Scott Myers

Rewriting Your Script (Part 7): Scene-by-scene breakdown

In November, upward to 1,000 writers — myself included — took a crack at pounding out a script as part of the Zero Draft Thirty Challenge. Many of them reached FADE OUT / THE END. They’re probably like me, staring at my 86 pages of diamonds-in-the-rough amidst pages

Update: Award season screenplay downloads — 2 new scripts / 40 total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season. As in years past, we will be tracking them and posting links as they become available. UPDATE: Current total of 2015 scripts for download: 40. Newly added scripts (2)

Screenwriting 101: Joe Eszterhas

“Don’t pitch stories, write spec scripts. Why try to convince a roomful of unread egomaniacs that you can write a good script about something. Just sit down and write the damn thing. It’s much more honest to do it well than to promise to do it well… Don’

Daily Dialogue — December 15, 2015

Doctor: Somehow the Eastern medicine has worked and the fibroid has dissipated. Debbie: That’s great. Wow! Doctor: Yes, your fibroid shrunk and somehow… it allowed you to get pregnant. Long beat as Debbie tries to process this shocking information. Debbie: What? Doctor: You’re going to have your third

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

Writing Goals: 2016 [Part 1] — Looking Back

I thought I would reprise something I’ve done this time the last few year with the hope it would benefit as many of you as possible in taking concrete steps forward next year with your writing aspirations. It’s a very simple thing, really — setting goals — but for many,

Rewriting Your Script (Part 6): Pace

In November, upward to 1,000 writers — myself included — took a crack at pounding out a script as part of the Zero Draft Thirty Challenge. Many of them reached FADE OUT / THE END. They’re probably like me, staring at my 86 pages of diamonds-in-the-rough amidst pages

Black List 2015 — Final Updated List

Here is the final updated list of all eighty-one 2015 Black List scripts and their writers in the order they were rolled out earlier today with links to presenter videos. Updates 1 and 2 AN AFRICAN WESTERN by Chloe Castellon, Ridgeway Wilson QUEEN OF THE AIR by Cat Vasko

Black List 2015 — Live Blogging 4

Beginning at Noon Eastern / 9AM Pacific, I will be continuously updating this year’s Black List writers as their scripts and names are released via Twitter. Hashtag: #BlackList2015. To see the presenter videos for Updates #7 and #8, click MORE. UPDATE #7 UPDATE #8 That’s it! In the next

Black List 2015 — Live Blogging 3

Beginning at Noon Eastern / 9AM Pacific, I will be continuously updating this year’s Black List writers as their scripts and names are released via Twitter. Hashtag: #BlackList2015. To see the presenter videos for Updates #5 and #6, click MORE. UPDATE #5 UPDATE #6 Updates 1 and 2 Updates 3

Black List 2015 — Live Blogging 2

Beginning at Noon Eastern / 9AM Pacific, I will be continuously updating this year’s Black List writers as their scripts and names are released via Twitter. Hashtag: #BlackList2015. To see the presenter videos for Updates #3 and #4, click MORE. UPDATE #3 UPDATE #4 Updates 1 and 2 More to

Black List 2015 — Live Blogging 1

Beginning at Noon Eastern / 9AM Pacific, I will be continuously updating this year’s Black List writers as their scripts and names are released via Twitter. Hashtag: #BlackList2015. More than 250 film executives at major financiers and production companies voted on the 2015 Black List. There are 81 scripts on

Daily Dialogue — December 14, 2015

MONROE: What? You’re not taking him seriously, are you? CHARLOTTE: Maybe you’ve already slept with her, have you? Minnie tip-toes down the hall, toward Charlotte’s cracked door. She stops, listens to Monroe and Charlotte fighting. MONROE: What? Are you crazy? She’s a fucking kid. Minnie

Who’s up to rewrite their script in January?

In November, upward to 1,000 writers — myself included — took a crack at pounding out a script as part of the Zero Draft Thirty Challenge. Many of us reached FADE OUT / THE END. Now comes the hard part: Rewrites. So I thought why not use the same approach we did

The 2015 Black List arrives tomorrow!

From the good folks at the Black List: The 2015 Black List Arrives Tomorrow, Brought to You by Special Guests! It’s the most wonderful time of the year: time for another annual Black List release! We will begin announcing the scripts on the 2015 Black List — in random order,

Screenwriting News (December 7-December 13, 2015)

Salim Akil polishing “Counterfeit Son” for Alcon Entertainment. Hossein Amini writing “Steelskin” for Twentieth Century Fox. Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari writing “Ant-Man and The Wasp” for Walt Disney Pictures. Dave Callaham sells untitled action comedy pitch to New Line Cinema with Dwayne Johnson attached to star. John J.

“Twas the night before Black List…”

Screenwriter Chris McCoy has made the Black List three times (Get Back, Good Looking, Good Kids), so he knows of what he speaks when he composed these four tweets a few years back: “‘Twas the Night Before Black List and all through the LA / Writers were nervous — could this help

Interview (Video): Quentin Tarantino (“The Hateful Eight”)

Dave Poland with a DP/30 interview with Quentin Tarantino, writer-director of The Hateful Eight. For other great interviews on the DP/30: The Oral History of Hollywood site, go here.

Daily Dialogue — December 13, 2015

JENNIFER NELSON: Donna, may I borrow a dime please? I have to call my dog. Thanks.  DONNA: Did you say you will calling your dog?  JENNIFER NELSON: Yeah. You know with me away at work all day the poor thing doesn‘t get any exercise. So whenever the phone rings

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Denial

The Daily Dialogue theme next week: Denial, suggested by Liz Correal. The Godfather (1972) The ending scene from The Godfather is one of the classic cinematic examples of denial because it works on two levels: First, Michael denying he is responsible for having Carlo murdered. Second, the look on Kay’

Question: Networking opportunities for TV people

I received a question via email from someone who works in the TV business as a music composer: “What are some great networking events, panels, etc for meeting established professionals working in television these days?” We can expand that to include people who are trying to work in TV. Honestly,

Black List Writers on the Craft

In precisely 48 hours from the moment this post goes live, we will learn the names of the writers and scripts which made the 2015 Black List. You may follow the unveiling of the list Monday, December 14 starting exactly at 9AM Pacific on Twitter. In August, I featured many

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 216th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other things of writerly interest. Golden Globe Announce Nominations. Boston Online Film Critics Announce Nominations. Boston Society of Film Critics Awards announced. British Film Independent Awards announced. Los Angeles Film

Interviews: Black List Writers

In precisely 48 hours from the moment this post goes live, we will learn the names of the writers and scripts which made the 2015 Black List. You may follow the unveiling of the list Monday, December 14 starting exactly at 9AM Pacific on Twitter. In anticipation of the roll-

Interview (Written): Emma Donoghue (“Room”)

The Writer Sue interview with Emma Donoghue who adapted her own novel “Room” for the movie for which she was recently nominated for a Golden Globe. Lesley Coffin (TMS): When adapting your own book and writing the screenplay, had the book already been optioned for a film? Emma Donoghue: Not