Scott Myers

Writers on how they write: Russell Banks

The Wall Street Journal has a great article: “How to Write a Great Novel”, reflections by 11 novelists on how they approach writing. I’ll feature one writer per day, highlighting their process with a key excerpt from the article. Today’s writer is Russell Banks whose novels include “Continental

Script To Screen: “Searching for Bobby Fischer”

A chess game between two boys from the 1993 drama Searching for Bobby Fischer (screenplay by Steve Zaillian, based on a book by Fred Waitzkin). Setup: The championship match toward the end of the movie between young Josh Waitzkin and his opponent Jonathan Poe. INT. BANQUET ROOM — DAY Poe keeps

Daily Dialogue — August 10, 2011

Thompson: Ah, come in, Miss Maceach — I ‘m Inspector Thom —  Constance: This is all too tiresome and absurd. He’s making the most dreadful fuss. Thompson: If you don’t mind, I would like to ask the young lady some questions. Constance: Well, I’m not leaving, if that’s

Spirit Of The Spec: You Act On Your Idea

I had a conversation recently with a former studio executive turned producer in which I found myself talking about the “spirit of the spec,” essentially when a person chooses to pursue a project or goal entirely on speculation with the hopes of some eventual payoff. Not everybody would make that

Writers on how they write: Amitav Ghosh

The Wall Street Journal has a great article: “How to Write a Great Novel”, reflections by 11 novelists on how they approach writing. I’ll feature one writer per day, highlighting their process with a key excerpt from the article. Today’s writer is Amitav Ghosh whose novels include “The

Screenwriting 101: W.R. Burnett

“The trouble with most film writing is that too many writers have no feel for film. They’re writing stories, they’re writing plays, they’re not writing for film. There’s far too much dialogue written — you don’t need it. You can tell so much with the camera

Spirit Of The Spec: You Get An Idea

I had a conversation recently with a former studio executive turned producer in which I found myself talking about the “spirit of the spec,” essentially when a person chooses to pursue a project or goal entirely on speculation with the hopes of some eventual payoff. Not everybody would make that

Update: Spec Script Sales (2011)

While there is still one possible project I might add to the list, I am basically done with my mid-year review of spec script sales. Over the weekend, I added several projects. Today I am posting some revised numbers both through June and up to date. Spec script sales

Another GITS idea

Last week I made a proposal: To do a weekly script reading and analysis series. The response was quite favorable. I will post details on that new series tomorrow. But today another idea. I consider us to be a community, a group of people engaged in an ongoing discussion about

“Pulp Fiction” interrogation scene

There is some discussion in comments on today’s Daily Dialogue. Figured I’d post the scene from Tarantino’s script: INT. APARTMENT (ROOM 49) – MORNING THREE YOUNG GUYS, obviously in over their heads, sit at a table with hamburgers, french fries and soda pops laid out. One of them

Writers on how they write: Junot Diaz

The Wall Street Journal has a great article: “How to Write a Great Novel”, reflections by 11 novelists on how they approach writing. I’ll feature one writer per day, highlighting their process with a key excerpt from the article. Today’s writer is Junio Diaz, whose published short stories

Popcorn Fiction: “Blind Date” by Steve Allrich

Time for another new short story from Popcorn Fiction, the site hosted by screenwriter-novelist Derek Haas: Here’s a nifty crime story from screenwriter Steve Allrich. It centers on a waitress at a dumpy diner who encounters a crook who may be able to help her. Like a lot

On Writing

“If you write one story, it may be bad; if you write a hundred, you have the odds in your favor.” — Edgar Rice Burroughs HT to @Quotes4Writers for the quote Comment Archive

Daily Dialogue — August 8, 2011

Jules: Hey kids! How you boys doin’?  [to man laying on the couch]  Jules: Hey, keep chillin’. You know who we are? We’re associates of your business partner Marsellus Wallace. You do remember your business partner don’t you? Let me take a wild guess here. You’re Brett,

A mathematical formula for what makes a movie scary

Ah, academics with time on their hands! This article comes by way of GITS reader Jeff W who emailed me: Saw this article about how math equations can solve certain life problems… I don’t totally understand the equation, but I found the elements you need for writing a horror

Spec Script Sale: “Into the Beautiful”

Note: The script sold 4/5/11. Wendy Finerman and BCDF Productions acquires comedy-drama spec script “Into the Beautiful” from writer Anne Meredith. From Variety: Project, based on Anne Meredith’s script, is being developed as a contemporary “Big Chill” with longtime friends reconnecting. Meredith is repped by WME.

Why we need superheroes

Okay, so that didn’t last long. And who better to break my 2-hour banishment of discussing superheroes than Deepak Chopra? Because when I think superhero, I think Chopra. Also his son Gotham and comic book writer Grant Morrison, weighing in on the subject at Comic-Con 2011: Comment

Superhero Fatigue Syndrome

From Salon: This is what happens when you put studio executives in charge of making movies: Despite being a truly middling summer blockbuster (and doing pretty terrible in the international market), Warner Bros. studios is convinced that it can squeeze some money out of a “Green Lantern” sequel. In fact,

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Interrogations!

We’re wrapping up a week full of deathbed scenes (thanks for that suggestion, Gabe). Interesting to note that despite the conventional wisdom that subtext is always best, sometimes on the nose dialogue just flat out works. I guess the shadow of death tends to focus characters on being as

Spec Script Sale: “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”

Note: The script sold on May 24, 2011. Skydance acquires action spec script “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” from writer Tom O’Connor. Logline: N/A. O’Connor is repped by UTA and Industry Entertainment. Comment Archive

Spec Script Sale: “Lust”

Note: The script sold April 6, 2011. Stone Village Pictures acquires thriller spec script “Lust” from veteran screenwriter Joe Estzerhas. From THR: Centers on a 30-year old beauty who is married and in love with an older Miami-based fashion magazine publisher, only to be seduced by a younger

Spec Script Sale: “Rounds”

Note: The script sold March 28, 2011. Nasser Entertainment acquires thriller spec script “Rounds” from writer Chris Borrelli. Via It’s On The Grid: Story is a contained/ticking-clock thriller set inside Massachusetts General Hospital. Borrelli is repped by UTA and H2F.

Spec Script Sale: “Timelock”

Note: The script sold March 28, 2011. IM Global acquires thriller spec script “Timelock” from writer Terry Miles. From It’s On The Grid: A contained, ticking clock heist/thriller. INSIDE MAN meets RASHOMON. Miles is repped by H2F.

Spec Script Sale: “In the Belly of the Whale”

Note: The script sold March 4, 2011. Ten Thirty-One Pictures buys drama-thriller spec “In the Belly of the Whale” from writers Steven Doxey & Scott Hinckley & Brandon Sean Pearson. Per It’s On The Grid: Set in the depths of the Alaskan wilderness, an unfaithful wife and

Spec Script Sale: “Stash House”

Note: The script sold on February 16, 2011.Dark Castle Entertainment acquires thriller spec “Stash House” from writer Gary Spinelli. Via Empire: Stash House involves a young couple moving into a starter home to begin their perfect new life, only to then be terrorized by a dangerous criminal gang who