Scott Myers

Daily Dialogue — July 15, 2015

INCO : One minute and thirty seconds to end of blackout. Walter Cronkite (V.O.): No reentering ship has ever taken longer than three minutes to emerge from blackout. This is the critical moment. Will the heat shield hold? Will the command module survive the intense heat of reentry? If it

One Key to Character Development: Get Curious

In my current Prep: From Concept to Outline workshop, the online message board discussion was about subplots. In the workshop, we explore my principle on that subject: Subplot = Relationship. By identifying key characters and their relationships, we zero in on them as subplots, each with their own specific Beginning-Middle-

Showrunner Rules from Jeffrey Lieber: Numbers 241–250

Jeff Lieber is a screenwriter and TV writer. His movie credits include Tuck Everlasting and he is currently an executive producer of the CBS series “NCIS: New Orleans”. On Twitter (@JeffLieber), he has run a series of tweets called Showrunner Rules. For background on Jeff and this Twitter series, go

Script Analysis: “Flight” — Part 2: Major Plot Points

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: Major Plot Points Wednesday: Sequences Thursday: Psychological Journey Friday: Takeaways Today: Major Plot

30 Things About Screenwriting: Similar but different

Sequels. Prequels. Remakes. Reboots. Why do Hollywood studios choose to go this route with such familiar material? Why not fill their development slates with bold projects full of fresh ideas and innovative stories? That would run entirely counter to the working ethos which informs the studio system decision-making process,

Screenwriting 101: Larry McMurtry

“It might be, indeed, that literary genius is a kind of encumbrance in Hollywood, but then even literary geniuses don’t need to wear their genius every minute of their lives. Bringing genius to Hollywood is like wearing the new blue suit to the beach — a bathing suits works better.

Daily Dialogue — July 14, 2015

GALE HAWTHORNE: Listen to me. KATNISS EVERDEEN: Yeah. GALE HAWTHORNE: You’re stronger than they are. You are. Get to a bow. KATNISS EVERDEEN: They may not have one… GALE HAWTHORNE: They will if you show ’em how good you are. They just want a good show. That’s all

Concept = Hook

Whatever degree of importance you attribute to your script’s story concept… it’s probably not enough. Here’s how I begin Lecture 1 of my Core II: Concept class: The foundation of any movie is the screenplay. The foundation of any screenplay is the concept. Therefore it stands to

Movie Analysis: Jurassic World

Last week, we analyzed and discussed the movie Jurassic World, screenplay by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Colin Trevorrow & Derek Connolly, story by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, characters by Michael Crichton. IMDb plot summary: A new theme park is built on the original site of Jurassic Park.

Script Analysis: “Flight” — 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: Major Plot Points Wednesday: Sequences Thursday: Psychological Journey Friday: Takeaways Today: Scene-By-

30 Things About Screenwriting: Living and writing in L.A.

Let me say up front, there are enormous advantages for a screenwriter to live in or near Los Angeles. Here are a few key ones: * You are where the action is. There’s no better way to keep track of the ebb and flow, ins and outs of the movie

On Writing

“I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I’m afraid of.” — Joss Whedon

Daily Dialogue — July 13, 2015

MITTENS: There’s your antidote: food. Go on, use the Dog Face. This is gonna be beautiful. You know, beg. Do the Dog Face! BOLT: What? The Dog Face? What does that mean? MITTENS: Figures I’m tied to the one dog on earth who doesn’t know how to

Go Into The Story Week In Review: July 6-July 12, 2015

Links to this week’s most notable posts: 2015 Mid-Year Spec Script Deal Report 30 Things About Screenwriting: Write what they’re buying or sell them your dream 30 Things About Screenwriting: There are no screenwriting rules 30 Things About Screenwriting: Immerse yourself in cinema 30 Things About Screenwriting:

Interview: Emile Gladstone

Recently I had an in-depth conversation with movie and TV producer Emile Gladstone. Previously a talent agent at ICM where he was a partner and co-head of the Motion Picture Literary department, Emile is currently in post-production on his first film Army of One, written by Rajiv

Screenwriting News (July 6-July 12, 2015)

Matthew Fogel sells spec script “Prince Charming” to Disney. Shaun Grant adapting “The Last Duel” for Studio 8. Shaun Grant adapting “True History of the Kelly Gang” for Porchlight Films. Anders Thomas Jensen and Nikolaj Arcel rewriting “The Dark Tower” for Sony. Lawrence Kasdan and Jon Kasdan scripted untitled young

30 Things About Screenwriting: Stacking projects

Here’s something interesting to do if you subscribe to IMDBpro.com: Check out some of the top screenwriters and see what projects they have in development. Here are three of them: Ron Bass, Steve Zaillian, and Guillermo del Toro: Ron Bass Players Rules (2010), writer True Believer (2011), writer

Interview (Video): Peter Jackson talks to Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost

I can’t remember who tweeted this link, but HT to whoever you are because it’s pretty choice stuff: Peter Jackson conversing with Edgar Wright, Simon Peff, and Nick Frost about their movie The World’s End, written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, directed by Wright. Peter Jackson

Daily Dialogue — July 12, 2015

Phyllis: Mr. Neff, why don’t you drop by tomorrow evening about eight-thirty. He’ll be in then. Walter Neff: Who? Phyllis: My husband. You were anxious to talk to him weren’t you? Walter Neff: Yeah, I was, but I’m sort of getting over the idea, if

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Survival

The Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Survival. “Aha. Look what I’ve created. I have made fire!”  — Cast Away (2000) The usual drill: * Copy/paste dialogue from IMDb Quotes or some other transcript source. * Copy/paste the URL of an accompanying video from YouTube or some other video source.

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 194th installment of Saturday Hot Links! The Best of Comic-Con: The Coolest and Most Important Moments in Hall H History. Comic-Con: Atari Games Set for Comic Book Revival. Comic-Con: 10 Must-See Comic Book Panels for the First Two Days. Comic-Con: The 10

30 Things About Screenwriting: Know your genre

I have gotten to know a lot of screenwriters through the years. In talking with or interviewing them, one thing I find they pretty much have in common: They know their genre. That is a lesson for all of us. When you write an original screenplay within a specific genre,

Interview (Written): Sean Baker (“Tangerine”)

An excellent interview with Sean Baker, director and co-writer of the indie film Tangerine and one of its lead actors Mya Taylor. Plot summary: “A working girl tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart.” The film is notable for several reasons not

Daily Dialogue — July 11, 2015

“Excuse me lady, but that upon which you sit is mine.” — It Happened One Night (1934), screen play by Robert Riskin, short story by Samuel Hopkins Adams The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Subtext. Trivia: This film holds the record, along with Gigi (1958), The Last Emperor (1987) and

Go Into The Story Script Read and Analysis: “Flight”

Beginning June 13, our next movie script read and analysis will be Flight, written by John Gatins. Starring Denzel Washington. Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown Tuesday: Major Plot Points Wednesday: Sequences Thursday: Psychological Journey Friday: Takeaways You may download the script here. Reading