Scott Myers

Movie Trailer: “Poltergeist”

Written by David Lindsay-Abaire A family’s suburban home is invaded by evil forces. IMDb Release Date: 22 May 2015 (USA)

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 7

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one: The story idea is how everyone in Hollywood short-

Screenwriting 101: John Cassavetes

“People who are making films today are too concerned with mechanics — technical things instead of feeling. Execution is about eight percent to me. The technical quality of a film doesn’t have much to do with whether it’s a good film. I feel like vomiting when some director says

Daily Dialogue — April 7, 2015

Col. Hans Landa: Now if one were to determine what attribute the German people share with a beast, it would be the cunning and the predatory instinct of a hawk. But if one were to determine what attributes the Jews share with a beast, it would be that of the

Rewriting your script

Let’s face it: Rewriting is a bitch. Or a bastard. Pick your gender specific invective. Doesn’t matter. The process is a pain no matter how you shake your fist and swear at it. One big issue I’ve found with writers caught up in the maelstrom of rewriting

The Black List Launches New York City Event Series

From the Black List: Los Angeles, CA (April 6, 2015) — This morning the Black List announced a program of events in New York City from April 29 — May 2, 2015, including several events that are open to the public. Additional details and updates are online at https://blcklst.com/events/

Interview (Part 1): Sam Baron (2014 Nicholl Winner)

Sam Baron wrote the original screenplay “The Science of Love and Laughter” which won a 2014 Nicholl Fellowship in screenwriting. Sam and I had a great conversation which I will be sharing with you this week in 6 parts. Today in Part 1, Sam discusses how we found his way

Interview [Audio]: John Cassavetes

Much of what we know today as “independent filmmaking” derives from the creative genius of John Cassavetes and movies he created in the 60s and 70s. You may remember him from his acting roles in movies like The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Rosemary’s Baby (1968), but he used the

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: Short Term 12

This week, we have been reading, analyzing, and discussing the script and movie Short Term 12, written by Destin Daniel Cretton. IMDb plot summary: A 20-something supervising staff member of a residential treatment facility navigates the troubled waters of that world alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend. Links

Movie Trailer: “Spooks: The Greater Good”

Screenplay Jonathan Brackley, Sam Vincent When a terrorist escapes custody during a routine handover, Will Crombie must team with disgraced MI5 Intelligence Chief Harry Pearce to track him down before an imminent terrorist attack on London. IMDb Release Date: 8 May 2015 (UK)

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 6

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one: Around 1990, writer Stephen Brill came up with this

On Writing

“I never started from ideas but always from character.”    — Ivan Turgenev

Daily Dialogue — April 6, 2015

MORTON: Who’s that? Who’s that officer? You, boy! Yes, you. Come here. Are you one of my officers? PULVER: Yes sir. MORTON: What’s your name again? PULVER: Ensign Pulver, sir. MORTON: Well, I’m glad to see there’s someone aboard this vessel knows how to salute.

Go Into The Story Week In Review: March 30-April 5, 2015

Links to this week’s most notable posts: A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 1 A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 2 A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 3 A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 4 A Story

Interview: Destin Daniel Cretton (2010 Nicholl Winner)

This week, we are reading and analyzing the script Short Term 12, so I thought it would be a good idea to reprise my October 2013 interview writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton. Here are links to the six installments of the entire interview: Part 1: “The first time I caught

Screenwriting News (March 30-April 5, 2015)

Jay Basu adapting PlayStation video game “Metal Gear Solid” for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Eric Bress sells drama spec script “American Drifter” to Relativity Media. Matt Charman writing “Patriots’ Day” for CBS Films. Christian Contreras sells historical thriller pitch “Principia” to Warner Bros. Matt Cook writing historical drama “Apostle Paul” for

Spec Script Deal: “American Drifter”

Relativity Media acquires drama spec script “American Drifter” written by Eric Bress. From Deadline: American Drifter centers on a man who loses his father, a guy who has taught him to use his mind to do the impossible. Feeling guilty about his death and watching the love of his life

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 5

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one: Thinking up new story ideas keeps you on your

Interview [Video]: Chris Weitz (“Cinderella”)

An interview with Chris Weitz (Antz, About a Boy), screenwriter of the remake of Cinderella. He also discusses his current project: Star Wars: Rogue One. Via I Am Rogue. Comment Archive

Daily Dialogue — April 5, 2015

“She’s having the birdie num nums.” — The Party (1968), screenplay by Blake Edwards & Tom Waldman and Frank Waldman, story by Blake Edwards The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Foreigner. Trivia: This film was improvised from a 56-page outline. Each scene was shot in sequence, and built

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Interrogation

The Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Interrogation. “Is it safe?” 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 Quotes or some other transcript source. * Copy/paste

Interview (Part 6): Destin Daniel Cretton

This week, we are reading and analyzing the script Short Term 12, so I thought it would be a good idea to reprise my October 2013 interview writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton. One of my favorite movies of 2013 is Short Term 12, so I was understandably excited when its

Scriptnotes special episode on Scripped.com fiasco

If you followed the demise of Scripped.com this week (you can go to this Reddit thread for background), it created a significant disturbance in the online screenwriting universe, naturally so with tens of thousands of Scripped users who lost their screenplays when the Scripped online storage system imploded. The

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 180th installment of Saturday Hot Links. Today: The Major League Baseball Season Is About To Begin Edition! Agency Shakeup: Mass Defection to UTA Is a Major Blow to CAA’s Dominance. CAA Sues UTA and Two Agents for a “Lawless Midnight Raid”. Related: CAA vs. UTA, Corporate

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 4

This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one: You can evolve into being a writer-producer. Let’