Scott Myers - Go Into The Story (Page 908)

KCET Spring Cinema Series

GITS development assistant Wendy Cohen here. For those of you based in L.A., I highly recommend taking advantage of KCET’s Spring Cinema Series starting February 25th at the Television Academy Theater in North Hollywood. In the past, Scott and I have posted Q&As from several screenings,

Movie Trailer: “Belle”

Written by Misan Sagay An illegitimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral is raised by her aristocratic great-uncle. IMDB Release Date: 2 May 2014 (USA) Comment Archive

Character Type: Orphan

“Without parents to help shape the child’s sense of self, the Orphan grows into adulthood with a pronounced need to answer the question at the root of all stories: Who am I?” Those of you who have followed my blog for some time or taken courses with me through

Great Character: Truman Capote (“Capote”)

This month’s theme: Great Philip Seymour Hoffman characters. Today: Guest poster Jason Cuthbert looks at Truman Capote from the 2005 movie Capote, screenplay by Dan Futterman (screenplay), book by Gerald Clarke. The very first time actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was up for an Academy Award, in 2005’s Capote,

Daily Dialogue — February 14, 2014

“Caroline, the day you see anything through to the end, I’ll stick my own dick in my ear.” — The Ref (1994), screenplay by Richard LaGravenese and Marie Weiss, story by Marie Weiss The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is sarcasm, recommended by blueneumann. Today’s suggestion by Brian

Character Types

Working with types is a great way to brainstorm and develop characters, exploring a limitless range of possible personalities for any of the five primary character archetypes: Protagonist, Nemesis, Attractor, Mentor, Trickster. Addit Advocate Angel Artist Bully Clown Companion Femme Fatale Gambler Healer Innocent Loner Martyr Orphan Prostitute Rebel Rookie

Go Into The Story Interviews: Women Writers

Yesterday UCLA put out a 36 page document called “2014 Hollywood Diversity Report: Making Sense of the Disconnect” (you can download the PDF here). Not hard to project that the numbers are abysmal. For example: * Minorities underrepresented by a factor of more than 3 to 1 among lead roles in

Interview [Part 4]: Ted Hope

Last December, I was fortunate enough to have an in-depth interview with movie producer Ted Hope, who is leading the charge to give the indie film business what he calls a “systems reboot.” If there is a person best suited for this task, it’s Ted. You can go

“The Wolf of Valentine’s Day” [Video]

Awesome parody featuring a special cameo by screenwriter Geoff LaTulippe (@DrGMLaTulippe) who wrote Go The Distance: Comment Archive

Spec Script Sale: “Shadow Run”

Sony Pictures acquires action thriller spec script “Shadow Run” written by Joe Gazzam. From THR: The action is put in motion when a viral attack puts lives in danger, forcing a CIA agent to enact a secret prisoner exchange of Russia’s most notorious spy for the American scientist who

Movie Trailer: “Cheap Thrills”

Written by David Chirchirillo, Trent Haaga Craig (Pat Healy), is an auto mechanic who loses his job. He is unable to pay his rent and after seeing the eviction sign, he goes to a bar, where he meets someone from his old high school, Vince (Ethan Embry). A rich couple,

Character Type: Loner

Those of you who have followed my blog for some time or taken courses with me through Screenwriting Master Class know how fascinated I am with character archetypes, specifically how there are five — Protagonist, Nemesis, Attractor, Mentor, Trickster — which recur in movies over and over and over. Some might see

Writing and the Creative Life: Dark Places

Writing wisdom from Carl Jung. “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” This is a quote from Carl Jung, founder of analytical psychology, and it speaks to a fundamental truth not only about life, but also creativity. For in order to

Daily Dialogue — February 13, 2014

Henry Hill: You’re a pistol, you’re really funny. You’re really funny. Tommy DeVito: What do you mean I’m funny? Henry Hill: It’s funny, you know. It’s a good story, it’s funny, you’re a funny guy. [laughs] Tommy DeVito: What do you mean,

Reader Question: What does it mean to tell a “simple story”?

Question from Nicola: I’ve been thinking about this advice/idea to “tell a simple story with complex characters — not the other way round”. I find that very attractive. Initially I thought the idea would refer to a simple, clear story goal and we get to see all sides of

Interview [Part 3]: Ted Hope

Last December, I was fortunate enough to have an in-depth interview with movie producer Ted Hope, who is leading the charge to give the indie film business what he calls a “systems reboot.” If there is a person best suited for this task, it’s Ted. You can go

Movie Trailer: “Under the Skin”

Screenplay by Walter Campbell, novel by Michel Faber An alien seductress preys upon hitchhikers in Scotland. IMDB Release Date: 4 April 2014 (USA) Comment Archive

Character Type: Artist

“To see the world differently. To feel life fully. To immerse oneself in the experience of the creative moment. That is the domain of the Artist character type.” Those of you who have followed my blog for some time or taken courses with me through Screenwriting Master Class know how

Script To Screen: “A Serious Man”

Leave it to the Coen brothers (Joel and Ethan) to come up with a denouement in their 2009 movie A Serious Man that resolves virtually nothing and leaves the audience with a sense of impending doom. Plot Summary: Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern mathematics teacher, watches his life unravel over multiple

Daily Dialogue — February 12, 2014

INT. WHITE HOUSE. SMALLISH ROOM — DAY Malcolm is arriving into a meeting room with a young man who looks like an intern, A.J. A.J.: How are you today? Beat the traffic? Malcolm looking around, as if things aren’t right. MALCOLM: Yeah, yeah. Hunky dory. Can I get

How good are you at handling exposition?

In Hollywood, there is a saying I’ve heard more than once: “Exposition = Death.” Why? Because nothing can bore readers more than the delivery of setting, information, data and backstory. Yet every script, play or story you write requires you to include exposition. That’s why I created the Screenwriting

Interview [Part 2]: Ted Hope

Last December, I was fortunate enough to have an in-depth interview with movie producer Ted Hope, who is leading the charge to give the indie film business what he calls a “systems reboot.” If there is a person best suited for this task, it’s Ted. You can go

Ticket Giveaway: “The Psychology of Story-Telling” with Lindsay Doran

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 producer. She has served as

Movie Trailer: “A Birder’s Guide to Everything”

Written by Luke Matheny, Rob Meyer David Portnoy, a 15-year-old birding fanatic, thinks that he’s made the discovery of a lifetime. So, on the eve of his father’s remarriage, he escapes on an epic road trip with his best friends to solidify their place in birding

Character Type: Femme Fatale

“There is a strong element of sexuality at work with the Femme Fatale and that cuts both ways as an narrative element: empowerment for the woman, weakness for the man.” Those of you who have followed my blog for some time or taken courses with me through Screenwriting Master Class