Scott Myers

Daily Dialogue — September 8, 2016

Gollum: We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious. They stole it from us. Sneaky little hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, false! Smeagol: [shaking his head] No. Not master! Gollum: [snarling malevolently] Yes, precious, false! They will cheat you, hurt you, LIE. Smeagol: Master is my friend. Gollum: You don’

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 7

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 7. 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

Spec Script Deal: “Civil War”

FilmNation acquires drama spec script “Civil War” written by David Kukoff. From Variety: “Civil War” turns on the true story of the bitter battle to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in 1973, which became a hotbed of dispute for both sides of the gender equality movement that continues to this

Everything you wanted to know about specs [Part 3]

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

Video: 2010 Conversation Between Francis Ford Coppola and John Milius

He coined the phrase, “Go ahead, make my day.” That alone earns screenwriter John Milius a place in the Hollywood Dialogue Hall of Fame — if there was such an institution. Milius’ film career stretches back to the mid-60’s and his writing credits include Dirty Harry (1971), Jeremiah Johnson

Great Scene: “Se7en”

I saw this in my Twitter feed the other day: All great scripts got their start somewhere… which got me to thinking about the movie Se7en. When a movie builds to the climactic face-off between Protagonist and Nemesis, I call that the Final Struggle. Typically it’s a case

Daily Dialogue — September 7, 2016

Don: Shut up, cunt. You louse. You got some fuckin’ neck ain’t you. Retired? Fuck off, you’re revolting. Look at your suntan, it’s leather, it’s like leather man, your skin. We could make a fucking suitcase out of you. Like a crocodile, fat crocodile, fat bastard.

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 6

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 6. 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

Writing a First Draft: Enjoy the Process???

A guest post from Tom Benedek, screenwriter (Cocoon) and co-founder of Screenwriting Master Class: SCRIPT WRITER CASE STUDY #2: How to write a script? “Now? Me?” And enjoy it? “Huh?” “I need to commit to getting the draft done. Once I am writing pages, I keep the faith until

Everything you wanted to know about specs [Part 2]

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

Video: 1985 interview with Richard Brooks

A nifty catch with today’s video interview: From the French TV series “Cinema cinemas”, September, 1985 featuring screenwriter and director Richard Brooks. Brooks wrote Key Largo (1948), then wrote and directed The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954), Blackboard Jungle (1955), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Elmer

Screenwriting 101: Steven E. de Souza

“There’s dynamics you don’t know about. There’s an executive at your meeting, she’s been frustrated that every movie that comes out of this process turns out to be aimed at teenage boys with fart jokes, and she’s trying to elevate the material. And then you

Daily Dialogue — September 6, 2016

Felix: Oscar, you’re asking to hear something I don’t want to say, but if I do say it, I think you ought to hear it. Oscar: You got anything on your chest besides your chin, you better get it off. Felix: All right! Then you asked for it!

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 5

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 5. 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

Everything you wanted to know about specs [Part 1]

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

Video: Rare 1955 interview with Orson Welles

Video: Rare interviews with Orson Welles From 1955, 1960, and 1963. If he were just known for his work as a writer, director, and actor in the classic 1941 movie Citizen Kane, that would be enough to cement Orson Welles’ place in movie history. But he also wrote The Magnificent

On Writing

“Write about the emotions you fear the most.” — Laurie Halse Anderson

Daily Dialogue — September 5, 2016

Pike Bishop: They got Freddy. Looks like he’s hit pretty bad. Dutch Engstrom: Damn that Deke Thornton to hell! Pike Bishop: What would you do in his place? He gave his word. Dutch Engstrom: Gave his word to a railroad. Pike Bishop: It’s his word! Dutch Engstrom: That

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 4

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 4. 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

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: The Good Dinosaur

This week, we have been reading, analyzing, and discussing the script and movie The Good Dinosaur, screenplay by Meg LeFauve, story by Peter Sohn & Erik Benson & Meg LeFauve & Kelsey Mann & Bob Peterson, original concept and development by Bob Peterson, additional screenplay material by Peter Hedges &

Screenwriting News (August 29-September 4, 2016)

This week’s writing deals and movie project news. Gesha-Marie Bland writing “The Ripper” for Maven Pictures. Daniel Casey scripted “Kin” going forward with 21 Laps Entertainment. Richard Linklater adapting “Last Flag Flying” for Detour Filmproduction. Guy Moshe writing “The Last Draw of Jack of Hearts” for Lituanica Films.

Interview [Video]: Damien Chazelle (“Whiplash”)

Since the Daily Dialogue today comes from Whiplash, I thought I’d reprise this interview with its writer-director Damian Chazelle. Also timely because Chazelle’s latest movie La La Land is rolling out at the Venice and Telluride festivals to enormous acclaim. Here is a DP/30 interview with

Daily Dialogue — September 4, 2016

“You think I’m fucking stupid? I know it was you.” — Whiplash (2014), written by Damien Chazelle The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Blame. Trivia: The director and writer of the film, Damien Chazelle, could not get funding for the movie, so he instead turned it into a short

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 3

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 3. 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: Argument

The Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Argument, suggested by Mark Twain. Jonathan Mardukas: Jack, you’re a grown man. You’re in control of your own words. Jack Walsh: You’re goddamn right I am. Now here come two words for you: Shut the fuck up. Midnight Run (1988)