Scott Myers

Daily Dialogue — July 30, 2016

“Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?” — Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan, story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Apprehension suggested by Jon. Trivia: In filming the Well of Souls sequence, the producers scoured every pet shop

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 20

Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17 (1953), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), Some Like It Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), an oeuvre that demonstrates an incredible range in a filmmaking career that went from

Writing and the Creative Life: Writing sprint? How about a writing walk!

If you frequent Twitter… and more specifically writers on Twitter… you may well have run across the idea of a writing sprint. I first intersected with the concept via a wonderful TV writer Jane Espenson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, Once Upon a Time). She explains what it’s

Daily Dialogue — July 29, 2016

“Damn. We’re in a tight spot.” — O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, epic poem by Homer The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Apprehension suggested by Jon. Trivia: The character of Sheriff Cooley, who is never referred to by name, fits Tommy

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 19

Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17 (1953), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), Some Like It Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), an oeuvre that demonstrates an incredible range in a filmmaking career that went from

The Business of Screenwriting: The Travails of Pitching (Part 2) — The Surprise Visitor

After the humbling experience of pitching the latest project to a distracted exec, we actually sell it to another studio. We head out to Palm Springs to hole up and jam out the rest of the first draft of another project we are writing when we get a call: The

Daily Dialogue — July 28, 2016

Jenny: His name’s Forrest. Forrest: Like me. Jenny: I named him after his daddy. Forrest: He got a daddy named Forrest, too? Jenny: You’re his daddy, Forrest. Forrest is stunned. He steps back. Jenny moves toward him. Jenny: Hey, Forrest, look at me. There’s nothing you need

Movies: Now Available in Concentrated Form

A guest post from Tom Benedek, screenwriter (Cocoon) and co-founder of Screenwriting Master Class: It is so difficult to get a movie made. All the stars must be aligned just so. It does happen. But not often enough. Damn you, Movie Gods! You can step away from those hurdles

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 18

Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17 (1953), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), Some Like It Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), an oeuvre that demonstrates an incredible range in a filmmaking career that went from

Great Scene: “Little Miss Sunshine”

In the movie Little Miss Sunshine (2006), which was released 10 years ago yesterday, there is this wonderful scene: The ending dance sequence where 7 year-old Olive (Abigail Breslin) performs on stage of the “Little Miss Sunshine” pageant. In the audience watching Olive do her dance routine is her

Daily Dialogue — July 27, 2016

Vincent: Whoa! Jules: What the fuck’s happening, man? Ah, shit man! Vincent: Oh man, I shot Marvin in the face. Jules: Why the fuck did you do that! Vincent: Well, I didn’t mean to do it, it was an accident! Jules: Oh man I’ve seen some crazy

Writing from Inside and Outside the Story Universe

In the Core III: Character class I’m teaching online, one of the writers in our group Dave Bullis, made two observations: Hey Scott, So something I’ve learned before coming into this class. 1. Character suggests plot. Your characters should create their own problems and dilemma’s. 2. Characters

Interview (Part 2): Nijla Mu’min

Nijla Mu’min is a young filmmaker who recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign for a feature length movie project Jinn, a coming of age story which received support and endorsements from notable people in the film world including Ava DuVernay, Salim Akil, and Franklin Leonard. Here is a description

Happy Birthday, Carl Jung: Screenwriting Guru!

Swiss psychotherapist and founder of analytical psychology Carl Jung was born today in 1875. He died in 1961 at the age of 85. Jung’s influence the field of psychology as well as culturally is profound. For example, the concepts of introvert and extravert derive from Jung. Collective unconscious. Also

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 17

Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17 (1953), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), Some Like It Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), an oeuvre that demonstrates an incredible range in a filmmaking career that went from

Screenwriting 101: Dennis Palumbo

“They’re not in trouble if they say No. Nothing bad can happen to them and they won’t lose any money. The moment they say Yes, their troubles begin. If you’re an agent, you now have a new client for whom you have to get work. If you’

Daily Dialogue — July 26, 2016

As Tessio and Hagen walk to Michael’s house, they are met by a bodyguard, Willi Cicci. Willi Cicci: Sal… Tom… the boss says he’ll come in a separate car. He says for you two to go on ahead. Tessio: Hell, he can’t do that; that screws up

Interview (Part 1): Nijla Mu’min

Nijla Mu’min is a young filmmaker who recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign for a feature length movie project Jinn, a coming of age story which received support and endorsements from notable people in the film world including Ava DuVernay, Salim Akil, and Franklin Leonard. Here is a description

“Conversations With Wilder”: Part 16

Billy Wilder is my all-time favorite filmmaker. Consider just some of his movies: Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Blvd. (1950), Stalag 17 (1953), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), Some Like It Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), an oeuvre that demonstrates an incredible range in a filmmaking career that went from

Daily Dialogue — July 25, 2016

RODERT DEAN enters the kitchen. He sees CARLA and gives her a kiss, their dog growls and barks. ROBERT DEAN: (to dog) Hey, you’re about a bark and a half from being homeless. CARLA is watching a CNN interview to CONGRESSMAN ALBERT. CARLA: Listen to this fascist gasbag! ROBERT

The Largest Free Online Screenwriting Resource Anywhere!

As of next Monday, August 1st, I will have blogged here at Go Into The story for 3,000 consecutive days. And sometime in late August, we will hit the 20,000 post mark. As someone who is passionate about movies, TV, and storytelling, and as the official screenwriting blog

Interview: Eric Heisserer (2012, 2014 Black List)

This weekend, the horror movie Lights Out rolls out in movie theaters across North America. Starring Teresa Palmer and Maria Bello, directed by David F. Sandberg, the screenplay was written by Eric Heisserer. I thought it was a good opportunity to reprise a 2013 interview I did with Eric and

Screenwriting News (July 18-July 24, 2016)

This week’s writing deals and movie project news. John August signed a three-book deal for a children’s fantasy series with Penguin imprint Roaring Book Press. Will Beall writing “Aquaman” for Warner Bros. Dan Black writing “Pokemon” for Legendary Pictures. Chadwick Boseman and Logan Coles writing untitled Reverend

Interview (Written): David Ayer (“Suicide Squad”)

A Deadline interview with David Ayer, co-writer and director of the movie Suicide Squad. DEADLINE: You write most of what you direct, and if it fails, you move on. What kind of adjustment is it when the stakes here are so high, where, if you fail, it will have

Interview (Written): Mike Birbiglia (“Don’t Think Twice”)

A Movie Maker interview with Don’t Think Twice writer, director, and actor Mike Birbiglia. Well known for his monologues and appearances on the NPR radio show “This American Life,” Birbiglia’s other screenwriting credit is the movie Sleepwalk with Me. Here is the IMDb plot summary for Don’t