Scott Myers

Interview [Written]: Jennifer Lee (“Frozen”)

An IndieWire interview with Jennifer Lee who wrote the screenplay and co-directed Frozen. This movie has been gestating at the studio since the 1940s, when Walt Disney tried and failed to find a way to bring the story to life in animated form. Apparently, the character of the queen

Daily Dialogue — January 25, 2014

“Elaine! Elaine! Elaine!” — The Graduate (1967), screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry, novel by Charles Webb The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is rescue, suggested by Despina. Trivia: None of the older characters has their first name identified in the film; only the younger characters of Benjamin, Elaine

Time for more Daily Dialogue themes!

It’s that time again. We have one more theme left in our virtual cupboard which we’ll run next week, so it’s time to replenish the bin. While we’re at it, perhaps it’s a good time to reflect on the Daily Dialogue series. Since I launched

Spec Script Sale: “Red Ice”

Envision Media Rights secures the rights to action horror spec script “Red Ice” written by Keith Ray Putman. From TheWrap: “Red Ice” follows a trucker hauling emergency supplies across the frozen waterways of arctic Canada who must survive an onslaught of mysterious, man-eating creatures. Putman is repped by Original

The Toughest Scene I Wrote: John Ridley (“12 Years a Slave”)

Once again, Vulture does screenwriters a solid: In this series, Vulture has been speaking to the screenwriters behind 2013′s most acclaimed movies about the scenes they found most difficult to crack. What pivotal sequences underwent the biggest transformations on their way from script to screen? In this article, John

Movie Trailer: “The Bag Man

Written by David Grovic and Paul Conway, original screenplay “Motel” by James Russo   A criminal bides his time at a seedy motel, waiting for his boss after killing several men and making away with a mystery bag. IMDB Release Date: 28 February 2014 (USA)  Comment Archive

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 10

Two 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: The Geek (“Sixteen Candles”)

This month we are looking at memorable teenagers in John Hughes movies. Today guest poster Jason Cuthbert considers another iconic character from a Hughes’ film: The Geek from the 1984 movie Sixteen Candles. With the 1984 comedic romance Sixteen Candles, Molly Ringwald emerged as Hollywood’s Teen Queen and John

Daily Dialogue — January 24, 2014

“When I go home people’ll ask me, ‘Hey Hoot, why do you do it man? What, you some kinda war junkie?’ You know what I’ll say? I won’t say a goddamn word. Why? They won’t understand. They won’t understand why we do it. They won’

That famous Pixar lunch of 1994

I suspect we all know how hard it is to come up with a single great story idea. Imagine one meeting in which you come up with four great ideas, each of which becomes a hit movie. That happened with Pixar. More here: Four of Pixar’s leading directors- John

Movies You Made: “Red’s at the Crossing”

Rob Pilkington is one of the original Questers from 2012. While he continues to work on his script project initiated through The Quest, he has proven the value of hard work and maximizing creativity by being part of a team that produced a short film: Red’s at the Crossing.

Spec Script Sale: “Security”

Nu Image acquires action spec script “Security” written by John Sullivan. From Deadline: A security guard must protect a female witness from a gang of thugs in a mall after communication is knocked out from storm. Sullivan is repped by WME and Benderspink. By my count, this is the 5th

The Toughest Scene I Wrote: Nicole Holofcener (“Enough Said”)

Once again, Vulture does screenwriters a solid: In this series, Vulture has been speaking to the screenwriters behind 2013′s most acclaimed movies about the scenes they found most difficult to crack. What pivotal sequences underwent the biggest transformations on their way from script to screen? In this article, Holofcener

Movie Trailer: “Better Living Through Chemistry”

Written by Geoff Moore, David Posamentier A straight-laced pharmacist’s uneventful life spirals out of control when he starts an affair with a trophy wife customer who takes him on a joyride involving sex, drugs and possibly murder. IMDB Release Date: 14 March 2014 (USA)  Comment Archive

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 9

Two 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

Writing and the Creative Life: “In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail”

When legendary football coach Vince Lombardi would speak in public, he rarely strayed far from two closely related subjects: success and failure. One quote I’ve always remembered is this one: It seems to me this embodies a mindset writers would do well to embrace for it re-frames the

Daily Dialogue — January 23, 2014

Reporter: Mr. Keith, there’s been a general assumption in that the space program will be brought to a halt for an investigation of the accident. Plus a general examination of our purposes in space and the morality of putting men into space without adequate… Charles Keith: What’s your

Quest Writing Workshop: Santa Monica, March 13–16, 2014

Last October, ten writers from across the United States and Canada converged at The Writers Junction in Santa Monica for a 4-Day Quest Writing Workshop with me as their host and teacher. It was a remarkable weekend. * The learning that went on as we immersed ourselves in character-based

Matthew Hickman: Reflections of an Independent Screenwriting Fellowship Winner [cont’d]

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

Spec Script Sale: “Vice”

Emmett/Furla Films acquires science fiction spec script “Vice” written by Andre Fabrizio and Jeremy Passmore. Via THR: Vice, which has been described as having a Westworld-meets-Grand Theft Auto vibe, is set on a resort in the future where the staff are lifelike synthetic beings and the rich

The Toughest Scene I Wrote: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen (“Inside Llewyn Davis”)

Once again, Vulture does screenwriters a solid: In this series, Vulture has been speaking to the screenwriters behind 2013′s most acclaimed movies about the scenes they found most difficult to crack. What pivotal sequences underwent the biggest transformations on their way from script to screen? In this article, Joel

Movie Trailer: “Adult World”

Written by Andy Cochran A recent college graduate who believes she’s destined to be a great poet, instead winds up working for an adult book store. IMDB Comment Archive

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 8

Two 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

Script To Screen: “Argo”

A dramatic scene from the 2012 movie Argo, written by Chris Terrio, book by Tony Mendez, magazine article by Joshuah Bearman. Plot Summary: Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans

Daily Dialogue — January 22, 2014

On the run from the authorities, Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) is trying to find the one-armed man who killed his wife. Kimble disguises himself as a maintenance man to gain access to the hospital’s amputee clinic database. Just as he’s leaving the hospital, there’s a