Scott Myers

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 25

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: The woman who keeps comedians sane. Ildiko Tabori has never stood on a stage trying to make strangers laugh, doesn’t write jokes, and admits that she’s not great at telling

Interview (Written): Salvador Paskowitz (“The Age of Adaline”)

A Creative Screenwriting interview with Salvador Paskowitz, co-writer of the movie The Age of Adaline starring Blake Lively and Harrison Ford. Where did the idea for The Age of Adaline come from? It was just a notion that we had. I just thought a woman that could live forever.

Daily Dialogue — April 25, 2015

“Walker, I’m glad you’re not dead. It’s true, I really am. You ought to kill me. Can’t sleep. Haven’t slept. Keep taking pills. Dream about you. How good it must be… being dead.” Point Blank (1967), screenplay by Alexander Jacobs and David Newhouse & Rafe

Protagonist v. Nemesis: Key to Conflict

Your choice of a Protagonist is easily one of the most critical decisions you make because of the character’s dominant influence on a story: * The Protagonist usually goes on some sort of physical and/or emotional journey. * That journey creates the spine of the plot. * That journey shapes the

Interview (Part 5): Aaron Guzikowski (“Prisoners”)

One of the best movies of 2013 was Prisoners, written by Aaron Guzikowski, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an hour-long conversation with Aaron about his background as a writer, his work on Prisoners,

Page One Writer’s Conference: May 2, 2015

Attention all you writers within hailing distance of Chicago: On May 2nd, be sure to check out the DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts Page One Writers’ Conference. Here is the list of writers and industry insiders who will be appearing at the event: -Randi Barnes is a film and

Movie Trailer: “Black Mass”

Screenplay by Jez Butterworth and Mark Mallouk, book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill   The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 24

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: Chinese boy discovers 3,000-year-old sword in a river. A child in east China’s Jiangsu Province had a stroke of luck after lunging into a river and stumbling upon

Great Character: Ruby (“Middle of Nowhere”)

The Great Character theme for the month: Women Written by Women. Today: Ruby from the 2012 movie Middle of Nowhere, written and directed by Ava DuVernay. Here is GITS contributor Jason Cuthbert’s post on this Great Character: Before Ava DuVernay became the first Golden Globe-nominated director of African-

Daily Dialogue — April 24, 2015

Donnie Brasco: You think I’m a rat…? Lefty: If you’re a rat… (jams pistol against his own head)… then I’m the biggest mutt in the history of the Mafia. — Donnie Brasco (1997), screenplay by Paul Attanasio, book by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley The Daily Dialogue

May: Classic 50s Movie Month

In December 2013, we had a series called Classic 80s Movies Month in which I invited readers to select noteworthy movies from the decade of the eighties and provide a condensed overview of it. That resulted in this: A list of links to movies you should know about. Then in

Interview (Part 4): Aaron Guzikowski (“Prisoners”)

One of the best movies of 2013 was Prisoners, written by Aaron Guzikowski, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an hour-long conversation with Aaron about his background as a writer, his work on Prisoners,

Twitter Rant: Brian Koppelman on Fear and Writing

Brian Koppelman is a writer, director and producer whose movie credits include Rounders, Ocean’s Thirteen, and Runaway Jury. He is also known for his excellent podcast “The Moment” and a popular Vine series on writing and the creative life. Recently Brian went on a Twitter rant about fear and

Movie Trailer: “Pitch Perfect 2”

Screenplay by Kay Cannon, Mickey Rapkin A collegiate a cappella group called the Barden Bellas enter into an international competition that no American team has ever won before. IMDb Release Date: 15 May 2015 (USA)

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 23

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: September 11th and the Hospitable People of Gander, Newfoundland. In the immediate aftermath of the September 11th attacks, our Canadian neighbors sprang into action to help clear American airspace of any other

The Business of Screenwriting: Everything you wanted to know about specs [Part 5]

Spec scripts, that is. I’m guessing that perhaps 90% of the people who follow this blog at some point in their lives will write a spec script. And the other 10% are involved in buying and selling them. In light of that fact, last year I interviewed a top

Daily Dialogue — April 23, 2015

“Don’t get cheap on me, Dodgson. That was Hammond’s mistake.” — Jurassic Park (1993), screenplay by Michael Crichton and David Koepp, novel by Michael Crichton The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Betrayal. Trivia: Nedry’s reasons for betraying Hammond are clearer in the novel, who is misled and

Breakdown: “Batman v. Superman” trailer

The courses I teach and workshops I run through Screenwriting Master Class never cease to amaze me in terms of the quality discussions that emerge in our 24/7 forums. Case in point, a recent conversation in the Pages II: Rewriting Your Script course, something initiated by Michael W: Has

Interview (Part 3): Aaron Guzikowski (“Prisoners”)

One of the best movies of 2013 was Prisoners, written by Aaron Guzikowski, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an hour-long conversation with Aaron about his background as a writer, his work on Prisoners,

Feature (Part 2): Michael Harden — Winner, Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting Fellowship

Back in 2013, the Black List and longtime independent movie producer Cassian Elwes (Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Dallas Buyers Club) launched a screenwriting fellowship. A major part of the experience was for a screenwriter to accompany Elwes to the Sundance Film Festival which is precisely what happened with the first

Movie Trailer: “The Overnight”

Written by Patrick Brice Alex, Emily, and their son, RJ, are new to Los Angeles. A chance meeting at the park introduces them to the mysterious Kurt, Charlotte, and Max. A family “playdate” becomes increasingly interesting as the night goes on. IMDb Release Date: 19 June 2015 (USA)

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 22

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: A Man Renovating His Home Discovered A Tunnel… To A Massive Underground City. In 1963, a man in the Nevşehir Province of Turkey knocked down a wall of his home. Behind it,

Video: 5 Hour Commercial

Thanks to Melinda Mahaffey Icden for sending along this item from D Magazine: Was a 5-Hour Commercial the Most Ambitious Movie at this Year’s Dallas Film Festival? As in years past, the Dallas International Film Festival, which wrapped up this past weekend, offered a mix of independent features

Daily Dialogue — April 22, 2015

Ripley: Ash, can you hear me? Ash? Ash: [speaking in an electronic, distorted voice] Yes, I can hear you. Ripley: What was your special order? Ash: You read it. I thought it was clear. Ripley: What was it? Ash: Bring back life form. Priority One. All other priorities rescinded. Parker:

Wanted: Your input about the blog

In May, this humble little blog will celebrate its 7th birthday. That means over the course of 2,532 consecutive days, I have rolled out over 17,000 posts. To which I say… PHEW!!! [exaggerated backhand across sweaty brow] I will reserve most of my reflections on this journey for