Scott Myers

Celtx: Screenwriting Software

Most of you probably use Final Draft as your screenwriting software. Some use Movie Magic Screenwriter. I own both and they are fine programs. But they cost money (upward to $200). Aren’t there some good free options? There are and one of them is Celtx. From the Celtx Wikipedia

“The Crazy Ways Theaters are Luring Moviegoers”

As so many things about the movie business, there’s the text… and the subtext. Here’s one example per THR: AMC Entertainment’s “Fork & Screen” theater program is the equivalent of business class on an airplane: not quite as posh as first but offering plenty of amenities. For

On writing

“The difference between Page 2 and Page Nothing is the difference between life and death.”  — Aaron Sorkin

Daily Dialogue Download: What did we learn about writing insults?

We’ve just gone through two weeks worth of insults in the Daily Dialogue series. I picked up one thing. Compare these examples we featured on GITS: “You pompous, stuck-up, snot-nosed, English, giant, twerp, scumbag, fuck-face, dickhead, asshole.” (A Fish Called Wanda) “You shit-kicking, stinky, horse-

Profile: Martin Scorcese (Part 4)

Our friend Trevor Hogg has another profile at Flickering Myth, this one on Martin Scorcese. Noted as one of America’s most distinctive directors, Scorcese also has 14 film writing credits including Mean Streets, Goodfellas, and Age of Innocence. Here is an excerpt from Part 4 of the profile: “When

Update: International Tom Hanks Day

I posted about International Tom Hanks Day yesterday. Got this in comments from uzma: International Tom Hanks Day was a resounding success! But remember, until 29 March Tom Hanks will be matching ALL donations to Lifeline Energy. Donate today and help provide vulnerable children, women & refugees with sustainable access

International Tom Hanks Day!

Today is International Tom Hanks Day! You ask, “What, pray tell, is International Tom Hanks Day?” The Chicago Sun Times fills us in: Some people are content to sit on a park bench and watch the world go by. Kevin Turk is not that kind of guy. He came up

Saturday Hot Links

Back for another weekly installment of Saturday Hot Links. Today all wrapped up in some roasted eggplant! We begin with Juno done in 60 seconds… by some cute British kids: IndieWire with a comprehensive overview of SXSW 2011. Total Film: 50 uplifting movie moments. Off the success of $20K budgeted

Written Interview: David E. Kelley

He’s one of the most prolific TV writer-producers ever, creating numerous hit TV series including “Picket Fences,” “Ally McBeal,” “Chicago Hope,” and “The Practice.” Here is an excerpt from an interview Kelley with New York magazine: You could’ve had a career in the law. You graduated from

Spec Script Sale: “The Big Stone Grid”

Columbia Pics buys crime drama spec script “The Big Stone Grid” by writer S. Craig Zahler. Per THR Described as a dark and intense modern-day crime saga in the vein of Seven and Marathon Man, the story is set in motion after a puzzling suicide prompts an investigation that

Reader Question: What’s the best way to master writing a particular type of dialogue?

From Brady: Hi Scott, I’m a huge fan of your blog. I’m finding it extremely useful as I make my second attempt to write a feature-length script. I was looking through your story types, specifically frustration comedy, which I think is the broadest way to define the

Writer’s Style: Walter Hill

Sheridan who hosts the site myPDFscripts.com wrote this some time ago and I had intended to post something on it, but had — frankly — forgotten until I saw a Tweet yesterday from @MysteryExec in which he said this: Dear every screenwriter, read this: http://www.mypdfscripts.com/thelatest/writers-style-

Hunter S. Thompson interviews Keith Richards

“The Hollywood film business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There is also a negative side.” Thompson ran for Mayor of Aspen in 1976 and garnered 49% of the vote. His campaign was

Great Characters: Jack Torrance (“The Shining”)

Who can forget this face: None other than Jack Torrance from The Shining. Based on the Stephen King novel with a screenplay by director Stanley Kubrick and Diane Johnson, Torrance as played by Jack Nicholson is the Protagonist in this story of a writer gone awry. A plot summary from

Reader Question: How to go about querying multiple reps at the same agency?

From UK screenwriter: Agents and managers. I have one have just finished with another. Now that I am querying people again, I have this dilemma. When an agency has a lot of people, it can be difficult to query the right person, so I have contacted a few with a

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: What to do after you finish your first draft

Okay, so you’ve just typed FADE OUT of the first draft of your latest screenplay. What’s the first thing you do? Celebrate and get drunk? No, that’s the second thing you do. The first thing you do is print out a copy of your script, stick it

“The Writers of Hollywood”

From the Paris Review: Early in the movie Limitless, we follow protagonist Eddie Morra as he shuffles aimlessly down a street in New York’s Chinatown. Observed from a distance, Eddie barely registers onscreen. He has a scraggly ponytail and a beat-up jacket. One hand is wrapped in grubby

Tom Benedek art exhibit

My friend and cohort screenwriter Tom Benedek has an art exhibit. Tom Benedek Photographs and Sculptures Opening Reception at Frank Pictures, March 26th, 6:30–9:30 PM Preview of Peloponnesia: As Tortured Narrative Selected Works from ?Shot by the Writer and ?Heated Words Tom Benedek’s first novel, Peloponnesia,

The Business of Screenwriting: If it ain’t got no soul, it ain’t gonna sell

The time the legendary musician Taj Mahal laid words of wisdom on me. It’s 1979. After getting my M.Div. degree from Yale, I take a year off before pursuing my doctorate (at least that’s what I thought at the time). Long story short, I have found my

Reader Question: What are some keys to developing characters?

A question from Jennifer: Hi Scott, Thanks so much for writing your blog — it’s such an invaluable resource for writers who are trying to break in. I have a reader question for you. Do you have any advice on developing characters? Tips on how to give each of them

Paramount parts ways with “Dune”

Another one bites the dust in Development Hell. Per Deadline: Paramount has turned loose the giant worm, and everything else that was part of the seminal Frank Herbert science fiction novel series Dune. The studio’s four-year attempt to make a movie out of the franchise has fallen by

TMB Panyee FC

TMB (Thai Military Bank) have launched a new brand vision “Make THE Difference” by making a film to inspire people to start thinking differently. With a hope that they will start to Make THE Difference to their own world. It doesn’t have to be big, but a little can

Derek Haas: “Seven Things Screenwriters Should Know About Novels”

Yesterday I featured this article from screenwriter-novelist Derek Haas: Seven Things Novelists Should Know About Screenwriting. Today Haas’ follow-up: Seven Things Screenwriters Should Know About Novels. Here’s an excerpt: 1. Publishers Want To Sell Books. It’s a common misperception that screenwriting is for commercial aspirations while

Screenwriting 101: Darren Aronofsky

“First you start with an idea, then you start to flesh out the structure, and that’s a long process. I think that’s where we spend a lot of time, just figuring out the structure… all the acts… the beats of the story. And then comes the great leap

Reader Question: How should I query Hollywood agents if I live outside the U.S.?

Question from Marc: One of these tiny little questions that nag at me is if one can register a script with the WGA from outside the US (i.e. Europe). And is it even worth a try to send a query out to agents etc. or does it end up