Scott Myers

The Theology of Cinema: Chosen

The archetype of the Chosen One is common to movies, echoing the Messiah figure in ancient religions.

Page One: ‘Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens’ (2015)

Written by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt, based on characters created by George Lucas

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Make a Collage

Remember your first day in third grade? And your teacher… you know, the new one fresh out of college with boundless enthusiasm and…

Video: “Give a Shit”

A 12-minute documentary by film school students about what they have learned being part of a live-event crew featuring notable filmmaking…

Page One: ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (2018)

Screenplay by Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman, story by Phil Lord

Writing Goals: 2021 [Part 5] — Going Public

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2020 and will do in 2021.

Spec Script Deal: “The Black Belt”

Monarch Media is producing comedy spec script “The Black Belt” written by Randall Green. Via The Wrap:

Update: 2020 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 3 New Scripts

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Page One: ‘Sideways’ (2004)

Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor, novel by Rex Pickett

Unpacking the Mysteries of Screenplay Time

Flashback, Flashforward, Set-Up / Payoff, Callback, Montage, Series of Shots, Cross Cut, Visual-to-Visual Transition, Audio-to- Audio…

Writing Goals: 2020 [Part 4] — Practical Matters

10-part series for writers to consider what we did in 2020 and will do in 2021.

Page One: ‘Shakespeare in Love’ (1998)

Written by Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard

Writing Goals: 2021 [Part 3] — Where Do You Want To Go As A Writer?

10-part series for writers to consider what we did in 2020 and will do in 2021.

“Make Me Care”

It’s probably the greatest story commandment because if a script reader cares about your characters, they will buy into your story. If they…

Page One: ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ (2010)

Screenplay by Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright, graphic novel by Bryan Lee O’Malley

Writing Goals: 2020 [Part 2] — Assessing Where You Are

Over the next two weeks, a 10-part series for writers to consider what we did in 2020 and will do in 2021.

Spec Script Deal: “Switchboard”

Newly formed production company Dark Hell acquires horror spec script “Switchboard” written by Devon Grave. Via THR:

Page One: ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ (1968)

Written for the screen by Roman Polanski, novel by Ira Levin

Writing Goals: 2021 [Part 1] — Looking Back

Over the next two weeks, a 10-part series for writers to consider what we did in 2020 and will do in 2021.

On Writing

“Writers must labor from a vague feeling, usually some large, old emotion, and in so laboring, come to understand the qualities of that…

Page One: ‘Romancing the Stone’ (1984)

Written by Diane Thomas

Sundays with Ray Bradbury

“I can imagine all kinds of worlds and places, but I cannot imagine a world without Bradbury.” — Neil Gaiman

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Listen to a Movie

Let’s say you have a moment of clarity. You admit to yourself that your ability to write dialogue could use a boost.

Page One: ‘Roma’ (2018)

Written by Alfonso Cuarón

“Know your genre”

If you want to write in a genre, you’re wise to immerse yourself in it.