Scott Myers

Interview (Part 6): 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

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 227th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other things of writerly interest. Oscars’ Real Best Picture Winner: Which Contender Delivered Biggest Bang for the Buck. Oscars: Consider the “For Your Consideration” Billboard. Oscars: How Many People Watch

2016 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Week 4

Here are all of Week 4’s prompts for this year’s Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 16 challenge: Talking through tears Day 17 challenge: One character talks another character out of doing something bad Day 18 challenge: Read a note aloud Day 19 challenge: First date Day 20 challenge: Last

Interview (Written): Robert Towne

A Creative Screenwriting interview conducted in 2000 with legendary screenwriter Robert Towne (Chinatown, Shampoo, Mission: Impossible): Do you think that modern-day audiences have the willingness to believe, as much as they used to? Oh, sure they do. Audiences want to believe that as much as they ever did. They’

Daily Dialogue — February 27, 2016

Giosué Orefice: We won! Dora: Yes, we won! It’s true. Giosué Orefice: We got a thousand points and we won the game! Daddy and me came in first and now we won the real tank! We won! We won! — Life is Beautiful (1997), story by Vincenzo Cerami, Roberto Benigni

Zero Draft Thirty Spring 2016 Challenge: 3 Days and Counting!

T minus 3 days. On March 1, the Zero Draft Thirty Spring 2016 Challenge kicks off! If you don’t know about the Challenge, you can go here to find out more. Write an entire first draft of a script in November — FADE IN to FADE OUT in 30… 31

Interview (Part 5): 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

Twitter Rant: Eric Heisserer on the Challenge of Screenplay Adaptations

Tweetstorm: Eric Heisserer on the Challenge of Screenplay Adaptations Adapting a novel, short story, or true life story may be the hardest gig of all. Twitter can be a gold mine for writers. Case in point, when pro writers decide to go on a rant about the craft, such as

2016 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 20

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

Video: “MCU Supercut — The Road to Civil War”

The other day, screenwriter John Gary tweeted this: I watched the video. It’s really strong. Check it out: “Richly human and expressive.” Yes. Every frame of destruction counterbalanced by human faces. Characters. Beset by fears. Self-doubt. Regret. Conviction. Hope amid conflict. We live in an era where spectacle

Daily Dialogue — February 26, 2016

Forrest: You’re a momma, Jenny. Jenny: I’m a momma. His name’s Forrest. Forrest: Like me. Jenny: I named him after his daddy. Forrest: He got a daddy named Forrest, too? — Forrest Gump (1994), screenplay by Eric Roth, book by Winston Groom The Daily Dialogue theme for the

Zero Draft Thirty Spring 2016 Challenge: 3 Days and Counting!

T-minus 3 days until the beginning of the Zero Draft Thirty Spring 2016 Challenge. If you don’t know about the Challenge, you can go here to find out more. But the main thing is this: If you are writing an initial draft of a story, align your mind

Interview (Part 4): 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

Arash Amel on the “magic” and “moments” of writing

Screenwriter Arash Amel took to Twitter last night to remind us of something so basic to writing, we may tend to forget it: Absolutely spot on. Always come back to the joy of this simplest aspect of the craft. We do well to heed Arash’s comments. He is a

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