Scott Myers

Go Into The Story Week In Review: January 26-February 1, 2015

Links to last week’s most notable posts: Announcing: The Quest Writing Workshop, Santa Monica, March 12–15, 2015 “Boyhood: 12 Moments That Seize You” Classic 60s Movie: Bonnie and Clyde Classic 60s Movie: Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Bomb Classic 60s Movie:

Interview: Ava DuVernay

It is criminal that Ava DuVernay was not nominated for a Best Director Oscar for her work on the remarkable movie Selma. I am running an interview I conducted with Ava in June 2013 just as she was about to take on the Selma project. In addition to making history

Great Scene: “Stardust Memories”

The opening scene in Woody Allen’s 1980 movie Stardust Memories. IMDb plot summary: While attending a retrospect of his work, a filmmaker recalls his life and his loves: the inspirations for his films. In some ways, a classic Woody Allen scene recalling that line, “I’d never join a

Screenwriting News (January 26-February 1, 2015)

Andrea Berloff adapting drama crime memoir “Dangerous Odds” for Warner Bros. Matthew Michael Carnahan adaptation of “Born to Run” for di Bonaventura Pictures and Outlaw Productions with Matthew McConaughey attached to star. Ava DuVernay writing-directing untitled Hurricane Katrina drama for Participant Media. Wes Jones adapting action comedy novel “Mad

Classic 60s Movie: The Loved One

January was Classic 60s Movie month. Today bonus guest post comes from W. H. Morris. Movie Title: The Loved One Year: 1966 Writers: Evelyn Waugh, novel, Terry Southern and Christopher Isherwood, screenplay Lead Actors: Robert Morse, Jonathan Winters, Sir John Geilgud, Anjanette Comer Director: Tony Richardson Plot Summary: A young

Interview [Video]: Richard LaGravenese (“The Last Five Years”)

Richard LaGravenese is one of Hollywood’s A-list screenwriters whose film credits include The Fisher King, Bridges of Madison County, The Horse Whisperer, Beloved, and Unbroken. He is also a writer-director as with his newest project The Last Five Years, bringing the Tony Award-winning musical to the

Daily Dialogue — February 1, 2015

Harry Lime: Nobody thinks in terms of human beings. Governments don’t. Why should we? They talk about the people and the proletariat, I talk about the suckers and the mugs — it’s the same thing. They have their five-year plans, so have I. Martins: You used to believe

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Pets

The Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Pets. “You’d better think of something to name him ‘coz when I come home and he’s destroyed my house,  I wanna know what to call him.” Beethoven (1992) The usual drill: * Copy/paste dialogue from IMDb Quotes or some other transcript

Interview (Part 6): Ava DuVernay

It is criminal that Ava DuVernay was not nominated for a Best Director Oscar for her work on the remarkable movie Selma. I am running an interview I conducted with Ava eighteen months ago just as she was about to take on the Selma project. In addition to making history

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 171st installment of Saturday Hot Links. Today: The Thank God, The Flight of the Conchords Are Touring Again Edition! Flight of the Conchords are planning a 2015 tour. Sundance 2015: 12 films that made bank. Sundance 2015: Duplass brothers sign 4-picture deal with Netflix. Sundance 2015:

Classic 60s Movie: Jungle Book

January is Classic 60s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Ally Shina. Movie: The Jungle Book Year: 1967 Screenwriters: Larry Clemmons, Ralph Wright, Ken Anderson, Vance Garry, based on a book by Rudyard Kipling Lead Actors: Phil Harris as ‘Baloo the Bear’ (voice), Sebastian Cabot as ‘Bagheera the

Interview (Written): Amy Koppelman and Paige Dylan

The indie movie I Smile Back recently premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Starring Sarah Silverman in a dramatic role, Amy Koppelman and Paige Dylan adapted the screenplay from a novel penned by Koppelman. This interview conducted via email is from No Film School: NFS: Was it difficult to

Daily Dialogue — January 31, 2015

Bourne: I’m not making this up. These are real (passports). Who has a safety deposit box full of money, six passports and a gun. Who has a bank account number in their hip. I come in here and the first thing I’m doing is catching the sightlines and

Declare Your Independents — Vol. 47

GITS development assistant Wendy Cohen here, and welcome back to Declare Your Independents, our new series highlighting the latest developments in the world of independent film! This week… The Story Behind Sundance Smash Me and Earl and the Dying Girl 10 Filmmaking Tips from Mark and Jay Duplass Sundance Film

The Relationship of Character to Plot

We had such an active and great group for my recent Pixar and the Craft of Storytelling class, I have extended our time together for another week. In one of our teleconferences, I was talking about the importance of working with our characters to inform the plotting process. Indeed, I

Interview (Part 5): Ava DuVernay

It is criminal that Ava DuVernay was not nominated for a Best Director Oscar for her work on the remarkable movie Selma. I am running an interview I conducted with Ava eighteen months ago just as she was about to take on the Selma project. In addition to making history

Spec Script Deal: “Senior Year”

CBS Films acquires comedy spec script “Senior Year” written by Andrew Knauer and Arthur Pielli. From Deadline: After a cheerleader falls off a pyramid and knocks herself into a coma, she awakens 20 years later (present day) in the body of a 37-year-old woman. But having only aged

Set Pieces, Part 5: Entertainment

A series this week on set pieces: A scene or set of scenes with a big idea, feel and/or scope to them, oftentimes associated with major plot points, and always about entertainment. Part 5: Entertainment. Spin the plot. Emotional meaning. Stakes. Complications, Roadblocks and Reversals. All things you need

Movie Trailer: “Woman in Gold”

Written by Alexi Kaye Campbell Maria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family. IMDb Release Date: 3 April 2015 (USA)

Classic 60s Movie: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

January is Classic 60s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Rick Dyke. Movie Title: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Year: Released in Italy — December 22, 1966 / Released in U.S. — January 24, 1968 Writers: Luciano Vincenzoni & Sergio Leone (story); Agenore Incrocci, Eurio Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni,

Great Character: Donna Stern (“Obvious Child”)

The Great Character theme for the month: Struggling Artist. Today: Donna Stern from the 2014 movie Obvious Child, written by Gillian Robespierre, story by Gillian Robespierre and Karen Maine and Elisabeth Holm, based on a short film written by Anna Bean and Karen Maine and Gillian Robespierre. The hectic, anti-

Daily Dialogue — January 30, 2015

Famous Austin: Yeah Baby. Dixie Normous: Hi, I’m Dixie. Dixie Normous. I may be just a small-town FBI agent slash single mother, but I’m still tough… and sexy. Famous Austin: Well, Miss Normous… shall we shag now, or shag later? Dixie Normous: Oh Austin, behave. Famous Dr.

Announcing: The Quest Writing Workshop, Santa Monica, March 12–15, 2015

Studying the writing craft online is great. I’ve been teaching part-time that way since 2002 and have probably offered more online classes than anyone else, so I have a lot of experience. The convenience of doing the work snuggled in bed in your pajamas while savoring a cup

Interview (Part 4): Ava DuVernay

It is criminal that Ava DuVernay was not nominated for a Best Director Oscar for her work on the remarkable movie Selma. I am running an interview I conducted with Ava eighteen months ago just as she was about to take on the Selma project. In addition to making history

Video Essay: “Kubrick’s Kaleidoscope”

This is great. Images from Kubrick movies overlaid on scenes from movies by Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, Alfonso Cuaron and other directors. Via Nelson Carvajal. HT to Indiewire for the link.