “Young Adult”

Here’s an alternate version exclusively through Slashfilm: Written by Diablo Cody, directed by Jason Reitman. IMDB site Release date: December 16, 2011 Comment Archive

GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Toy Story 3” — Dialogue

We wrap up our week long analysis of the script Toy Story 3 by considering its use of dialogue. There are 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 you?

Spec Script Sale: “Untitled Ashley Bradley Project”

Disney acquires an untitled detective drama spec script from writer Ashley Bradley. Per THR: Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the project revolves around a young woman who finds out she is the descendant of a legendary detective and is forced to take up the sleuthing mantle. The

Great Characters: Tyler Durden (“Fight Club”)

The movie’s budget more than doubled. Filming lasted 138 days and the director shot nearly three times the amount of footage as a normal movie. It underperformed at the box office. Its legacy led to the firing of a studio head. Yet Fight Club [screenplay by Jim Uhls, based