Scott Myers

Classic 90s Movie: “Wag the Dog”

May is Classic 90s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Paul Graunke. Movie Title: Wag the Dog Year: 1997. Writers: Hilary Henkin, David Mamet based upon the book “American Hero” by Larry Beinhart Lead Actors: Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche. Director: Barry Levinson. Plot Summary: Days

On Writing

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” — Mark Twain Via @AdviceToWriters

Daily Dialogue — May 26, 2014

Dr. Emmett Brown: Then tell me, future boy, who’s President of the United States in 1985? Marty McFly: Ronald Reagan. Dr. Emmett Brown: Ronald Reagan? The actor? [chuckles in disbelief] Then who’s vice president? Jerry Lewis? [rushing out and down a hill toward his laboratory] I suppose Jane

Go Into The Story Week In Review: May 19-May 25, 2014

Links to the week’s most notable posts: 1-Hour Extensive Behind-The-Scenes Look At The Making Of Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Black Swan’ 25 Books Every Writer Should Read Christopher Nolan remembers Memento Classic 90s Movie: Dave Classic 90s Movie: Death Becomes Her Classic 90s Movie: Home Alone Classic

1-Hour Extensive Behind-The-Scenes Look At The Making Of Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Black Swan’

Via Indiewire: Anyone who paid attention to the behind-the-scenes rumblings of Darren Aronofsky’s recent “Noah” knows the type of passion evident in the director’s work, and photographer/filmmaker Niko Tavernise, superbly and consistently, has provided a insightful peek into that creative process. Part of Aronofsky’s

Screenwriting News (May 19-May 25, 2014)

Rodney Barnes rewriting comedy “Any Means Necessary” for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Joel Coen and Ethan Coen rewriting untitled James Donovan drama thriller for DreamWorks Studios, Steven Spielberg attached to direct, Tom Hanks to star. Marlene King adapting horror novel “The Merciless” for Lionsgate. Max La Bella adapting “The Devil’s

Classic 90s Movie: “Death Becomes Her”

May is Classic 90s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Patrick J. Fernandez. Title: Death Becomes Her Year: 1992 Writers: Martin Donovan and David Koepp Lead Actors: Goldie Hawn, Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis and Isabella Rossellini. Director: Robert Zemeckis IMDB Plot Summary: When a woman learns of an

Interview [Video]: Tina Gordon Chism

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has started a documentary series called Academy Originals. Here is an interview with screenwriter and director Tina Gordon Chism (Drumline, Peeples) about the creative process. You may subscribe to the Academy Originals YouTube network here. Comment Archive

Daily Dialogue — May 25, 2014

Neil: Stay down. We want to hurt no one. We’re here for the bank’s money, not your money. Your money’s insured by the federal government, you’re not going to lose a dime. Think of your families. Don’t risk your life. Don’t try and be

Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Time Travel Talk

Our Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Time Travel Talk, suggested by Bob_Reo_Inc. “I don’t want to talk about time travel  because if we start talking about it  then we’re going to be here all day talking about it,  making diagrams with straws.” Maybe you’ll

Commencement Address 2014: Sandra Bullock

Via YouTube: Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock surprised the graduates of Warren Easton Monday morning at their ceremony at the Lakefront arena. I thought this was really quite cool, not only that Bullock showed up to speak, but the actual content of her presentation. Comment Archive

Songwriters on Songwriting

I wrote my first song when I was 14 years old. Over the years, I’ve composed hundreds of songs. It was that interest — music — that led me to take a year off from pursuing a doctorate and led me down the circuitous path that has been the rest of

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 135th installment of Saturday Hot Links. Today: The “Some Images From Gordon Willis Movies” Edition Indiewire obit: Gordon Willis. 5 tips from Gordon Willis. Cannes mid-festival report: Already delivers a strong message. Cannes Panel: Studios fight piracy while indies embrace digital. Cannes: 21 THR interviews. Cannes:

Classic 90s Movie: “Jurassic Park”

May is Classic 90s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Abdullah AL-Twaijri. Movie Title: Jurassic Park Year: 1993 Writers: Michael Crichton (novel), Michael Crichton & David Koepp (screenplay) Lead Actors: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum Director: Steven Spielberg. IMDB Plot Summary: A family struggles to

Interview [Written]: Thomas McCarthy (“Million Dollar Arm”)

TheWrap interview with Thomas McCarthy whose screenwriting credits include The Station Agent, The Visitor, Up, and Win Win. His latest: Million Dollar Arm. This story jumps around from L.A. to India and moves all around India and back, so did you block it out section by section, to break

Daily Dialogue — May 24, 2014

Bonnie: What’s it like? Clyde: What you mean, prison? Bonnie: No. Armed robbery. Clyde: It ain’t like anything. Bonnie: Shoot, I knew you never robbed any place, you faker. Clyde reaches into his pocket. Reveals a pistol. Bonnie touches it. Bonnie: But you wouldn’t have the gumption

Coen Brothers and the Craft of Storytelling

I’ve received some questions via email and Twitter about Coen Brothers and the Craft of Storytelling, my 1-week online class which starts next Monday, so let me address those here in one post: What Coen brothers movies will you be analyzing in the class? Here is the list

Songwriters on Songwriting: David Byrne

“I think you have to wait for the inspiration, but unless you’re there, waiting at the bus stop… if you’re doing other things all day, a song ain’t gonna get on the bus.” I wrote my first song when I was 14 years old. Over the years,

“Draft №4: Reflections on the Writing Life” by John McPhee

I am in the process of working my way through a backlog of New Yorkers, so it was only recently that I happened upon an article in the April 29, 2013 edition penned by one of the great nonfiction writers of our era: John McPhee. [If you have a subscription,

Movie Trailer: “Good People”

Screenplay by Kelly Masterson, novel by Marcus Sakey Discovering a cache of cash in their dead tenant’s apt, a couple in debt take the money and find themselves the target of a deadly adversary-the thief who stole it. IMDB Comment Archive

Classic 90s Movie: “L.A. Confidential”

May is Classic 90s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Paul Graunke. Movie Title: L.A. Confidential Year: 1997. Writers: Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson. They won the Oscar for best screenplay adaption from other material, the novel by James Ellroy Lead Actors: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce,

Great Character: Johnny Castle (“Dirty Dancing”)

This month’s theme: Attractor characters. Today: Johnny Castle from Dirty Dancing written by Eleanor Bergstein. In the 1987 musical romance dance floor drama Dirty Dancing, actress Jennifer Grey (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) plays the recent high school graduate Baby Houseman, capturing that whimsical teenaged heart murmur known as

Daily Dialogue — May 23, 2014

As the bank robbery progresses, Desmond realizes that someone has pulled the silent alarm. Desmond Elden: Hold it! [touches his ear] Silent alarm, this address. James Coughlin: Who did it? Assistant Bank Manager: Look, nobody did anything. James Coughlin: What?’! Huh?’! What’d you say? Assistant Bank Manager: Nobody did

Reader Question: How to keep from getting stuck in Act Two?

Reader question from Mahmoud: I always get stuck in the 2nd act and it sucks. I have great concept for a drama film and I write the first act successfully, then in the second the characters seem to shutdown, I just can’t connect with them. Do you have any

Songwriters on Songwriting: Tom Petty

Singer-songwriter talks about how long he waited to write “The Waiting”. I wrote my first song when I was 14 years old. Over the years, I’ve composed hundreds of songs. It was that interest — music — that led me to take a year off from pursuing a doctorate and