Scott Myers

Screenwriting News (February 15-February 21, 2016)

This week’s writing deals and movie project news. Scott Cooper writing-directing “Hostiles” for LBI Entertainment and Waypoint Entertainment. Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky, and Laura Solon scripted comedy “Office Christmas Party” green lit by DreamWorks Studios. Andre Fabrizio and Jeremy Passmore with OWA to adapt “Astro Boy” for Warner

Interview (Written): Bridget Carpenter (“11.22.63”)

An Los Angeles Times interview with TV writer-producer Bridget Carpenter (“Friday Night Lights,” “Parenthood”) about overseeing the Hulu mini-series “11.22.63” starring James Franco, based on the Stephen King novel. Time travel is a very tricky thing — there are rules and consequences to account for on every

Daily Dialogue — February 21, 2016

Pat Sr: Patty, where’ve you been? We got a serious situation on our hands, you know that? We gotta beat the Giants if we’re gonna have any chance of winning the division, chance of playing in the playoffs. Do you realize that? Pat: No, I didn’t realize

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Oblivious

The Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Oblivious. Memento (2000) Oblivious can mean several things: Unmindful. Unconscious. Unaware. Forgetful. It can be the basis of some interesting dramatic irony in that we — the audience — can know what’s going on while the character in the story does not. Let’s

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 226th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other things of writerly interest. 2015 Writers Guild Awards: Complete Winners List. Elaine May Brings Down The House At Writers Guild Awards West. BAFTA Awards: Full List of Winners. Inside

Interview (Video): Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (“Deadpool”)

A DP/30 interview with Deadpool screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick: For more DP/30 interviews, go here.

Daily Dialogue — February 20, 2016

Hedy walks into the apartment and back-slaps the tied-up Allie across the face. Hedra Carlson: [Hedy shakes Allie’s body and falls to her knees] How can you do that? Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for you. Do you understand that? The people you hated… [Hedy

“Go into the story and find the animals”

If you’ve taken the time to click on About GITS on the home page and read The Story Behind Go Into The Story, you know that this mantra derives from a conversation I had with my then three year-old son. It went pretty much like this: Me: Hey,

Spec Script Deal: “Samaritan”

Bold Films acquires drama spec script “Samaritan” written by Bragi F. Schut. From THR: The spec script is set 20 years after an epic battle left a city’s supervillain dead and its superhero missing. On the rough side of town, a young boy befriends the old man across the

Script Analysis: “Gone Girl” — Part 5: Dialogue

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: Dialogue. You may

2016 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 15

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

Spec Script Deal: “Set It Up”

MGM acquires romantic comedy spec script “Set It Up” written by Katie Silberman. From Deadline: The script carves a nice little romantic comedy niche in the The Devil Wears Prada corporate world. The logline: two overworked assistants with nasty bosses try to get their supervisors out of their hair, by

Daily Dialogue — February 19, 2016

Sy Parrish: Are you a family man, Detective? Detective James Van Der Zee: That’s none of your business, Sy. Sy Parrish: You’re right, it’s not. But I can see by your response and the ring on your finger that you are. That makes you a fortunate man.

Reader Question: Are there differences between seeking representation with a manager versus an agent?

An email from Dave M: Hey Scott, There’s a lot of talk about getting an agent and all that but what about managers? To me, they seem to be especially important for newbies. What are your thoughts on this and are the rules of pursuit the same or different,

The Toughest Scene I Wrote: “The Martian”

Once again, Vulture does screenwriters a solid: Vulture is speaking to the screenwriters behind 2015’s most acclaimed movies about the scenes they found most difficult to crack. In an article about the movie The Martian, screenwriter Drew Goddard talks about the challenge of handling exposition in a key scene:

Script Analysis: “Gone Girl” — Part 4: Themes

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: Themes. I have

2016 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 14

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: Commencement of principal photography

There are several significant days in a screenwriter’s life. There’s the phone call. Your first big paycheck. Your first day on a movie set. The day your movie premieres. Yes, those are some mighty fine days. And your own fantasies about breaking in as a screenwriter may well

Daily Dialogue — February 18, 2016

TAI LUNG: I have come home, Master. SHIFU: This is no longer your home, and I am no longer your master. TAI LUNG: Oh, yes, you have a new favorite. So, where is this “Po”? Did I scare him off? SHIFU: This battle is between you and me. TAI LUNG:

Athena Film Festival Black List Mini-Lab Class

I will be in New York City for the next few days for a number of events related to the Athena Film Festival. One event I’m excited about is this presentation on Thursday: This year for the first time the Athena Film Festival is partnering with the Black List

The Toughest Scene I Wrote: “Straight Outta Compton”

Once again, Vulture does screenwriters a solid: Vulture is speaking to the screenwriters behind 2015’s most acclaimed movies about the scenes they found most difficult to crack. In an article about the movie Straight Outta Compton, Oscar-nominated screenwriters Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff reveal the logistical hurdles they

Script Analysis: “Gone Girl” — Part 3: Characters

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: Characters. Characters are

2016 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 13

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: “Night Shift”

One of the classic 80’s comedies is Night Shift (1982), written by the prolific screenwriting team Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel, and directed by Ron Howard. And if asked if you remember one scene from that movie, it’s most likely this one: The “prostitution” scene, where Bill Blazejowski

Daily Dialogue — February 17, 2016

“It’s ours. Ours!” — The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), screenplay by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson, novel by J.R.R. Tolkien The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Obsession, suggested by Angie Soliman. Trivia: Gollum says the word “precious” seventeen