Scott Myers

Daily Dialogue — June 13, 2014

Conrad: Happy Birthday, Nicky. Nicholas: What is this? Conrad: It’s your birthday present. — The Game (1997), written John D. Brancato, Michael Ferris The Daily Dialogue theme for this week: Birthday. Today’s suggestion by Rich Kachold. Trivia: Andrew Kevin Walker was one of the uncredited writers. Dialogue On Dialogue:

Pixar gets in touch with their inner shrink

I love Pixar. Just Google the blog to see the dozens of posts I’ve done about the company over the years. Their commitment to Story, love for Characters, and taking the time to get it right is unparalleled among contemporary studios, hence the source of my admiration and affection.

Interview [Part 4]: Misan Sagay, Screenwriter, “Belle”

Misan Sagay is a screenwriter whose credits include The Secret Laughter of Women, starring Colin Firth, and Their Eyes Were Watching God, starring Halle Berry. Misan’s most recent writing project is Belle, an historical drama starring Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson and Gugu Mbatha-Raw playing the title role. Today

In honor of the 2014 World Cup!

The world’s greatest sporting event begins today in Brazil. Here’s a new ad by Nike (“The Last Game”), something of an homage to The Invincibles and quite a lot of fun. Whichever squad you’re rooting for over the course of the next month, let’s hope for

Interview [Audio]: Guillermo Arriaga [BAFTA Lecture]

BAFTA (The British Academy of Film and Television Arts) has been hosting a wonderful lecture series the last few years, featuring some of the best screenwriters in the U.S. and U.K. If you go here, you can listen to 49 minutes of Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros, Babael) talking

Movie Trailer: “Sin City: A Dame To Kill For”

Frank Miller (graphic novels), Frank Miller (screenplay) The town’s most hard-boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more reviled inhabitants. IMDB Release Date: 22 August 2014 Comment Archive

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 12: “Looper”

Why read 30 screenplays in 30 days? Because whether you are a novice just starting to learn the craft of screenwriting or someone who has been writing for many years, you should be reading scripts. There is a certain type of knowledge and understanding about screenwriting you can only get

Writing and the Creative Life: Trust the Process

In 1978, I was in my final year of a Masters of Divinity program at Yale. Going there was part of the plan I had formulated as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia: Get the Masters, then use that to gain entrance into a top-notch Ph.D. program.

Daily Dialogue — June 12, 2014

“Look at me, Damien! It’s all for you.” The Omen (1976), written by David Seltzer The Daily Dialogue theme for this week: Birthday. Today’s suggestion by Daniel Cossu. Trivia: Having changed its title from “The Antichrist” to “The Birthmark,” the film seemed to fall victim to a sinister

Writing Question: How do you come up with character names?

This is one of those questions I love to see professional writers answer because the responses are so interesting. For example, here’s quote form Paddy Chayefsky: “Names are fun. In Hospital I used a lot of mystery writers. Had a nurse named Christie. A doctor is named Chandler. Sometimes

Interview [Part 3]: Misan Sagay, Screenwriter, “Belle”

Misan Sagay is a screenwriter whose credits include The Secret Laughter of Women, starring Colin Firth, and Their Eyes Were Watching God, starring Halle Berry. Misan’s most recent writing project is Belle, an historical drama starring Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson and Gugu Mbatha-Raw playing the title role. Today

“Twin Peaks: The Entire Mystery”

I was a huge “Twin Peaks” fan, a mystery mixed with a soap opera filtered through the twisted imaginations of series creators Mark Frost and David Lynch. And I still contend that the last act of Season 1, Episode 2 is some of the best 7 minutes of TV… ever.

Interview [Audio]: Simon Beaufoy [BAFTA Lecture]

BAFTA (The British Academy of Film and Television Arts) has been hosting a wonderful lecture series the last few years, featuring some of the best screenwriters in the U.S. and U.K. If you go here, you can listen to 37 minutes of Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire, The Hunger

Movie Trailer: “The Search”

Written by Michel Hazanavicius A woman who works for a non-governmental organization (NGO) forms a special relationship with a young boy in war-torn Chechnya. IMDB Comment Archive

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 11: “The American”

Why read 30 screenplays in 30 days? Because whether you are a novice just starting to learn the craft of screenwriting or someone who has been writing for many years, you should be reading scripts. There is a certain type of knowledge and understanding about screenwriting you can only get

Script To Screen: “Cinema Paradiso”

A wonderful scene from the 1988 movie Cinema Paradiso, screenplay by Giuseppe Tornatore and Vanna Paoli. Plot summary: A filmmaker recalls his childhood, when he fell in love with the movies at his village’s theater and formed a deep friendship with the theater’s projectionist. This scene: Salvatore, smitten

Daily Dialogue — June 11, 2014

Navin: I’m sorry I spoiled the party, Mom. Mother: You didn’t spoil the party. I brought you a Twinkie. Navin: I’m not hungry right now. Mother: Feeling different again? Navin: It’s like I don’t fit in. It’s like I don’t belong here. Mother:

“Teenage Angst Trumps Sci-Fi at the Box Office”

This past weekend offers a fascinating look at the current state of the movie business via the opening of two movies in wide release: The Fault in Our Stars and Edge of Tomorrow. Here is the New York Times’ take: Social media came of age in Hollywood over the weekend.

Interview [Part 2]: Misan Sagay, Screenwriter, “Belle”

Misan Sagay is a screenwriter whose credits include The Secret Laughter of Women, starring Colin Firth, and Their Eyes Were Watching God, starring Halle Berry. Misan’s most recent writing project is Belle, an historical drama starring Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson and Gugu Mbatha-Raw playing the title role. Today

Trailer for Spanish version of “Breaking Bad”

Via Indiewire: Just when you thought “Breaking Bad” was all wrapped up (other than the Emmys), here comes a Spanish-language version of AMC’s hit drama. Instead of Walter White we have Walter Blanco. Instead of an RV we get a school bus. Instead of Albuquerque, New Mexico, we’

Interview [Audio]: Susannah Grant [BAFTA Lecture]

BAFTA (The British Academy of Film and Television Arts) has been hosting a wonderful lecture series the last few years, featuring some of the best screenwriters in the U.S. and U.K. If you go here, you can listen to 65 minutes of Susannah Grant (Pocahontas, Erin Brockovich) talking

Movie Trailer: “Happy Christmas”

Written by Joe Swanberg Irresponsible 20-something Jenny arrives in Chicago to live with her older brother Jeff, a young film-maker living a happy existence with his novelist wife Kelly and their two-year-old son. Jenny’s arrival shakes up their quiet domesticity as she and her friend

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 10: “The Artist”

Why read 30 screenplays in 30 days? Because whether you are a novice just starting to learn the craft of screenwriting or someone who has been writing for many years, you should be reading scripts. There is a certain type of knowledge and understanding about screenwriting you can only get

Screenwriting 101: Lindsay Devlin

“I look at articles, whether it’s true stories, or scientific‑based things, to kind of find those kernels. I look at old films, to see if there are premises that could be reinvigorated or modernized. I love books, so I’m always looking, whether it’s Amazon or on

Daily Dialogue — June 10, 2014

“The startling footage we’re about to show you was photographed by a forty-two year old Romero Valadares. This video was taken yesterday afternoon at his son’s seventh birthday, in the city of Passo Fundo, Brazil. It was sent to the local news bureau there and satellited to