Scott Myers

A Story Idea Each Day for a Week — Day 8

This is the fifth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one: You always need more than one in your gun.

Screenwriting 101: Richard Brooks

“I can make a movie with half-assed camerawork, or with actors who are not quite up to par, or with composition that misses, and the picture may still work because of good structure. But if the structure is not right, you can have forty great scenes in a movie

Daily Dialogue — April 8, 2014

ADAM: Help! Someone help me! Is someone there? Hey! Oh shit, I’m probably dead. OLDER MAN: You’re not dead ADAM: Who’s there? Who’s there? OLDER MAN: No point in yelling, I already tried. ADAM: Turn on the lights! OLDER MAN: I would if I could ADAM:

Rewriting your script

Let’s face it: Rewriting is a bitch. Or a bastard. Pick your gender specific invective. Doesn’t matter. The process is a pain no matter how you shake your fist and swear at it. One big issue I’ve found with writers caught up in the maelstrom of rewriting

Interview: Rajiv Joseph and Scott Rothman (“Draft Day”) — Part 1

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. In March, 2013, I interviewed Rajiv and Scott while they were in

Michael Arndt: “Beginnings: Setting a Story Into Motion” (Part 1)

I have been a big fan of screenwriter Michael Arndt ever since I read his script Little Miss Sunshine, then saw the movie. And, of course, there’s Toy Story 3 which Arndt penned. My admiration goes beyond his writing, it extends to how Arndt thinks about writing as clearly

Movie Trailer: “Venus in Fur”

Screenplay by Roman Polanski & David Ives, play by David Ives, novel by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch An actress attempts to convince a director how she’s perfect for a role in his upcoming production. IMDB Release Date: 22 April 2014 (Tribeca Film Festival) Comment Archive

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 7

This is the fifth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one: The story idea is how everyone in Hollywood short-

On Writing

“Best advice on writing I’ve ever received: Finish.” — Peter Mayle

Daily Dialogue — April 7, 2014

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” — Jaws (1975), screenplay by Carl Gottlieb and Peter Benchley, novel by Peter Benchley The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Fear, suggested by Gordon. Today’s suggestion by wollem. Trivia: According to writer Carl Gottlieb, the line “You’re gonna need a bigger

Go Into The Story Week In Review: March 31-April 6, 2014

Links to the week’s most notable posts: 31 Movies You Made (2014 Edition) 1001 Movies You Must See (Before You Die) A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 1: Lap dancers accused of kidnapping a strip club boss A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day

Interview: Stephany Folsom

Go Into The Story Interview: Stephany Folsom My in-depth interview with the screenwriter currently working on Toy Story 4. I’m a big Stanley Kubrick fan and Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is my favorite satire of all time. So when

Screenwriting News (March 31-April 6, 2014)

Diablo Cody sets up drama comedy spec script “Ricki and the Flash” at TriStar Productions, Meryl Streep attached to star, Jonathon Demme attached to direct. Steve Conrad writing sports dramedy “Match Maker” for Chernin Entertainment, Will Ferrell attached to star. Peter Gaffney sells science fiction spec script “Terrestrial” to Lionsgate.

Spec Script Sale: “Ricki and the Flash”

TriStar Productions acquires dramedy spec script “Ricki and the Flash” written by Diablo Cody. From THR: The script is described as a funny and touching story of a rock ’n’ roll-loving woman who chased her tattered dream at the price of her family, but gets a last chance to,

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 6

This is the fifth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one: Around 1990, writer Stephen Brill came up with this

Interview [Video]: Norman Lear

The good folks at the Writers Guild Foundation interviewed legendary TV writer-producer Norman Lear whose credits include All In The Family, Good Times, Sanford And Son, The Jeffersons, and Maude. Comment Archive

Daily Dialogue — April 6, 2014

“Dear God, make me a bird. So I could fly far. Far far away from here. Dear God, make me a bird. So I could fly far. Far far away from here…” — Forrest Gump (1994), screenplay by Eric Roth, novel by Winston Groom The Daily Dialogue theme for the week

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Fear

We move from this week’s theme (Prayer) to next week’s: Fear, suggested by Gordon. Remember, we need dialogue here. And not just “AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” or “NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” That alone may make this a challenge. Can we come up with seven memorable movie moments in which a character expresses fear in

Kurt Cobain died 20 years ago today

20 years. Still miss him. In honor of Kurt Cobain, here is a rarely seen video from 1988 of Nirvana (with a different drummer) rehearsing at Krist Novoselic’s mother’s house. Via Mental Floss. My previous tribute to Cobain here. Comment Archive

Interview: Stephany Folsom (2013 Black List) — Part 6

I’m a big Stanley Kubrick fan and Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is my favorite satire of all time. So when I saw this script make the 2013 Black List — “1969: A Space Odyssey or: How Kubrick Learned to Stop Worrying

Great Scene: “Zorba the Greek”

I’m going to break with tradition here as normally I include the script pages for each Great Scene, however I can’t find the screenplay to Zorba the Greek — one of my favorite movies — anywhere. Here is the IMDB summary: An uptight English writer traveling to Crete on a

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 128th installment of Saturday Hot Links. Today: The Memorable Bill Murray Moments Edition. Bill Murray performs “House of the Rising Sun” karaoke style [video]. 50 greatest Bill Murray moments [video]. David Letterman announces his retirement in 2015 [video]. Related: Late night hosts react to news of David

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 5

This is the fifth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one: Thinking up new story ideas keeps you on your

Interview [Written]: David Webb Peoples

Writer-director Lea Nakonechny interviews screenwriter David Webb Peoples (12 Monkeys, Unforgiven, Blade Runner): Lea Nakanechny: Which do you begin with, character or story? David Webb Peoples: Usually with a character scene. There’s an image of somebody doing something that defines them and makes you interested. Then you try

Daily Dialogue — April 5, 2014

“Uh, Lord, hallowed be Thy name. May our feet be swift; may our bats be mighty; may our balls… be plentiful. Lord, I’d just like to thank You for that waitress in South Bend. You know who she is — she kept calling Your name. And God, these are good