Scott Myers

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

Interview (Part 2): 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 1): 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: “Fantastic Four”

Screenplay by Simon Kinberg, Jeremy Slater, and Josh Trank, characters by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee Four young scientists achieve superhuman abilities through a teleportation experiment gone haywire. They must now use these abilities to save the world from an uprising tyrant. IMDb Release Date: 7 August 2015 (USA)

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 21

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: Activist Finds Missing Grandson 36 Years After the Government Abducted Him. Estella Barnes de Carlotto, the founder an Argentine human rights group dedicated to finding missing children, said Monday that she has

Screenwriting 101: Ron Shelton

“When I pitch, I pitch like Roger Clemens or brush them back like Sal Maglie used to do. I’m throwing everything I’ve got at them from the moment I walk in the office, even if I don’t look like it. The most important thing is which piece

Daily Dialogue — April 21, 2015

“That’s how Austrians say goodbye.” — Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), screenplay by Jeffrey Boam, story by George Lucas and Menno Meyjes The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Betrayal. Trivia: Elsa is the only love-interest in an Indiana Jones movie who turns out to be a

Create a Compelling Protagonist

In almost every movie, the most critical character is the Protagonist. * Typically the story is told through their perspective. * Their goal usually dictates the end point of the plot. * All the other primary characters are somehow linked to the Protagonist. * Normally they go through the most significant metamorphosis. * And the

Spec Script Deal: “Eye in the Sky”

Millennium Films acquires action spec script “Eye in the Sky” written by Richard D’Ovidio. From Deadline: An LAPD helicopter squad that tries to nab a Mexican drug lord who has come to Los Angeles to celebrate his niece’s quinceanera. A cat-and-mouse pursuit ensues from the sky

Interview (Part 1): 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,

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: The Grand Budapest Hotel

This week, we have been reading, analyzing, and discussing the script and movie The Grand Budapest Hotel, screenplay by Wes Anderson, story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness, inspired by the writings of Stefan Zweig. IMDb plot summary: The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel

Movie Trailer: “All in Time”

Written by Marina Donahue, Christopher Fetchko Charlie quits his job in New York to move home to Pennsylvania to manage his favorite hometown rock band, firmly believing the band’s glory days are ahead of them. His supportive girlfriend shares his love for the band, but the band’s guitarist,

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 20

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: You Could Wake Up Convinced You’re In a Duplicate World. Or, at least, that you’re in a duplicate town, house, and hospital. Reduplicative paramnesia victims believe that someone or something

On Writing

“I never want to see anyone, and I never want to go anywhere or do anything. I just want to write.” — P. G. Wodehouse

Daily Dialogue — April 20, 2015

Cypher:[answering the phone] Hello Trinity. Trinity: Cypher? Where’s Tank? Cypher: You know, for a long time I thought I was in love with you. I used to dream about you. You’re a beautiful woman Trinity. Too bad things had to turn out this way. Trinity: You killed

Go Into The Story Week In Review: April 13-April 19, 2015

Links to this week’s most notable posts: A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 13 A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 14 A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 15 A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 16 A Story

Interview: David Guggenheim (2010, 2012 Black List)

David Guggenheim broke into the business in February 2010 by selling the spec script Safe House which was produced and has grossed $208M worldwide. Since that time, Guggenheim has sold two more spec scripts: “Black Box” to Universal and “Narco Sub” to 20th Century Fox, as well as the pitch

Screenwriting News (April 13-April 19, 2015)

Tom Astle and Matt Ember writing live-action animation “kidrobot” for MGM. Marissa Jo Cerar adapting drama novel “The Girl Who Fell From the Sky” for Relativity Media. Bill Dubuque sells action adventure pitch “The Real McCoy” to Universal. Jason Filardi and Walt Becker sell comedy pitch “Nick” to DreamWorks.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 19

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. And this is a first: A guest post for the Story Idea series, courtesy of Will King! Today’s story: Could civilization reboot without fossil fuels. The article examines the question: if civilization as we

Interview (Video): Alex Garland (“Ex Machina”)

A First Showing interview with writer-director (28 Days Later, Sunshine) upon the release of his latest movie Ex Machina: Another interview with Garland on Channel 4 News in the U.K.: A trailer for Ex Machina: For more on the First Showing interview, go here.

Daily Dialogue — April 19, 2015

Betty: I wonder where you were going. Rita: Mulholland Drive. — Mulholland Drive (2001), written by David Lynch The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Amnesia. Trivia: Adam Kesher smashing the producers’ car windshield in with a golf club is a reference to the famous 1994 incident where Jack Nicholson did

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Betrayal

The Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Betrayal. “I’m your older brother, Mike, and I was stepped over!” Take part in the grand Daily Dialogue tradition — 2,500+ consecutive days and counting! How about your suggestion for this week’s theme? The usual drill: * Copy/paste dialogue from IMDb

Interview (Part 6): David Guggenheim (2010, 2012 Black List)

David Guggenheim broke into the business in February 2010 by selling the spec script Safe House which was produced and has grossed $208M worldwide. Since that time, Guggenheim has sold two more spec scripts: “Black Box” to Universal and “Narco Sub” to 20th Century Fox, as well as the pitch

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 182nd installment of Saturday Hot Links! Today: The It’s Stephen Hawking’s Universe And We’re Just Part Of It Edition 2015 Cannes Film Festival Reveals Its 68th Lineup. MTV Movie Award Winners: Full List. Related: 9 Best and Worst MTV Movie Awards Moments (Photos). ‘Avengers:

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 18

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: 5 People Who Were in the Wrong Place, at the Wrong Time — Multiple Times. 1. Tsutomu Yamaguchi At 8:15 am on August 6, 1945, Tsutomu Yamaguchi (above) — who was in Hiroshima