Scott Myers

How They Write A Script: Richard Matheson

Richard Matheson has written novels and short stories, as well as screenplays for both film and television. Notably he is among the few writers who contributed to Rod Serling’s classic television series “The Twilight Zone” (1959–1964) almost as prolifically as Serling himself. He wrote about fifteen scripts for

Writing question: Which screenplay do you wish you had written?

So many great movies. So many great screenplays. Which one — above all else — do you wish you had written? Sure, you can be a smart-ass and say The Last Boy Scout because it sold for zillions of dollars — and in your fantasy, all that money that went to Shane

Movie Trailer: “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”

Screenplay by Ole Parker Two hopeful new arrivals at The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful quickly learn that there is only a single room left to rent. IMDB Release Date: 6 March 2015 (USA)  Comment Archive

Free Screenwriting Resource: Scene Description Spotlight

Learning the craft of screenwriting involves… well… everything. That includes something as basic as this: How to write scene description. You know, all those pesky nouns, adjectives, and verbs we use to convey action. Like this in Lethal Weapon: And jumps the railing. Plummets, head over heels like a rag

Great Character: Gamora (“Guardians of the Galaxy”)

The Great Character theme for the month: Action Heroines. Today: Gamora from the 2014 movie Guardians of the Galaxy, screenplay by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman, characters by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. Gamora may not be as iconic in super hero settings as The Amazing Spider-Man, The Mighty

Daily Dialogue — August 8, 2014

“You died on a Saturday morning. And I had you placed here under our tree. And I had that house of your father’s bulldozed to the ground. Momma always said dyin’ was a part of life. I sure wish it wasn’t. Little Forrest, he’s doing just fine.

We Make Movies

I’ve had the opportunity to talk with some folks from an outfit called We Make Movies and I thought their organization was worth promoting. Here is some background: We Make Movies, a 4,000-member film collective in Los Angeles, has just announced that it will reconvene weekly meetings

How They Write a Script: Horton Foote

One of the most beloved American movies — and also one of my personal favorites — is To Kill a Mockingbird, the cinematic version of Harper Lee’s 1960 novel. The writer who adapted the novel into a screenplay is Horton Foote. A noted playwright as well as screenwriter, Foote’s movie

Writing Question: What is the single best writing tip you know?

I don’t know about you, but I’m always searching for tips on writing. I’ve got zillions of them, many of which I’ve shared on GITS. But what about a single best writing tip? Do you have one above all others that really does it for you?

Movie Trailer: “Horrible Bosses 2”

Screenplay by Sean Anders, John Francis Daley, and Jonathan M. Goldstein, characters by Michael Markowitz and John Morris Dale, Kurt and Nick decide to start their own business but things don’t go as planned because of a slick investor, prompting the trio to pull off a harebrained and misguided

Free Screenwriting Resource: Go Into The Story Interviews

One of the very best ways you can learn the craft is study the way professional writers go about their business. It’s one reason why I have been aggregating screenwriting, TV writer and filmmaker interviews — audio, visual, written — I find online. Something I’ve discovered, however: Most interviewers are

Writing and the Creative Life: Do It Because You Love It

Back in 2012, a longtime reader of the blog forwarded me some numbers in a post I titled: Facing the Odds. I included his observations in that post: As you are known for tracking sales, I thought I’d throw in some stats I got from someone at the WGA

Daily Dialogue — August 7, 2014

“I remember wrenching the steering wheel to the right and slapping my foot against the brake petal. I wasn’t the driver anymore. The bus was like this huge wave about to break over us. Bear Otto, the Lambston kids, the Hamiltons, the Prescotts, the teenaged boys and girls from

Writers Guild Foundation event: “Sublime Primetime 2014”

For all you TV writers in and around L.A., a special event coming up on Wed, August 20, 2014: Just like every year, we’re joining forces with the WGA-West to bring you a panel full of Emmy-nominated writers. This event sells out every year, so be

How They Write A Script: Paddy Chayefsky

Noted playwright, screenwriter, and probably the most famous television writer during its so-called golden age of live TV, Paddy Chayefsky is one of the most revered contemporary American writers. This fact is underscored by the “Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement, presented annually by the Writers Guild

Remembering John Hughes who died 5 years ago today

In memory of the great screenwriter-director John Hughes, who died on August 6, 2009, here is the post I put together the day after his death. I’ve received so many emails, phone calls, and comments about the death of John Hughes, I figured I’d post the best

Writing Question: What music are you listening to for writing inspiration?

I am a serial monogamist when it comes to music, especially what I use to inspire my writing. Currently I’m listening over and over to Pascal Rogé’s 2 CD set “Debussy: ‎Piano Works” which you can check out here including the gorgeous “Clair De Lune”: How about you?

Movie Trailer: “The Skeleton Twins”

Written by Mark Heyman, Craig Johnson When estranged twins Maggie and Milo feel that they’re at the end of their ropes, an unexpected reunion forces them to confront why their lives went so wrong. As the twins reconnect, they realize the key to fixing their lives may just lie

Free Screenwriting Resource: Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work

Did you know if you write just one page per day, you can prep, write, revise and edit two complete feature length screenplays per year? Or a great way to motivate you to start writing the next day… by not finishing that scene you’re writing today. Or a terrific

Script To Screen: “Aliens”

The final struggle between Ripley and the Alien from the 1986 movie Aliens, screenplay by James Cameron, story by James Cameron and David Giler & Walter Hill, characters by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett. Plot Summary: The only survivor of the Nostromo, Ripley is discovered in deep sleep half

Daily Dialogue — August 6, 2014

“God, when I meet you, I’m going to be pretty, if it’s the last thing I do. I’ll be a beautiful angel.” — Dallas Buyers Club (2013), written by Craig Borten, Melisa Wallack The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Grief. Today’s suggestion by The Quiet Act.

Reader Question: Do any screenplay competitions take comedies seriously?

Question via email from Joey (jmclarke22): 1. What, if any, major screenwriting competitions take comedies seriously? It seems to most comedies are at a disadvantage in screenwriting comps. 2. Secondly, does the Black List take them seriously? I do not believe I’ve seen one of the featured scripts be

How They Write A Script: Walter Hill

We’ve discussed writer-director Walter Hill previously here and here. Noted for his distinctive approach to writing — he describes it as “haiku style” — Hill has written or directed numerous movies including The Getaway (1972), The Warriors (1979), Alien (1979), uncredited, 48 Hours(1982), and Aliens (1986). In the book,

Writing Question: For you, what is the hardest part of writing a script?

I’m taking the pulse of readers this week about the craft and people’s approach to it. Today: For you, what is the hardest part of writing a script? Is it research? Prep? The first draft? Rewriting? Is it finding the time to write? Or the will to write?

Movie Trailer: “Life After Beth”

Written by Jeff Baena A young man’s recently deceased girlfriend mysteriously returns from the dead, but he slowly realizes she is not the way he remembered her. IMDB Release Date: 15 August 2014 (USA) Comment Archive