Scott Myers

Writing and the Creative Life: The Tactile Experience of Writing

Words. Created. On. Paper. A few years back, I was sitting in my office letting my mind wander when a thought suddenly occurred to me: Why do I call what I do ‘writing’ when so little of the process involves the actual physical act of writing. I mean, literally pen

Daily Dialogue — July 24, 2014

Wally’s meter fully charges. His head slowly rises from his box.  Blinks. The cockroach hops with joy. Eve is relieved. …She holds out her hand to him. EVE  (with love) Wally… Wally gives her a blank stare. He turns away from Eve.  Motors out the truck.  She grabs him.

Update: Gender in Spec Script Sales

Earlier this month, I posted this, an update on spec script sales by gender from 1991–2013. GITS reader Rich Kachold went through each of the sales from 2013 and caught a few discrepancies, so the Black List team went through everything one more time, this time including some sales

Interview [Part 3]: Jason Mark Hellerman

One script that received a lot of attention in the 2013 Black List is “Shovel Buddies” by Jason Mark Hellerman (it garnered 22 votes). I was quite struck by the story — “Over 24 hours, four teenage friends try to complete the “Shovel List” (a will/bucket list) left for them

Video: “The History of Comic-Con”

In 4 minutes: Via FirstShowing. When K-9 shot in San Diego in 1988, I remember waking up with a hangover one morning after a night carousing with the film crew, then stumbling out of the elevator in my hotel in search of coffee to find myself surrounded by costumed

A proposal about uncredited screenwriters

I recently posted an interview with Joss Whedon in which he talked for the first time about his work rewriting the script for the movie Speed. Here is an excerpt: Whedon: In my whole career, I’ve never had to talk about it. I’ve never signed a copy of

Movie Trailer: “The Wedding Ringer”

Written by Jeremy Garelick, Jay Lavender A comedy about a loner and the friendship he forms with the guy he hires to pose as the best man at his upcoming wedding. IMDB Release Date: 16 January 2015 (USA)  Comment Archive

2014 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 17

As noted in this recent post: In May, it was 90s movies. In June, it has been 30 Days of Screenplays. What is that but the first two of three from that essential screenwriting mantra: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. Can you see where I’m going for July?

Script To Screen: “Lost In Translation”

The ending scene from the 2003 movie Lost In Translation, written by Sofia Coppola. Plot Summary: A faded movie star and a neglected young woman form an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo. Here is the scene from the script: INT. CAR - DAY In the backseat, Bob leans back

Daily Dialogue — July 23, 2014

TYRELL: Well, Mr. Deckard? Deckard is looking at Tyrell and wincing indecisively. He doesn’t get it. Are they playing with him? TYRELL: (continuing) Perhaps some privacy will loosen your tongue, Mr. Deckard. He turns to Rachael TYRELL: Would you step out for a few moments, Rachael? Rachael exits looking

The Stories of Your Life

I’ll be honest. I have been incredibly busy for the last nine months or so. Good busy, but crazy. So one day recently, I was plugging along through my hectic daily ritual when — BOOM! A blast from the past flat out whacked me upside the head and stopped me

Interview [Part 2]: Jason Mark Hellerman

One script that received a lot of attention in the 2013 Black List is “Shovel Buddies” by Jason Mark Hellerman (it garnered 22 votes). I was quite struck by the story — “Over 24 hours, four teenage friends try to complete the “Shovel List” (a will/bucket list) left for them

Interview [Video]: Diablo Cody

One might not normally expect an Academy Award winning screenwriter to be interviewed by Glamour magazine, but here is a 6-minute sit-down with Diablo Cody, writer of such movies as Juno and Young Adult, both terrific films: One of the more interesting developments I’ve noticed in the

Has “Snowpiercer” shifted the VOD / theatrical model for indie films?

If you are interesting in the business of movies, especially in emerging trends, this is a must-read from Indiewire by Anne Thompson and Tom Brueggemann because it suggests we are witnessing a paradigm shift happening before our very eyes that could have enormous implications in the indie film world.

Movie Trailer: “The Judge”

Screenplay by Bill Dubuque, Nick Schenk Big city lawyer Hank Palmer returns to his childhood home where his father, the town’s judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth and, along the way, reconnects with his estranged family. IMDB Release Date: 10 October 2014 (USA)

2014 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 16

As noted in this recent post: In May, it was 90s movies. In June, it has been 30 Days of Screenplays. What is that but the first two of three from that essential screenwriting mantra: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. Can you see where I’m going for July?

Screenwriting 101: J.J. Abrams

“Whether it’s alternate universes or time travel, the idea that reality isn’t exactly what we assume it is is the sort of primordial ooze of any great out-there story, certainly in sci-fi and arguably in non-sci-fi as well. The idea that just around the

Daily Dialogue — July 22, 2014

Andrew Martin: May one, sir? Is now a good time? ‘Ma’am’ Martin: What? A good time for what? Andrew Martin: Last night, Sir taught… Sir: No, no, no, don’t blame me Andrew. Just… go ahead. Andrew Martin: Thank you sir Andrew Martin: [Very fast] Two cannibals were eating

Reader Question: Are writers included in “nuisance lawsuits”?

Reader Question from Eric Harris: You always hear about movie studios getting sued for films like Liar Liar, Terminator from some person that claims they had a similar idea…. in these nuisance suits, in the writer’s deal….are the writer’s protected from this? Do they sue the studio/

Interview [Part 1]: Jason Mark Hellerman

One script that received a lot of attention in the 2013 Black List is “Shovel Buddies” by Jason Mark Hellerman (it garnered 22 votes). I was quite struck by the story — “Over 24 hours, four teenage friends try to complete the “Shovel List” (a will/bucket list) left for them

“Want to write a script in 6 weeks?”

Screenwriter Geoff LaTulippe is up to something pretty damn cool. From his blog: Starting 1 September 2014 — professional duties allowing, which I’ll qualify in a moment — I’m going to begin writing the first draft of a brand new spec screenplay. I’m giving myself six weeks to complete

Movie Trailer: “Alienate”

Rick Hansberry, Lex Hogan (additional scenes) At the end of his marriage, David leaves on a business trip to give his wife much-needed space. When airplanes start mysteriously falling out of the sky and cell towers fail across the nation, he finds himself trapped. The Earth falling to an

2014 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 15

As noted in this recent post: In May, it was 90s movies. In June, it has been 30 Days of Screenplays. What is that but the first two of three from that essential screenwriting mantra: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. Can you see where I’m going for July?

On Writing

“If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.” — Orson Welles HT Travis Beacham

Daily Dialogue — July 21, 2014

Marvin: I think you ought to know I’m feeling very depressed. Trillian: Well, we have something that may take your mind off it. Marvin: It won’t work, I have an exceptionally large mind. — The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (2005), screenplay by Douglas Adams & Karey Kirkpatrick