Scott Myers

Daily Dialogue — April 5, 2016

“I think you’re all fucked in the head. We’re ten hours from the fuckin’ fun park and you wanna bail out. Well, I’ll tell you something, this is no longer a vacation. It’s a quest. It’s a quest for fun. I’m gonna have fun

Break Your Story In Prep

Have you ever started a script and not finished it? Has it ever taken you 6 months, 1 year, or more to finish a script? Have you ever gotten so lost when writing a story, you became incredibly frustrated, and gave up? Chances are you did not do enough story

Interview (Part 1): Andrew Friedhof (2015 Nicholl Winner)

Andy Friedhof wrote the original screenplay “Great Falls” which won a 2015 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting. Recently I had the opportunity to chat with Andy about his background as a writer and his award-winning screenplay. Today in Part 1, Andy talks about growing up in Australia and how he’

Script Analysis: “The End of the Tour” — Part 1: Scene By Scene Breakdown

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: Scene-By-Scene

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 4

This is the seventh year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’ s another one: You can evolve into being a writer-producer. Let’

On Writing

“Protect the time and space in which you write. Keep everybody away from it, even the people who are most important to you.” — Zadie Smith

Daily Dialogue — April 4, 2016

NESS: What, you got a heading here: ‘Circuit Court.’ You got a heading here, ‘Circuit Court.’ What is this? GEORGE: Nothin’. And there’s nothin’ you can make out of it. NESS: What is this? WALLACE: If we can establish that any of these coded entries indicate payment to Capone

Wanted: Daily Dialogue Themes

2,880. That’s the number of consecutive days this blog has hosted Daily Dialogue posts. Ever since Day 1. In some ways, this particular series epitomizes the essence of Go Into The Story. Showing up every day. Looking for inspiration. Studying the craft. I want to take this opportunity

Movie Analysis: “The Shawshank Redemption”

This week, we analyzed the movie The Shawshank Redemption, screenplay by Frank Darabont, novella by Stephen King. IMDb plot summary: Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency. General Comments Plot Characters Themes Dialogue Takeaways Years ago, I came

Screenwriting News (March 28-April 3, 2016)

This week’s writing deals and movie project news. Arash Amel writing remake of “Starman” for Columbia Pictures. Sofia Coppola writing-directing remake of 1971 movie “The Beguiled” for American Zoetrope. Cynthia D’Aprix adapting her novel “The Nest” for Amazon Studios and Topple Productions. Evan Daugherty pitch to resurrect

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 3

This is the seventh year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’ s another one: Being able to generate original story ideas sets you

Interview (Video): Byron Howard and Rich Moore (“Zootopia”)

Interviews with Zootopia co-story writers and co-directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore (along with Jared Bush and screenwriters Jared Bush and Phil Johnson). Zootopia is a wonderful movie and I highly recommend it.

Daily Dialogue — April 3, 2016

Ma: [about the mouse] He’s on the other side of this wall. Jack: What other side? Ma: Jack, there’s two sides to everything. Jack: Not on an octagon. Ma: Yeah, but… Jack: [Interrupts] An octagon has eight sides Ma: But a wall, okay, a wall’s like this,

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Tantrum

The Daily Dialogue theme next week: Tantrum. Charles Foster Kane is not a happy camper here Here’s the thing: We are bound to have a lot of profane posts this week. When characters have a tantrum and they manage to express themselves in dialogue, what tends to project out

Movie Analysis: “The Shawshank Redemption” — Takeaways

Another in our bi-weekly series in which we analyze movies currently in release. Why? To quote the writing mantra I coined over 5 years ago: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. You will note which one comes first. Here are my reflections from that post about the importance of

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 232nd installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other things of writerly interest. Top 10 Takeaways: ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ Sets Box Office Records — Will It Hold. ‘Batman v Superman’ Triumphs: Do Critics Matter at the

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 2

This is the seventh year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one: The only way to find a great story idea

Interview (Written): Nia Vardalos (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2”)

An Entertainment Weekly interview with Nia Vardalos, screenwriter and star of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, the sequel to the hugely popular first movie. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Was there a specific event or experience that inspired My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2? NIA VARDALOS: On my daughter’s first day

Daily Dialogue — April 2, 2016

Forrest: What’s the matter, mama? Mrs. Gump: I’m dying, Forrest. Come on in, sit down over here. Forrest sits down beside his mother. Forrest: Why you dying, mama? Mrs. Gump: It’s my time. It’s just my time. Oh, now, don’t you be afraid, sweetheart. Death

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 1

This is the seventh year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. For today, the most basic one: If you have aspirations of becoming a

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month (2016)

An annual series I run every April: 30 story ideas I collect from news sources over the course of the year. These ideas are free for you to use, but more importantly, the series is a reminder about how important the story’s central concept is to the success of

Character Development Keys

If there’s one question I get asked about screenwriting theory more than any other it’s what’s my deal with character archetypes? Here’s your chance to find out with my upcoming Screenwriting Master Class course: Character Development Keys. It starts MONDAY! It’s a 1-week online

Interview: Christopher Borrelli (2009 Black List)

One of the best ways to learn the craft is read what professional screenwriters have to say about it. To that end for the next few weeks, I will be featuring interviews I have conducted with Black List screenwriters. Today: My June 2013 interview with Chris Borrelli. Chris wrote the

Movie Analysis: “The Shawshank Redemption” — Dialogue

Another in our bi-weekly series in which we analyze movies currently in release. Why? To quote the writing mantra I coined over 5 years ago: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. You will note which one comes first. Here are my reflections from that post about the importance of

“No one ever became a successful screenwriter by writing less”

This tweet last night from screenwriter John Gary: I followed up with John and in an email, he added this: “Every successful screenwriter I know has one thing in common — they write all the time.” Six years ago, I coined the screenwriting mantra: “Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages.” Write