Scott Myers

Daily Dialogue — November 29, 2014

Irene: I brought some food and I brought some wood and it should last us for a week anyway. Godfrey: Funny, you didn’t have the foresight to bring a minister and a license. Irene: Funny I never thought of that. [knock] Mayor: May I come in? Mr. Gray said

The Business of Screenwriting: They will pigeonhole you (and why this can be a good thing)

The co-star of K-9 was a dog named Jerry Lee: A few years later, we landed an assignment in which the key characters were superhero mutant frogs. Not long after that, another assignment in which the hero was a pig. That’s right: Dogs. Frogs. Hogs. This did

Video: “The Coen Brothers: An Auteur Analysis of Their Film Career”

This is a nifty gift for Coen brothers fans. And let’s face it, we’re all fans of the Coens, aren’t we? Via Indiewire: Vimeo user Grant Pichla’s twenty-minute dissection covers the brothers’ use of similar themes, characters, dialogue and visual styles, their tendency to create

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: Michael Clayton

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 next month, I will be spotlighting previous movie scripts we have studied. Today: Michael Clayton (2007) Written by Tony Gilroy IMDb plot

Teaser Trailer: “Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens”

Screenplay by J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan, characters by George Lucas A continuation of the saga created by George Lucas set thirty years after Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983). IMDb Release Date: 18 December 2015 (USA)  Comment Archive

Script Analysis: “Frankenweenie” — Part 5: Takeaways

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown Tuesday: Major Plot Points Wednesday: Sequences Thursday: Psychological Journey Friday: Takeaways Today: Takeaways. This

Great Character: Herman Blume (“Rushmore”)

The Great Character theme for the month: Bill Murray. Today: Herman Blume in Rushmore, written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson. Here is Jason Cuthbert’s weekly Great Character post: Director, screenwriter and design maven Wes Anderson is known for colorful wardrobes, complicated role models and helping to reinvent Bill

Daily Dialogue — November 28, 2014

Captain Bennett: What the hell is going on here? A high speed pursuit, two men are killed, an officer in the hospital, a witness almost murdered. Now I want to know what’s happening and I want to know now. Let’s hear it straight. Bullitt: Here’s the report.

“‘Star Wars’ Screenwriter Creates ‘Downton Abbey’/’Iron Man’ Mashup”

Here’s something you can be thankful for on this Thanksgiving day: That screenwriter Gary Whitta is infused both with creativity and a great sense of humor. From THR: Apparently, writing a Star Wars movie for Gareth Edwards isn’t enough to satisfy screenwriter Gary Whitta’s iconoclastic needs. How

Short Film: “Bottle Rocket” by Wes Anderson

Via Indiewire: Two years before Wes Anderson made his feature debut in 1996 with “Bottle Rocket,” the writer/director and frequent collaborator Owen Wilson teamed up on their first short film together. It was about two friends in Texas training to become burglars. They enlist a third companion for a

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: Juno

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 next month, I will be spotlighting previous movie scripts we have studied. Today: Juno (2007) Written by Diablo Cody IMDb plot summary:

Movie Trailer: “Far From the Madding Crowd”

Screenplay by David Nicholls, novel by Thomas Hardy A beautiful young woman maintains relationships with three very different men. IMDb Release Date: 1 May 2015 (USA) Comment Archive

Script Analysis: “Frankenweenie” — Part 4: Psychological Journey

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown Tuesday: Major Plot Points Wednesday: Sequences Thursday: Psychological Journey Friday: Takeaways Today: Psychological Journey.

Daily Dialogue — November 27, 2014

Jack: [Lucy’s sitting in the booth at the station taking tokens for the train. Suddenly someone drops a ring, making her look up] Lucy? I have to ask you a question. Elsie: Get down on one knee, it’s more romantic. Saul: Elsie, if he’s proposing let him

Writers, what are you thankful for?

Here in the United States, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Every year at this time, I like to post this question: What are you thankful for? What about writing — the process, experience, practice, lifestyle — gives you joy? I know this: I’m thankful I had this crazy idea to do a blog.

“Agents’ Advice for Young Screenwriters: To Begin, Be Great”

The advice to writers — Be Great! — may seem it comes from the Obvious Agency, but it’s worth remembering. A bit more insight from this Variety article: The glory days of the spec script selling for millions are long gone, according to Julian Rosenberg, Circle of Confusion literary manager and

THR Roundtable: Animation

From the Hollywood Reporter: They hail from as far away as Mexico and Ireland, and they’ve imagined creatures with a wide range of physics-defying powers — dragons that soar through the skies, troll-like creatures who dwell underground and a squishy robot who can squeeze through tight spaces, to

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: It’s a Wonderful Life

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 next month, I will be spotlighting previous movie scripts we have studied. Today: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) Screenplay by Frances

Movie Trailer: “Jurassic World”

Screenplay by Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow, characters by Michael Crichton Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park (1993), Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. IMDb Release Date: 12 June 2015

Script Analysis: “Frankenweenie” — Part 3: Sequences

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown Tuesday: Major Plot Points Wednesday: Sequences Thursday: Psychological Journey Friday: Takeaways Today: Sequences. A

Script To Screen: “Citizen Kane”

A memorable scene from the 1941 movie Citizen Kane, original screen play by Herman J. Mankiewicz & Orson Welles. IMDb plot summary: Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance. Setup: Kane’s wife Susan has just left him. Here

Daily Dialogue — November 26, 2014

Tia Dalma: (Offering a drink to Elizabeth) Against the cold, and the sorrow. (Moving next to Will). It’s a shame. I know you’re thinking that with the Pearl you could have captured the devil and set free your father’s soul. Will: Doesn’t matter now. The Pearl’

Reader Question: What about the Black List and the Nicholl Competition?

Question via email from Arnaud: Would putting a script on the Blacklist for reviews be a wise move or a kill move for the Nicholl’s fellowship competition? Would you say, participating in one could be to the detriment of the other? If not, which one would consider trying first

Twitter Rant: Jeff Willis on Writing Compensation

Last week studio executive Jeff Willis went on a Twitter rant about writing compensation. Reprinted in its entirety by permission. It’s been a while since I’ve done a Twitter rant, but today feels like a good day to resume things. This one’s about writing compensation. Specifically, it’

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: Groundhog Day

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 next month, I will be spotlighting previous movie scripts we have studied. Today: Groundhog Day (1993) Screenplay by Danny Rubin and Harold