Scott Myers

Movie Trailer: “X-Men: Days of Future Past”

Screenplay by Simon Kinberg, story by Jane Goldman & Simon Kinberg & Matthew Vaughn The X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants. IMDB Release Date: 23 May 2014 (USA)  Comment

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 16

This is the fifth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today: What is it like to be the lone survivor of a catastrophe? I’m sure most of you remember the horrible tragedy of the Yarnell Hill fire which overran and killed 19 Arizona firefighters

Script To Screen: “Milk”

One of the most memorable scenes in the powerful 2008 movie Milk, written by Dustin Lance Black. Plot Summary: The story of Harvey Milk, and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California’s first openly gay elected official. Setting: Dan White has

Daily Dialogue — April 16, 2014

“I… am the Waffler. With my griddle of justice, I BASH the enemy in the head, or I burn them like so! I also have some truth syrup, which is low in fat.” — Mystery Men (1999), written by Neil Cuthbert, created by Bob Burden The Daily Dialogue theme for the

Question: How far can a writer go with the “similar but different” approach?

A reader question from The_High_Dweller: I got one for ya… We’re always talking about “Similar But Different” here, right? And we’ve even had suggestions on how to go about coming up with something that’s similar but different… Check out successful movies from the past and

Interview: Elijah Bynum (2013 Black List) — Part 2

The Black List is a pretty exclusive club, especially so for those writers who manage to land two scripts on the List in a single year. That’s what Elijah Bynum did in 2013 when two of his original screenplays — “Mississippi Mud” and “Hot Summer Nights”. I sought out Elijah

Ten Career Lessons From An Oscar-Winning Producer

I had a lengthy conversation yesterday with a Hollywood movie producer. Always interesting to see how their minds operate. I often talk about how we, as writers, should be able to put on our ‘producer’s hat’ in order to see our stories through their eyes. But what does that

Movie Trailer: “Gone Girl”

Screenplay by Gillian Flynn, based on her novel A woman mysteriously disappears on the day of her wedding anniversary. Based on the novel, “Gone Girl.” IMDB Release Date: 3 October 2014 (USA)  Comment Archive

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 15

This is the fourth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Last week I provided a daily explanation about why you should make it a habit to be generating story ideas. This week, I’ll give you some tips on how to come up with stories.

Screenwriting 101: Nancy Meyers

“I think it’s a mistake to write something you think people will like, or a combination idea, or this year’s version of last year’s movie. I don’t think you’ll ever get noticed doing that. I think you’re only going to get noticed by following

Daily Dialogue — April 15, 2014

Peter Gibbons: The thing is, Bob, it’s not that I’m lazy, it’s that I just don’t care. Bob Porter: Don’t… don’t care? Peter Gibbons: It’s a problem of motivation, all right? Now if I work my ass off and Initech ships a few

WGAW Releases Latest Findings of 2014 Hollywood Writers Report

Released today: Research Shows Small Gains for Minority, Women, & Older TV Writers, Film Employment for Minority and Women Writers Declines Los Angeles — The Writers Guild of America, West has issued the Executive Summary of its 2014 Hollywood Writers Report, the WGAW’s analysis of the state of diversity in

Spec Script Sale: “Yellowstone Falls”

QED acquires action drama spec script “Yellowstone Falls” written by Daniel Kunka. From Deadline: This script is unusual in that it was 52 pages, with few human characters and essentially no dialogue. The action begins after an apocalyptic event that saps the humanity from most of the mutated humans that

Interview: Elijah Bynum (2013 Black List) — Part 1

The Black List is a pretty exclusive club, especially so for those writers who manage to land two scripts on the List in a single year. That’s what Elijah Bynum did in 2013 when two of his original screenplays — “Mississippi Mud” and “Hot Summer Nights”. I sought out Elijah

Best Black List movies?

This made the rounds at the end of last week from the Playlist (Indiewire): 20 Best & Worst Films Made From Black List Scripts: Tomorrow sees the release of Ivan Reitman’s “Draft Day,” a sports drama starring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner. There aren’t many reasons that it’

Movie Trailer: “Shaun the Sheep”

Screenplay by Mark Burton, Richard Starzack When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it’

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 14

This is the fifth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Last week I provided a daily explanation about why you should make it a habit to be generating story ideas. This week, I’ll give you some tips on how to come up with stories.

On Writing

“It’s very difficult to do comedy because if they don’t laugh when they should laugh you are there with egg on your face, and that’s sad. In a serious pictures you don’t hear them being bored, but in a comedy you can hear them not laughing.

Daily Dialogue — April 14, 2014

Chris Gardner: So the truth is, I was arrested for failure to pay parking tickets. Jay Twistle [incredulous]: Parking tickets? Chris: I ran all the way here from Polk Station, the police station. Martin Frohm: What were you doing before you were arrested? Chris: I was… uh… painting my apartment.

Go Into The Story Week In Review: April 7-April 13, 2014

Links to the week’s most notable posts: 127 behind the scene photos: 2001: A Space Oddysey [plus lots of Kubrick links] A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 7: 18 Radically Successful People Who Lived With Their Parents A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day

Interview: Rajiv Joseph and Scott Rothman

Rajiv Joseph and Scott Rothman wrote the script Draft Day which landed at the top of the 2012 Black List. Subsequently Lionsgate produced the movie starring Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner and Dennis Leary, and directed by Ivan Reitman. Rajiv Joseph, Scott Rothman In March, 2013, I interviewed Rajiv and Scott

127 Behind The Scenes photos: “2001: A Space Odyssey”

Via Larry Wright (@refocusedmedia), some incredible photos of the legendary 2001: A Space Odyssey shoot. Major props, Larry. And while we’re at it, here are some links to previous posts I’ve done featuring this classic film. Script To Screen: 2001: A Space Odyssey Great Scene: 2001: A Space

Screenwriting News (April 7-April 13, 2014)

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss adapting “Dirty White Boys” for Twentieth Century Fox. Steve Conrad writing “Match Maker” for Chernin Entertainment, Will Ferrell attached to star. Adam Cooper and Bill Collage rewriting “Assassins Creed” for New Regency. Gary Graham sells drama spec script “The Garden at the End of

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 13

This is the fifth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Last week I provided a daily explanation about why you should make it a habit to be generating story ideas. This week, I’ll give you some tips on how to come up with stories.

Interview [Video]: Tony Gilroy

The BAFTA Lecture Series is one of the best resources available to hear screenwriters talk directly about the craft. Another example released this week: Writer-director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton) in a 30 minute presentation. Comment Archive