Scott Myers

2016 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 19

Last year at this time, we did a month-long Dialogue-Writing Challenge. It was a big success with dozens of writers participating. We all learned quite a bit about this important aspect of the craft plus we had some fun in the process. So I’ve decided to bring

The Business of Screenwriting: “Qualify the customer”

Okay, this week’s post is a blast from the past and only comes about due to a recent revelation from a TV producer I know that she has started dating a dude whose mother’s sister is married to this guy: This is Larry Thomas who in 2010 was

Daily Dialogue — February 25, 2016

“In 1966, Andy Dufresne escaped from Shawshank prison.” — The Shawshank Redemption (1994), screenplay by Frank Darabont, novella by Stephen King The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Oblivious. Trivia: So we all know the irony of this inscription in the Bible Warden Norton gave to Andy: Dear Warden, You were

“Be attentive to what is arising in you”

“Be attentive to what is arising in you, and prize it above all that you perceive around you. What happens most deeply inside you is worthy of your whole love.” — Rainer Maria Rilke This works on at least two levels. First, in our own lives. Second, if you direct this

Interview (Part 3): Rachael Prior — Big Talk Productions

One of the delights about spending time on Twitter is having met and gotten to know Rachael Prior. Whip smart and passionate about movies and storytelling, Rachael is the Head of Film at Big Talk Pictures, a U.K.-based film company overseeing movies such as Attack the Block, Cuban

Declare Your Independents: “Jack of the Red Hearts”

During my time at the Athena Film Festival in NYC last weekend, I had the opportunity to spend time with Janet Grillo, who produced and directed the movie Jack of the Red Hearts. Plot summary: A teenage con artist tricks a desperate mother into hiring her as a live-in

2016 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 18

Last year at this time, we did a month-long Dialogue-Writing Challenge. It was a big success with dozens of writers participating. We all learned quite a bit about this important aspect of the craft plus we had some fun in the process. So I’ve decided to bring

Great Scene: “Michael Clayton”

October is Great Scene month at Go Into The Story whereby we put a spotlight on notable movie scenes, then analyze and discuss them. Their structure, themes, character dynamics. Why do they work? What are their narrative elements that elevate them to greatness? Let’s face it: In a fundamental

Daily Dialogue — February 24, 2016

CLOUSEAU: You have a license? BEGGAR: Monsieur? CLOUSEAU: City ordinance 47-B prohibits the playing of any musical instrument in a public place for the purpose of commercial enterprise without a license. BEGGAR: I don’t understand. CLOUSEAU: It is against the law for you to play your musical instrument.

Zero Draft Thirty Spring 2016 Challenge: Coming in March!

Do you have a story you want to write? A feature length movie screenplay? An original TV pilot? A web series pilot? A novel? Short story? An epic length limerick? The Zero Draft Thirty Spring 2016 Challenge is for you! March 1: You type FADE IN / Once upon a time.

Interview (Part 2): Rachael Prior — Big Talk Productions

One of the delights about spending time on Twitter is having met and gotten to know Rachael Prior. Whip smart and passionate about movies and storytelling, Rachael is the Head of Film at Big Talk Pictures, a U.K.-based film company overseeing movies such as Attack the Block, Cuban

“Beginning. Middle. End.”

In Poetics, Aristotle wrote “A whole [story] is what has a beginning and middle and end.” His articulation of each of these three parts and how they fit together is as follows: “A beginning is that which is not itself necessarily after anything else, and which has naturally something else

Ticket Giveaway (Update): “The Psychology of Story-Telling” with Lindsay Doran

She’s known as “The Script Whisperer” and unlike so-called screenwriting gurus, Lindsay Doran has the street cred to back it up. To wit: Back by Popular Demand! On March 3rd at 7:30 pm at the Writers Guild Theater, Lindsay Doran may change everything you think you know

2016 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 17

Last year at this time, we did a month-long Dialogue-Writing Challenge. It was a big success with dozens of writers participating. We all learned quite a bit about this important aspect of the craft plus we had some fun in the process. So I’ve decided to bring

Screenwriting 101: Stanley Kubrick

“A film is — or should be — more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what’s behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later.” — Stanley Kubrick Via Film Savvy

Daily Dialogue — February 23, 2016

“Your Majesty, we leave you with your people.” — King of Hearts (1966), scenario and dialogue by Daniel Boulanger, idea by Maurice Bessy The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Oblivious. Trivia: Cited by lyrics author and poet Horacio Ferrer as a direct influence in his masterpiece “Balada para un loco”

“A good story well told”

A guest post from screenwriter, TV writer, and novelist Tom Benedek (Cocoon), my longtime friend and co-founder of Screenwriting Master Class: A good story well told. I like those. And I don’t mind an extremely complicated saga with some evocative resolution and a few unanswered questions. This week,

Interview (Part 1): Rachael Prior — Big Talk Productions

One of the delights about spending time on Twitter is having met and gotten to know Rachael Prior. Whip smart and passionate about movies and storytelling, Rachael is Head of Film at Big Talk Pictures, a U.K.-based film company overseeing movies such as Attack the Block, Cuban Fury,

Interviews and scripts for all 10 Best Screenplay Oscars

There are 10 screenplays nominated for the 88th Academy Awards: Five for Best Original Screenplay (Bridge of Spies, Ex Machina, Inside Out, Spotlight, Straight Outta Compton) and five for Best Adapted Screenplay (The Big Short, Brooklyn, Carol, The Martian, Room). Here are interview with writers involved with each project and

2016 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 16

Last year at this time, we did a month-long Dialogue-Writing Challenge. It was a big success with dozens of writers participating. We all learned quite a bit about this important aspect of the craft plus we had some fun in the process. So I’ve decided to bring

On Writing

“There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.” — Ernest Hemingway

Daily Dialogue — February 22, 2016

PAYNE: Time’s up, pal. Pvt. Stockdale arises and walks around the desk. STOCKDALE: Right friendly of you to wait for me. Thank you. KING: How’d you think you did, Will? STOCKDALE: Well, them…them printed tests, they give us, they’s exactly like the ones you borrowed, only

2016 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Week 3

Here are all of Week 3’s prompts for this year’s Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 11 challenge: The prompt “I’m pregnant, asshole.” Day 12 challenge: Talking back to someone on TV Day 13 challenge: Introduce a character with memorable dialogue Day 14 challenge: An apology Day 15 challenge:

What is “exposition”?

Here is the first lecture of my 1-week online class Handling Exposition: What is “exposition”? It starts off promisingly enough with the root word expose. A few possible meanings: “to lay open to danger, to reveal, to unmask.” That all sounds exciting. Then you hit upon the definition of

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: Gone Girl

This week, we have been reading, analyzing, and discussing the script and movie Gone Girl, screenplay by Gillian Flynn based on her novel. IMDb plot summary: With his wife’s disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it’