Scott Myers

Anna Kendrick: Behind the Scenes of the Mega Huge Game Day Ad Newcastle Almost Made

Clever bit of web non-advertising: Go behind the scenes of the Mega Huge Football Ad Newcastle Brown Ale almost made with the mega huge celebrity who almost starred in it. See more at IfWeMadeIt.com Anna Kendrick should star in everything! Comment Archive

Spec Script Sales Analysis 2013: First-Timers

As we continue our analysis of spec script sales in 2013, today we check out the first-timers, writers who broke into the business by selling a spec script. Camden — Lucas Carter (The Exchange) — 4/2/13 When domestic terrorists take over an Ivy League campus, a young Secret Service

Spec Script Sale: “The Unseen”

Twentieth Century Fox acquires drama thriller spec script “The Unseen” written by John Travis. From THR: The script is based on the short story Mr. Pettinger’s Daemon, which appeared in John Connolly’s collection of short fiction stories Nocturnes. The plot centers on a hospital cleric who is tasked

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: 15 Part Series

Here it is, all 15 parts: 1. The Organic Nature of the Screenplay 2. The Emergence of the Selling Script 3. The Evolution of Screenplay Format and Style 4. There are no screenwriting ‘rules’ 5. There are expectations 6. We See / We Hear 7. Unfilmables 8. Action Paragraphs — 3 Lines

Interview [Written]: Cari Beauchamp on Anita Loos

Here’s a treat: A Nitrate Online interview with Cari Beauchamp, who wrote the edited the book “Anita Loos Rediscovered,” this after Loos’ niece “unearthed volumes of her aunt’s writings.” As background: In the first two decades of the 20th century, there were more women writing movies than there

Daily Dialogue — February 1, 2014

Gas Station Attendant: Gordon Street. I once knew a girl who lived on Gordon Street. But that was a long time ago. When I was young. Wayne: Do we have to put up with this? I mean, can’t we get a better actor. I know it’s a small

When a writer snaps…

Received this email from Amos Posner: Scott, At a freak out point in the first draft I’m working on, I blew off some steam with this. It pretty much expresses how I feel late in the second act of every script I write. Figured you might relate. We’ve

Interview — Part 5: Sean Hartofilis (“Beach Pillows”)

From Ivy League lacrosse star to writer-director of the new indie film Beach Pillows starring Geoffrey Arend, Vincent Kartheiser, Annette O’Toole, and Richard Schiff, the career path of Sean Hartofilis has been an interesting one. Recently I spoke with Sean about life as an indie filmmaker and Beach

Spec Script Sale: “The Forger”

Fox International Productions acquires spy thriller spec script “The Forger” written by Alex Allrich. From Deadline: …a story about an ex-CIA forger who is living in Istanbul and must return to the world of espionage when his former agency handler turns up dead and a female Iranian intelligence agent

Spec Script Sales Analysis 2013: Top Sales

Continuing our week long analysis of spec script sales from 2013, today we look at the deals with the biggest payoffs (at least as reported by various news outlets): Reminiscence — Science Fiction Thriller Lisa Joy — $1.25M against $2M Section 6 — Spy Thriller Aaron Berg — $1.2M against $2M with

Movie Trailer: “Joe”

Larry Brown (novel), Gary Hawkins (screenplay) An ex-con, who is the unlikeliest of role models, meets a 15-year-old boy and is faced with the choice of redemption or ruin. IMDB Release Date: 11 April 2014 (USA)  Comment Archive

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 15

Three weeks ago, I posted this about an occurrence that happens with irritating regularity in the online screenwriting universe: The contentious specter of so-called screenwriting ‘rules’: What happens is pretty much this: * Somebody posts something about how there is a rule against doing this or that. * That circulates as

Great Character: Cameron Frye (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”)

This month we are looking at memorable teenagers in John Hughes movies. Today guest poster Jason Cuthbert considers another notable character from a Hughes’ film: Cameron Frye from the 1986 movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Before Alan Ruck’s acting career accelerated in Speed, spun ahead in Twister and

Daily Dialogue — January 31, 2014

Frodo: Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right? Gandalf: Left! — The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), screenplay by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, novel by J.R.R. Tolkien The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is directions, suggested by Bretton Zinger. Today’s

Matthew Hickman: Reflections on 2014 Sundance Film Festival

About a month ago, there was this announcement: The Black List and Cassian Elwes have announced the winner of their first Independent Screenwriting Fellowship. Unrepresented screenwriter Matthew Hickman will attend the upcoming Sundance Film Festival with the producer behind 2013 awards contenders Lee Daniels’ The Butler, All Is Lost, Dallas

Interview — Part 4: Sean Hartofilis (“Beach Pillows”)

From Ivy League lacrosse star to writer-director of the new indie film Beach Pillows starring Geoffrey Arend, Vincent Kartheiser, Annette O’Toole, and Richard Schiff, the career path of Sean Hartofilis has been an interesting one. Recently I spoke with Sean about life as an indie filmmaker and Beach

2013 Spec Script Sales Analysis: Agents & Managers

We continue with our analysis of spec script sales in 2013. Today: Agents and Managers. Note: A majority of projects were repped by both an agency and a manager / management company, so the total numbers of reps listed will be significantly higher than the number of scripts sold. First the

Movie Trailer: “The Fault in Our Stars”

Screenplay by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber, novel by John Green Hazel and Gus are two teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them on a journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous given that Hazel’s other constant

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 14

Three weeks ago, I posted this about an occurrence that happens with irritating regularity in the online screenwriting universe: The contentious specter of so-called screenwriting ‘rules’: What happens is pretty much this: * Somebody posts something about how there is a rule against doing this or that. * That circulates as

Daily Dialogue — January 30, 2014

“You punch in at 8:30 every morning, except you punch in at 7:30 following a business holiday, unless it’s a Monday, then you punch in at 8 o’clock. Punch in late and they dock you. Incoming articles get a voucher, outgoing articles provide a voucher. Move

50 Years Ago Today: “Dr. Strangelove”

On January 29, 1964, the movie Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Loved the Bomb was released into theaters. It is a classic movie and one of my favorite five films. My father was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force at the time.

Interview — Part 3: Sean Hartofilis (“Beach Pillows”)

From Ivy League lacrosse star to writer-director of the new indie film Beach Pillows starring Geoffrey Arend, Vincent Kartheiser, Annette O’Toole, and Richard Schiff, the career path of Sean Hartofilis has been an interesting one. Recently I spoke with Sean about life as an indie filmmaker and Beach

2013 Spec Script Sales Analysis: Buyers

Yesterday we looked at 2013 spec script sales by genre. Today we break down the numbers per major studios, mini-majors, subsidiaries, and financiers to see which were the most and least active in the script acquisition market. The totals: 6 Universal 4 BCDF Pictures Lionsgate Thunder Road Warner Bros.

Movie Trailer: “Maleficent”

Written by Paul Dini & Linda Woolverton The “Sleeping Beauty” tale is told from the perspective of the villainous Maleficent and looks at the events that hardened her heart and drove her to curse young Princess Aurora. IMDB Release Date: 30 May 2014 (USA)  Comment Archive

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 13

Three weeks ago, I posted this about an occurrence that happens with irritating regularity in the online screenwriting universe: The contentious specter of so-called screenwriting ‘rules’: What happens is pretty much this: * Somebody posts something about how there is a rule against doing this or that. * That circulates as