Scott Myers

Script To Screen: “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”

A great fight scene from the 2000 movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, screenplay by Hui-Ling Wang and James Schamus and Kuo Jung Tsai, book by Du Lu Wang. IMDb plot summary: Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically

Daily Dialogue — December 24, 2014

“Russell, for assisting the elderly, and for performing above and beyond the call of duty, I would like to award you the highest honor I can bestow: The Ellie Badge.” — Up (2009), screenplay by Bob Peterson and Pete Docter, story by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson and Tom McCarthy Daily

2014 Black List Word Cloud Logline Challenge: Winners!

It started here: We did this last year and had a helluva lot of fun, so following in footsteps of Hollywood’s studios, it’s sequel time! Yes, it’s the 2014 Black List Word Cloud Logline Challenge! Here is a word cloud based on the loglines for the 2014

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: Prisoners

We’ve had a successful relaunch of the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series. I say relaunch because we have done this type of thing before. For the past month, I have been spotlighting previous movie scripts we have studied. Today: Prisoners (2012) Written by Aaron Guzikowski IMDb plot summary:

Documentary: “The Film School Generation”

From The Film Stage: As introduced by a very reverent John Lithgow, the hour-long documentary “The Film School Generation” — made in 1995 as part of an omnibus TV project entitled American Cinema — is currently available to watch on YouTube. Revolving primarily around five directors from that most famed group

Movie Trailer: “Vice”

Written by Andre Fabrizio, Jeremy Passmore Bruce Willis stars in this Sci-Fi thriller about ultimate resort: VICE, where customers can play out their wildest fantasies with artificial inhabitants who look like humans. IMDb Release Date: 16 January 2015 (USA)

Writing Goals: 2015 [Part 7] — Time Management

We pick up from last week with our year-end attempt to help GITS readers set and achieve their writing goals for 2015. To revisit the process of self-reflection from last week, here are the links: Writing Goals: 2015 [Part 1] — Looking Back Writing Goals: 2015 [Part 2] — Assessing

Screenwriting 101: Mark Bomback

“A big misconception that people have about these franchise movies is that all the studios care about is the action. It’s very cynical and untrue to believe that studio heads don’t care whether the movie has a solid story and real characters… when they speak with the writer,

Daily Dialogue — December 23, 2014

EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD — NIGHT — BOTTOM OF THE 9TH The scoreboard shows us that it’s still tied in the bottom of the ninth. Nobody’s out. DYE grabs a bat and walks to the plate. Then, inexplicably, Howe turns to- ART: Hattie. Grab a bat. SCOTT HATTEBERG: actually points

2015 Film and Television Writers Calendar

While you have been busy hammering back egg nog and champagne over the holidays, the folks in our little part of the world (The Black List, Go Into The Story, The Black Board) have been busy creating a gift for the online writing community: The 2015 Film and Television Writers

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: Moonrise Kingdom

We’ve had a successful relaunch of the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series. I say relaunch because we have done this type of thing before. For the past month, I have been spotlighting previous movie scripts we have studied. Today: Moonrise Kingdom (2012) Written by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola

THR (Video): Producer Roundtable

From THR: If you’d taken a snapshot of the men and women who participated in this year’s Producer Roundtable about 15 years ago, you’d have seen most of them in very different jobs: Peter Chernin (Exodus: Gods and Kings, St. Vincent, Dawn of the Planet of the

Movie Trailer: “Black or White”

Written by Mike Binder A grieving widower is drawn into a custody battle over his granddaughter, whom he helped raise her entire life. IMDb Release Date: 30 January 2015 (USA)

Writing Goals: 2015 [Part 6] — Schedule

We pick up from last week with our year-end attempt to help GITS readers set and achieve their writing goals for 2015. To revisit the process of self-reflection from last week, here are the links: Writing Goals: 2015 [Part 1] — Looking Back Writing Goals: 2015 [Part 2] — Assessing

On Writing

“I get up in the morning, torture a typewriter until it screams, then stop.” — Clarence Budington Kelland

Daily Dialogue — December 22, 2014

“Elaine! Elaine!” — The Graduate (1967), screenplay by Calder Willingham, Buck Henry, novel by Charles Webb Daily Dialogue theme this week: Celebration. Today’s suggestion by ditty1013. Trivia: None of the older characters has their first name identified in the film; only the younger characters of Benjamin, Elaine and Carl do,

Go Into The Story Week In Review: December 15-December 21, 2014

Links to last week’s most notable posts: 2014 Black List Word Cloud Logline Challenge Black List 2014: Analysis Black List 2014: The List Daily Dialogue Theme for Next Week: Celebration Declare Your Independents — Vol. 41 Go Into The Story Interview: Patty Jones (2013 Nicholl winner) Go Into The Story

Writing A Script: 10 Part Series

Here is the entire 10 part series about how I approach writing a script. Part 1: Story Concept Part 2: Brainstorming Part 3: Research Part 4: Character Development Part 5: Plotting Part 6: Outline Part 7: Script Diary Part 8: First Draft Part 9: Rewriting Part 10: Editing As I

Screenwriting News (December 15-December 21, 2014)

Zach Frankel 2013 Black List script “Make a Wish” with Paramount Pictures. Ted Melfi adapting teen drama novel “Every Exquisite Thing” for The Weinstein Company, Melfi attached to direct. James Ponsoldt adapting drama thriller novel “The Circle” for The Playtone Company with Tom Hanks attached to star, Ponsoldt to direct.

Interview (Video): William Monahan (“The Gambler”)

Interview excerpts with screenwriter William Monahan (The Departed, Body of Lies) whose latest film adaptation is The Gambler. The Gambler Interview - William Monahan - Trailer AddictEdit descriptionv.traileraddict.com The movie’s trailer: The movie’s website here.

Interview (Video): Mike Leigh (“Mr. Turner”)

An October 2014 interview with writer-director Mike Leigh (Vera Drake, Happy-Go-Lucky) whose latest film is Mr. Turner. The movie trailer: For the movie’s website, go here.

Daily Dialogue — December 21, 2014

Han Solo: Han Solo. I’m captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells me you’re lookin’ for passage to the Alderaan system? Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: Yes indeed, if it’s a fast ship. Han Solo: Fast ship? You’ve never heard of the Millennium Falcon? Ben Obi-

Daily Dialogue — December 21, 2014

GIN: Well, let’s face the facts. Y’all are a couple of half-bucket small-timers. You, because of your physical attributes, found a niche, and I respect that. But you also been caught……by me. So this is how it’s gonna be. I don’t want to

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Celebration

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Celebration. “A toast to my big brother George: The richest man in town.” The usual drill: * Copy/paste dialogue from IMDb Quotes or some other transcript source. * Copy/paste the URL of an accompanying video from YouTube or some other video source. I’d

Declare Your Independents — Vol. 41

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… How Would the Indie Film Community Handle “The Interview” Fiasco? How to Self-Distribute Your Film Sundance Institute Announces 2015 January Screenwriters