Scott Myers

Script Analysis: “The Good Dinosaur” — Part 6: Takeaways

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown Tuesday: Plot Wednesday: Characters Thursday: Themes Friday: Dialogue Saturday: Takeaways Today: Takeaways. This week,

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 253rd installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other things of writerly interest. Telluride to debut Oscar hopefuls including Sully, Moonlight and Una. Telluride Film Festival: These 7 Films Could Change the Awards Conversation. The Oscar Contenders of

Interview (Written): Todd Phillips

A Little White Lies interview with writer-director Todd Phillips whose writing credits include Road Trip, Old School, and the recently released War Dogs. There’s a lot of talk about how we’ve now entered the post-satire age. What’s your take on that? It certainly seems that

Daily Dialogue — September 3, 2016

Captain Miller: Private, your outfit wants to stay, that’s one thing. Your party’s over here. Private Ryan: Sir, I can’t leave until at least reinforcements come —  Captain Miller: You’ve got three minutes to gather your gear. Private Ryan: Sir, what about them, there’s barely, hardly

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 2

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 1. 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

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Adopt a different writing persona

This is a first in GITS history: Another Dumb Little Writing Trick That Work, only this one isn’t my idea, but from some actual scientists: We value creativity and are often justifiably proud of our most creative acts. Solving a difficult problem at work is a major achievement. Writing

Script Analysis: “The Good Dinosaur” — Part 5: Dialogue

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown Tuesday: Plot Wednesday: Characters Thursday: Themes Friday: Dialogue Saturday: Takeaways Today: Dialogue. Screenplay by

The 11 Fundamental Questions: A Guide to a Better Screenplay

I don’t often — in fact rarely — promote a book about screenwriting. Two main reasons why: (1) If the author of the book has not had actual boots-on-ground experience as a Hollywood writer, how can I trust they know what they’re talking about, especially since so much

Writing and the Creative Life: Three types of creators

My son Will is a graduate of a five-year dual degree program at Tufts University and the New England Conservatory. He received two Bachelor’s degrees with three majors: Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Music Theory and Music Composition. Currently he is just starting his second year of a doctoral

Daily Dialogue — September 2, 2016

“It seems despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster. I’m afraid it’s quite extensive. How dare you stand where he stood. Tell them how it happened that night. Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who

Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge: Day 1

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 1. 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: “Captive State”

Participant Media acquires science fiction spec script “Captive State” written by Rupert Wyatt and Erica Beeney. From Deadline: In competitive bidding, Participant Media has acquired worldwide rights to Captive State, a package for a big-scale film that Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes helmer Rupert Wyatt will direct

Script Analysis: “The Good Dinosaur” — Part 4: Themes

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown Tuesday: Plot Wednesday: Characters Thursday: Themes Friday: Dialogue Saturday: Takeaways Today: Themes. I have

How They Write A Script: Anna Hamilton Phelan

Anna Hamilton Phelan has been a working screenwriter since 1985 with numerous writing credits including Mask (1985), Gorillas in the Mist: The Dian Fossey Story (1988), and Girl, Interrupted (1999). These excerpts are taken from a wonderful book called “The New Screenwriter Looks at the New Screenwriter,” by William Froug,

The Business of Screenwriting: Hurry up and wait

We have worked on the script for months. It’s an assignment. The studio and the project’s producers have made it known emphatically since day one they want to see the draft ASAP. Our agents, well aware of this fact, check in routinely to see how things are going.

Daily Dialogue — September 1, 2016

Oskar Schindler: I could have got more out. I could have got more. I don’t know. If I’d just… I could have got more. Itzhak Stern: Oskar, there are eleven hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them. Oskar Schindler: If I’d made more

The Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge is on!

It’s Midnight on the East Coast (U.S.) which means it’s the official start of the Zero Draft Thirty 2016 Autumn Challenge! 30 days in September: FADE IN to FADE OUT. Whatever scripted project you choose. Get it down. Get it done. For background on how the Zero

Zero Draft Thirty Autumn 2016 Challenge: 1 Day and Counting!

The 3rd Zero Draft Thirty Challenge starts at Midnight tonight Eastern (U.S.) and you are invited… nay, encouraged to participate in this free writing adventure. Write an entire first draft of a script in September — FADE IN to FADE OUT in 30 days. Feature length movie screenplay. Original TV

Script Analysis: “The Good Dinosaur” — Part 3: Characters

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown Tuesday: Plot Wednesday: Characters Thursday: Themes Friday: Dialogue Saturday: Takeaways Today: Characters Characters are

How They Write A Script: Nancy Meyers

Nancy Meyers was for many years part of the Meyers & Shyer writing team that produced numerous hit movies including Private Benjamin (1980), Baby Boom (1987), and Father of the Bride (1991). She directed her first solo writing effort Something’s Gotta Give (2003), which was a hit with critics

Great Scene: “To Kill a Mockingbird”

I’ve been going through my various Lists and was shocked to discover that in Great Scenes, I currently do not have anything from one of my favorite movie of all time To Kill a Mockingbird. I determined there and then to do something about it — now! The problem is

Daily Dialogue — August 31, 2016

Ricky Roma: You stupid fucking cunt. You, Williamson. I’m talking to you, shithead. You just cost me $6,000. Six thousand dollars and one Cadillac. That’s right. What are you going to do about it? What are you going to do about it, asshole? You’re fucking shit.

“Movies don’t owe anybody a living”

This is actually a lesson I learned before I became a screenwriter. After I graduated with an M.Div. from Yale and turned my back on an academic career — although I didn’t know it at the time, only thought I was taking a year off before I went on

Zero Draft Thirty Autumn 2016 Challenge: 2 Days and Counting!

T minus 2 days. On September 1, the Zero Draft Thirty Autumn 2016 Challenge kicks off! Write an entire first draft of a script in September — FADE IN to FADE OUT in 30 days. Feature length movie screenplay. Original TV pilot. Rewrite a current project. Break a story in prep.

Script Analysis: “The Good Dinosaur” — Part 2: Plot

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown Tuesday: Plot Wednesday: Characters Thursday: Themes Friday: Dialogue Saturday: Takeaways Today: Plot. In every