Scott Myers

Interview (Part 4): Isaac Adamson

The top rated screenplay on the 2015 Black List is “Bubbles” and it was written by Isaac Adamson. It’s a terrific story, one of the most, if not the most unique ways to approach writing a biopic I have ever seen: The story is a snapshot of Michael Jackson’

Movie Story Type: Post-Apocalypse

There are genres (e.g., Action, Comedy, Drama). Cross genres (e.g., Action-Thriller, Comedy-Science Fiction). Sub-genres (e.g., Romantic Comedy, Action Adventure). And then there are what we may call movie story types. In Hollywood development circles, people use them as shorthand. If you go here, you

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 21

This is the seventh year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: Providing the Soundtrack for Life’s Last Moments. I’ve been called an angel more times than I care to admit. That’s what happens when you walk down hospital hallways with

Movies You Made: “Her Name Was”

Movies You Made is an ongoing GITS series to spotlight filmmakers and promote their storytelling. Today: Her Name Was, written and co-directed by Francisco Infante. Logline: A commitment-phobe looks back on the loves he left behind during a first date with the one he believes to be his

Daily Dialogue — April 21, 2016

Buzz Lightyear: Right now, poised at the edge of the galaxy, Emperor Zurg has been secretly building a weapon with the destructive capacity to annihilate an entire planet! I alone have information that reveals this weapon’s only weakness. And you, my friend, are responsible for delaying my rendezvous with

May: Classic 30s Movie Month

Every several months since 2013, we’ve had a Classic Movie Month in which I invite GITS readers to volunteer writing up an overview of one of their favorite movies. We’ve moved through this process decade by decade, the idea being to create an online resource for writers to

Interview (Part 3): Isaac Adamson

The top rated screenplay on the 2015 Black List is “Bubbles” and it was written by Isaac Adamson. It’s a terrific story, one of the most, if not the most unique ways to approach writing a biopic I have ever seen: The story is a snapshot of Michael Jackson’

Movie Story Type: Ticking Clock

There are genres (e.g., Action, Comedy, Drama). Cross genres (e.g., Action-Thriller, Comedy-Science Fiction). Sub-genres (e.g., Romantic Comedy, Action Adventure). And then there are what we may call movie story types. In Hollywood development circles, people use them as shorthand. If you go here, you

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 20

This is the seventh year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: A parent’s guide to dropping your kid off at college. As recently as 20 years ago, most parents would have dropped their newly minted freshman off at the curb outside the

Great Scene: “Whale Rider”

The 2003 movie Whale Rider is a wonderful story, aptly described in this IMDB plot summary: A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. The girl in question is Paikea, performed magnificently by Keisha Castle-

Daily Dialogue — April 20, 2016

Dory: Hey, Mr. Grumpy Gills. When life gets you down, you know what you gotta do? Marlin: I don’t want to know what you gotta do. Dory: (sings) “Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.” — Finding Nemo (2003), screenplay by Andrew Stanton & Bob Peterson

Reader Question: Do I HAVE to use INT/EXT — LOCATION — DAY/NIGHT in scene headings?

Wherein we consider selling scripts, shooting scripts, conventional wisdom, and writing whatever the hell we want To answer this question, let’s distinguish between a selling script and a shooting script. The latter, also known as a production draft, needs INT. and EXT. and LOCATION and DAY and NIGHT. Why?

Interview (Part 2): Isaac Adamson

The top rated screenplay on the 2015 Black List is “Bubbles” and it was written by Isaac Adamson. It’s a terrific story, one of the most, if not the most unique ways to approach writing a biopic I have ever seen: The story is a snapshot of Michael Jackson’

Movie Story Type: Chase

There are genres (e.g., Action, Comedy, Drama). Cross genres (e.g., Action-Thriller, Comedy-Science Fiction). Sub-genres (e.g., Romantic Comedy, Action Adventure). And then there are what we may call movie story types. In Hollywood development circles, people use them as shorthand. If you go here, you

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 19

This is the seventh year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: The Battle Over the Sea-Monkey Fortune. The way the lawyer William Timmons described the case, it was practically a newsreel melodrama, with a helpless widow being menaced by a heartless tycoon.

Screenwriting 101: Scott Derrickson

The Divine Comedy of Filmmaking: Writing = Inferno Shooting = Purgatorio Editing = Paradiso — Scott Derrickson For hundreds more Screenwriting 101 posts, go here.

Daily Dialogue — April 19, 2016

“Squirrel!” — Up (2009), screenplay by Bob Peterson & Pete Docter, story by Pete Docter & Bob Peterson & Tom McCarthy The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Pixar. Trivia: At the end of the film Carl and Russell are sitting on the curb counting red and blue cars. Dug calls

Tom Benedek (Guest Post): Create, No Expectations, Build Community!

A guest post from screenwriter Tom Benedek (Cocoon) and co-founder of Screenwriting Master Class: I heard about a proven formula” for happiness in a Yoga class… create, don’t have expectations, build community. The teacher said it was discovered through research done in the most contented, fulfilled community in

Interview (Part 1): Isaac Adamson

The top rated screenplay on the 2015 Black List is “Bubbles” and it was written by Isaac Adamson. It’s a terrific story, one of the most, if not the most unique ways to approach writing a biopic I have ever seen: The story is a snapshot of Michael Jackson’

Movie Story Type: Assumed Identity

There are genres (e.g., Action, Comedy, Drama). Cross genres (e.g., Action-Thriller, Comedy-Science Fiction). Sub-genres (e.g., Romantic Comedy, Action Adventure). And then there are what we may call movie story types. In Hollywood development circles, people use them as shorthand. If you go here, you

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 18

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: An All-Refugee Team Will Compete in the Rio Olympics. An Olympic team of people who have fled their countries will be allowed to compete at the Games in Brazil this summer.

On Writing

“Sneaking up on it sometimes helps: I’ve found I can be very productive for an hour before dinner, because there obviously isn’t enough time to really do anything, so I can tell myself I’m just screwing around.” — Michael Crichton Via Advice To Writers

Daily Dialogue — April 18, 2016

Lightning: Okay. Focus. Speed. I am speed. One winner. 42 losers. I eat losers for breakfast. Breakfast, maybe I should have had breakfast. Breaky could be good for me. No, no, stay focused. Faster than fast. Quicker than quick, I am lightning. Mac (OS): Hey Lightning, you ready? Lightning: Oh

Full Scholarship to Spain Writers Retreat!

Last December, I posted this: I get hit up for all sorts of endorsements, almost all of which I turn down. But one came my way recently which resonated with me. Claire Elizabeth Terry reached out via email with an interesting pitch: The reason I’m writing now is that

Spec Script Deal: “Bubbles”

Isaac Adamson sells Black List script “Bubbles” to End Cue with Dan Harmon to produce. From Deadline: Bubbles tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life and history from the perspective of the pet Chimp which got a close-up view after being adopted by Jackson from an Austin, Texas