Scott Myers

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.

Set Pieces, Part 4: Complications, Roadblocks and Reversals

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 4: Complications, Roadblocks and Reversals. For background on what I mean by these three ‘categories,’ go

Movie Trailer: “Unfinished Business”

Written by Steve Conrad A hard-working small business owner and his two associates travel to Europe to close the most important deal of their lives. But what began as a routine business trip goes off the rails in every imaginable — and unimaginable — way, including unplanned stops at a massive

Classic 60s Movie: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

January is Classic 60s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Jack McDonald. Movie Title: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Year: 1966 Writer: Ernest Lehman (screenplay), Edward Albee (stage play) Lead Actors: Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, George Segal and Sandy Dennis Director: Mike Nichols IMDb Plot Summary: A

Writing and the Creative Life: Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling (Part 5)

“We like to be engaged and entertained by what transpires in the plot, but more important we want to find meaning in the characters’ experiences, and see change manifest in their lives.” This is the last in a 5 part series on why your brain loves good storytelling. In Part

Daily Dialogue — January 29, 2015

HIGGINS: We have games. That’s all. We play games. What if? How many men? What would it take? Is there a cheaper way to destabilize a regime? That’s what we’re paid to do. TURNER: Walk on. Go on. So, Atwood just took the games too seriously. He

Twitter Rant: Geoff LaTulippe on Studio Script Development Process

Last night screenwriter Geoff LaTulippe (Going the Distance) did a Twitter blast about what a screenplay can and often does go through in the Hollywood development process. Reprinted here by permission: https://twitter.com/DrGMLaTulippe/status/560284037668171776 Because here’s the thing: you can’t take ANYTHING away from an

Interview (Part 3): 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

“Boyhood: 12 Moments That Seize You”

I don’t know how I stumbled upon this article, but I really like it. From the website Write Out of L.A., Robin Write has posted an excellent take on one of my favorite movies of 2014 Boyhood. From the opening frame of Mason staring up into the sky,

Set Pieces, Part 3: Stakes

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 3: Stakes. Will Andy escape Shawshank prison? Will Clarice prevail over Buffalo Bill? Will Luke Skywalker

Movie Trailer: “The Rewrite”

Written by Marc Lawrence An Oscar-winning writer in a slump leaves Hollywood to teach screenwriting at a college on the East Coast, where he falls for a single mom taking classes there. IMDb

Classic 60’s Movies: Rosemary’s Baby

January is Classic 60s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Ipsita Barik. Movie Title: Rosemary’s Baby Year: 1968 Writers: Roman Polanski (screenplay), Ira Levin (novel) Lead Actors: Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer, Maurice Evans Director: Roman Polanski IMDB Plot Summary: A young couple move

Script To Screen: “Excalibur”

A key early scene in the 1981 movie Excalibur, screenplay by Rospo Pallenberg and John Boorman, book by Thomas Malory. IMDb plot summary: Merlin the magician helps Arthur Pendragon unite the Britons around the round table of Camelot even as forces conspire to tear it apart. In this scene, Arthur,

Daily Dialogue — January 28, 2015

JAMES BOND: Red wine with fish. Well, that should have told me something. DONALD “RED” GRANT: You may know the right wines, but you’re the one on your knees. How does it feel, old man? — From Russia with Love (1963), screenplay by Richard Maibaum, adaptation by Johanna Harwood, novel