Scott Myers

Interview (Part 4): Aaron Guzikowski (“Prisoners”)

One of the best movies of 2013 was Prisoners, written by Aaron Guzikowski, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an hour-long conversation with Aaron about his background as a writer, his work on Prisoners,

The Black List is hiring

Two positions: Director of Events, Manager of Data. For information, click More. Director of Events (Los Angeles, CA) The Black List hiring a full-time Los Angeles-based Director of Events to plan, coordinate, and execute offline and occasional online events consistent with the Black List’s mission, including, but

Movie Trailer: “Love Punch”

Written by Joel Hopkins A divorced couple scheme to recover the retirement money that was stolen from them. IMDB Release Date: 18 April 2014 (U.K.) Comment Archive

Character Type: Gambler

“Gamblers, a specific character type whose career, life, and personality is infused with a need, proclivity or instinct to take big risks. Often for money. Sometimes for fame. And other times, primarily for the rush it brings… despite or perhaps because of the danger involved.” Those of you who have

Writing and the Creative Life: “Twelve Things You Were Not Taught in School About Creative…

Writing and the Creative Life: “Twelve Things You Were Not Taught in School About Creative Thinking” Not a fan of listicles. This one is different. From Psychology Today: 1. You are creative. 2. Creative thinking is work. 3. You must go through the motions of being creative. 4. Your brain

Daily Dialogue — February 20, 2014

MED POD: Emergency procedures initiated. Please verbally state the nature of your injury. SHAW: I need cesarean! MED POD: Error. This Med Pod is calibrated for male patients only. It does not operate for the procedure you have requested. Please seek medical assistance elsewhere. SHAW: Surgery. Abdominal. Penetrating injuries. Foreign

“It’s a great time to think about original TV scripts” — Tom Benedek

A guest post from my colleague Tom Benedek: I am in the middle of a writing assignment — a one hour spec pilot script based on a true story — for an independent producer. If we get it right, there is a great marketplace for this hard edged, character driven, topical project.

Interview (Part 3): Aaron Guzikowski (“Prisoners”)

One of the best movies of 2013 was Prisoners, written by Aaron Guzikowski, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an hour-long conversation with Aaron about his background as a writer, his work on Prisoners,

“True Detective” primer

So I’ve caught the “True Detective” bug. Created and written by Nic Pizzolatto, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, and directed by Cary Fukunaga, it is some eye-popping, dialogue-rich, mind-blowing, crazy-ass shit. As I’ve been chasing down every article and interview I could find

Movie Trailer: “Guardians of the Galaxy”

Screenplay by James Gunn, Nicole Perlman, Chris McCoy, story by Nicole Perlman and James Gunn In the far reaches of space, an American pilot named Peter Quill finds himself the object of a manhunt after stealing an orb coveted by the villainous Ronan. IMDB Release Date: 1 August 2014 (USA)

Character Type: Rookie

“For almost always, the Rookie is a neophyte at their own self-understanding and need to be helped along to get in touch with their Authentic Self, and along the way move from Rookie to Veteran.” Those of you who have followed my blog for some time or taken courses

Script To Screen: “Hanna”

A key scene from the terrific 2011 movie Hanna, screenplay by Seth Lochhead and David Farr, story by Seth Lochhead. Plot Summary: A sixteen-year-old girl who was raised by her father to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence

Daily Dialogue — February 19, 2014

First Man: Hello, can we have your liver…? Mr Brown: My what? First Man: Your liver… it’s a large glandular organ in your abdomen… you know it’s a reddish-brown and it’s sort of a – Mr Brown: Yes, I know what it is, but I’m using

Exposition: Do modern audiences want less of it in stories?

I just started teaching my Handling Exposition class and we’re already into some fascinating discussions. For example in Lecture 1, I excerpted content from an infamous memo David Mamet sent to writers on the TV series “The Unit” back in 2005. You can read the entire memo from my

Interview (Part 2): Aaron Guzikowski (“Prisoners”)

One of the best movies of 2013 was Prisoners, written by Aaron Guzikowski, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an hour-long conversation with Aaron about his background as a writer, his work on Prisoners,

Check Out a Very Early Outline for ‘The World’s End’

Via /film: Edgar Wright‘s The World End opened in August 2013. Rewind two years before that to the time when the film was early in development, and he and co-writer Simon Pegg basically had the whole thing figured out. Pegg took to Twitter to post an awesome close-

Movie Trailer: “Drive Hard”

Written by Brigitte Jean Allen, Chad Law, Evan Law, Brian Trenchard-Smith A former race car driver is abducted by a mysterious thief and forced to be the wheel-man for a crime that puts them both in the sights of the cops and the mob. IMDB Comment Archive

Character Type: Destroyer

“Rampaging and hell-bent on destruction. There is no negotiating. No resolution with these kind of Destroyers. They themselves must be destroyed to stop the carnage.” Those of you who have followed my blog for some time or taken courses with me through Screenwriting Master Class know how fascinated I

Screenwriting 101: Michael Werwie

“When you’re first breaking a story and when you’re doing that first pass, it’s important to not really censor yourself too much or judge yourself or the work. It’s important to just get it out and get to the end. Now that’s much easier said

Daily Dialogue — February 18, 2014

When I was young and just a bad little kid My momma noticed funny things I did Like shootin’ puppies with a B B gun I’d poison guppies, and when I was done I’d find a pussy cat and bash its head That’s when my momma said

Do you start scripts, but not finish them?

Four questions for you: * Are you prone to starting scripts, but not finishing them? * Do you get lost when you are writing your script, then lose faith in it — and yourself? * Have you received feedback that your scripts have thin characters or weak plots? * Do you have a great concept

Interview (Part 1): Aaron Guzikowski (“Prisoners”)

One of the best movies of 2013 was Prisoners, written by Aaron Guzikowski, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an hour-long conversation with Aaron about his background as a writer, his work on Prisoners,

Winners! Tickets to see Lindsay Doran!

From this post last week: She’s known as The Script Whisperer” and unlike so-called screenwriting gurus, Lindsay Doran has the street cred to back it up. To wit: Lindsay Doran has worked in the movie business for more than 30 years as a studio executive and as a

Movie Trailer: “Oculus”

Screenplay by Mike Flanagan & Jeff Howard, based on a short screenplay by Mike Flanagan & Jeff Seidman A woman tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon. IMDB Release Date: 11 April 2014 (USA)  Comment Archive

Character Type: Advocate

“The Advocate taps into powerful psychological and emotional strains at work in our collective psyche. The hope there are good people out there. Fighters willing to take up our cause. Right can defeat might. Someone who gives voice to our beliefs and aspirations.” Those of you who have followed my