Scott Myers

David Milch: “The Writer’s Voice” (Part 2)

Back in September 2010, I ran a week-long series featuring key excerpts from a memorable series of presentations by David Milch at the WGA Theater in Beverly Hills. Then this week, I stumbled upon this: An entire series called The Idea of the Writer by Milch now available on

Trailer: “2001: A Space Odyssey”

Brilliant new trailer for the special limited U.K. release of digitally remastered version of 2001: A Space Odyssey. I saw this movie as a teenager when it was first released and it probably more than any other film concretized my love for the medium. It. Blew. My. Mind. The

How ‘Birdman’ got made

Anne Thompson is one of my favorite writers about movies, her blog Thompson On Hollywood a favorite at Indiewire. Here is an example why: Yesterday Anne posted a great interview with some of the principals involved in the indie feature Birdman which has been getting rave reviews and doing huge

Movie Trailer: “Kingsman: The Secret Service”

Screenplay by Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn, comic book by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons IMDB Release Date: 13 February 2015 (USA)

Great Scene: “Zorba the Greek”

First… disaster. Next… dancing. And then… Nietzsche. Let’s face it: In a fundamental way, screenwriting is scene-writing, so the more we learn about this aspect of the craft, the better. Today: The 1964 movie Zorba the Greek, screenplay by Mihalis Kakogiannis, novel by Nikos Kazantzakis. IMDB plot summary:

Script To Screen: “Bonnie and Clyde”

The ending sequence from the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde, written by David Newman & Robert Benton. IMDB plot summary: A somewhat romanticized account of the career of the notoriously violent bank robbing couple and their gang. In this scene, Bonnie (Faye Dunaway) and Clyde (Warren Beatty) drive along the

Daily Dialogue — October 22, 2014

“Rosebud.” — Citizen Kane (1941), original screenplay by Herman J. Mankiewicz & Orson Welles The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Dying Words. Today’s suggestion by pgronk. Trivia: William Randolph Hearst was infuriated by this movie, obviously based on his life. According to an essay written for the “New York

Reader Question: Could you provide some insight into the script development process?

A question from Point Break: I have a few questions. As rewriting is an art and not a science, when should an agent/manager/prod-co get involved in the process? We all get scripts to a stage where we think it is ready for people to read them. It’

David Milch: “The Writer’s Voice” (Part 1)

Videos and transcripts from Milch’s legendary 2001 and 2007 WGA series. In September 2010, I ran a week-long series featuring key excerpts from a memorable series of presentations in December 2001 by David Milch at the WGA Theater in Beverly Hills. Then I stumbled upon this: An entire

The brilliance of “All in the Family”

In a mere 5 minutes, this video featuring an interview of Norman Lear by Katie Couric reminds us of how incredible the TV series “All in the Family” was. http://news.yahoo.com/video/carroll-o-connor-once-told-043803748.html?format=embed&player_autoplay=false Consider the subject

Dispatch from the Front Lines: Rob Hoskins on Resistance and Permission

Dispatches from the Front Line is an ongoing series of first-person accounts from writers and filmmakers who are on the front edge of breaking into the business. Today: Rob Hoskins on resistance and permission in the writing process. I can tell you, as a would-be creative with a

Movie Trailer: “American Sniper”

Screenplay by Jason Dean Hall, book by Chris Kyle A Navy S.E.A.L. recounts his military career, which includes more than 150 confirmed kills. IMDB Release Date: 16 January 2015 (USA)

Great Scene: “The Thing From Another World”

An excellent example of visual storytelling. In a fundamental way, screenwriting is scene-writing, so the more we learn about this aspect of the craft, the better. Today: The 1951 movie The Thing From Another World, screenplay by Charles Lederer, based on a story by John W. Campbell Jr. IMDB

Screenwriting 101: Michael Arndt

“On Tuesday, May 23, 2000, at 4:27 p.m., I sat down to write LMS [Little Miss Sunshine]. I wrote twelve pages the first day, thirty-seven pages the second, and–pulling an all-nighter–fifty-four pages on the third day. I finished the first draft at 9:

Daily Dialogue — October 21, 2014

“I feel… cold.” — Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), screenplay by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, screen story by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio and Stuart Beattie and Jay Wolpert The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Dying Words. Today’s suggestion by Sam Tyler.

Wrangling your story

Some call it breaking a story. Others cracking a story. I prefer wrangling a story. Whatever you call it, you have to do it… figure out the story. What goes where. Who does what to whom. And for most writers, the ideal time to do that work is before you

The 2014 For Your Consideration Screenplay Download Season officially begins!

It’s that time of year again when studios make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season. As in years past, we will be tracking them and posting links as they become available. Current total of 2014 scripts for download: 1. Newly added script: Get On Up Get On

Austin Film Festival: Do you have questions for Whit Stillman?

The Austin Film Festival and Conference begins later this week and I’ll be there as part of the Black List team speaking at three events and moderating three others. For those of you who will not be attending the Festival, I want to give you a virtual opportunity to

Austin Film Festival: Do you have questions for Craig Borten, Tom Schulman and Jim Uhls?

The Austin Film Festival and Conference begins later this week and I’ll be there as part of the Black List team speaking at three events and moderating three others. For those of you who will not be attending the Festival, I want to give you a virtual opportunity to

Austin Film Festival: Do you have questions for John August, Richard Kelly and Jim Uhls?

The Austin Film Festival and Conference begins later this week and I’ll be there as part of the Black List team speaking at three events and moderating three others. For those of you who will not be attending the Festival, I want to give you a virtual opportunity to

Video: “The Wire” cast reunion

Via Slate: On Thursday night, as part of the Paley Center for Media’s PaleyFest 2014, the cast of The Wire reunited for an hour-long panel discussion, which you can watch in full above. Though not everyone could attend — Dominic West and Idris Elba chimed in via video messages

Movie Trailer: “The Humbling”

Screenplay by Buck Henry, Michal Zebede, novel by Philip Roth An aged and addled actor has his world turned upside down after he embarks upon an affair with a lesbian, in this acidulous adaptation of the Philip Roth novel. IMDB Release Date: 23 January 2015 (USA)

Great Scene: “Life of Brian”

Today: The 1979 movie Life of Brian, written by Graham Chapman & John Cleese & Terry Gilliam & Eric Idle & Terry Jones & Michael Palin. IMDB plot summary: Brian is born on the original Christmas, in the stable next door. He spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.

On Writing

“If there is no possibility for change in a character, we have no interest in him.” — Flannery O’Connor Via @AdviceToWriters Comment Archive

Daily Dialogue — October 20, 2014

Doc Holliday: What did you ever want? Wyatt Earp: Just to live a normal life. Doc Holliday: There’s no normal life, Wyatt, it’s just life. Get on with it. Wyatt Earp: Don’t know how. Doc Holliday: Sure you do. Say goodbye to me. Go grab that spirited