Scott Myers

Everything you wanted to know about specs [Part 6]

Spec scripts, that is. I’m guessing that perhaps 90% of the people who follow this blog at some point in their lives will write a spec script. And the other 10% are involved in buying and selling them. In light of that fact, last year I interviewed a top

The role of the Trickster in “The Dark Knight”

In a recent Screenwriting Master Class course, we had an interesting discussion about the role of Coleman Reese in the movie The Dark Knight. His is a short subplot [only in three scenes in the script], but it provides an important function. For those of you who may not remember,

On Writing

“You write by sitting down and writing. There’s no particular time or place — you suit yourself, your nature. How one works, assuming he’s disciplined, doesn’t matter.” — Bernard Malamud Via Advice To Writers

Daily Dialogue — September 12, 2016

“You were nothing before you met me. You were playing Barbies with Betty Finn. You were a Bluebird. You were a Brownie. You were a Girl Scout Cookie.” — Heathers (1988), written by Daniel Waters The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Bullying. Trivia: With its shared themes of vicious girl

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 11

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 11. September 1: Type FADE IN / The Beginning. September 30: Type FADE OUT / The End. 30 days. 1 script. Movie script. TV script. First draft. Rewrite. Whatever. Get it down. Get it done. For background on how the Zero Draft Challenge came into being and what

Screenwriting News (September 5-September 11, 2016)

This week’s writing deals and movie project news. Alfonso Cuarón writing-directing untitled Mexican family drama for Participant Media and Pimienta Films. Tom Hanks scripted World War II drama “Greyhound” at FilmNation Entertainment with Hanks to star. Zach Helm writing-directing “We Do Not Forget” for First Look Media

Interview (Audio): Ava DuVernay (“Queen Sugar”)

A Vulture TV Podcast featuring an interview with Ava DuVernay Some excerpts: It’s not as if you’re lacking for feature-film work these days, and TV is a longer commitment, it’s like adopting a kid almost. Why television? I really can directly trace it to Cary Fukunaga

Video: Lawrence Kasdan interviewed by John August and Craig Mazin

Screenwriters and Scriptnotes podcast hosts John August and Craig Mazin interview Lawrence Kasdan, legendary screenwriter of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, THE BIG CHILL, THE BODYGUARD and STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS which took place on April 16, 2016: Kasdan is legend. August and Mazin are

Daily Dialogue — September 11, 2016

“I don’t want to talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!” — Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), written by Graham Chapman & John Cleese & Eric

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 10

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 10. September 1: Type FADE IN / The Beginning. September 30: Type FADE OUT / The End. 30 days. 1 script. Movie script. TV script. First draft. Rewrite. Whatever. Get it down. Get it done. For background on how the Zero Draft Challenge came into being and what

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Bullying

The Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Bullying. Revenge of the Nerds (1984) Bullies on film. Been around since the days of Charlie Chaplin who was frequently victimized by bigger, obnoxious guys. The bullying can be physical or verbally abusive. This is a good opportunity to explore this dynamic because

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 254th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other things of writerly interest. Most of 2016’s movies have been soulless, noisy, and dull. Summer Box-Office Winners and Losers: From ‘Finding Dory’ to ‘Ben-Hur’. What Does

Interview (Written): John Milius

A Creative Screenwriting magazine interview with famed screenwriter (Jeremiah Johnson, Apocalypse Now, Clear and Present Danger) and director (The Wind and the Lion, Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn) John Milius. What did you learn about screenwriting in your two years of film school? Well, I learned everything I need to

Daily Dialogue — September 10, 2016

Furious, Harry destroys the phone, pounding it against his desk again and again. His wife Natalie hustles into the room. Natalie: Harry. Harry! It’s an inanimate fucking object! Harry: You’re an inanimate fucking object! — In Bruges (2008), written by Martin McDonagh The Daily Dialogue theme for the week:

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 9

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 9. September 1: Type FADE IN / The Beginning. September 30: Type FADE OUT / The End. 30 days. 1 script. Movie script. TV script. First draft. Rewrite. Whatever. Get it down. Get it done. For background on how the Zero Draft Challenge came into being and what

Balancing character and plot in action movies

justwrite7 posed a question: “How does one balance character and plot in a plot-driven script,” in particular for the action genre. That goes straight to the oft-repeated conundrum: character or plot, when it should probably go plot from character. But before we go there, let’s start with

Everything you wanted to know about specs [Part 5]

Spec scripts, that is. I’m guessing that perhaps 90% of the people who follow this blog at some point in their lives will write a spec script. And the other 10% are involved in buying and selling them. In light of that fact, last year I interviewed a top

The State of the Indie Film Business

While the trades and newspapers trot out their respective Summer 2016 obituaries: Measuring the fallout from a summer full of box-office flops By The Numbers: Was 2016 The Worst Summer For Movies Only One Studio Escaped the Summer of Box Office Flops Summer Box-Office Wrap: Why Hollywood’s

Scene Description Spotlight: “Up”

Anyone who has seen the movie Up (2009) remembers the wonderfully visual and compelling Carl and Ellie marriage sequence. But have you actually read the script? Here is that entire set of scenes from the production draft: INT. CHURCH — DAY FLASH! A photo is taken of the wedding couple: Carl

Daily Dialogue — September 9, 2016

Frank Stark: We give you love and affection, don’t we? Well, then, what is it? Was it because we went to that party? Well, you know what kind of drunken brawls those kind of parties turn into. It’s not a place for kids. Mrs. Carol Stark: A minute

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 8

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 8. September 1: Type FADE IN / The Beginning. September 30: Type FADE OUT / The End. 30 days. 1 script. Movie script. TV script. First draft. Rewrite. Whatever. Get it down. Get it done. For background on how the Zero Draft Challenge came into being and what

Video: If Rey is a Skywalker

Jenny Nicholson = Harmonic Convergence of wit, smarts, and a solid narrative concept. She does short videos in which she plays two characters and critiques contemporary movies. Here’s her latest: “If Rey is a Skywalker”: Here she is with her Suicide Squad Sales Pitch: And this: How to Make Up

Everything you wanted to know about specs [Part 4]

Spec scripts, that is. I’m guessing that perhaps 90% of the people who follow this blog at some point in their lives will write a spec script. And the other 10% are involved in buying and selling them. In light of that fact, last year I interviewed a top

What’s better than being a writer?

Being a writer with other writers. And that’s what the monthly Black List Happy Hours are about. Just look at these groovy people: This is part of the group of writers who showed up yesterday for the Black List event in Chicago. I met each writer and a good

Script To Screen: “Chinatown”

The memorable ending of the classic 1974 movie Chinatown, written by Robert Towne. Setup: In his investigation, private eye Jake Gittes has uncovered a web of deceit involving the Noah Cross family… and now destiny intervenes. EXT. CHINATOWN STREET – NIGHTThe streets are crowded. Here and there one can see Chinese