Scott Myers

Daily Dialogue — January 18, 2014

Buddy: What I am concerned with is detail. I asked you go get me a packet of Sweet-N-Low. You bring me back Equal. That isn’t what I asked for. That isn’t what I wanted. That isn’t what I needed and that shit isn’t going

Reading 52 scripts in one year

I’m sure you get tired of me yammering at you to read scripts. So I’m happy to let writer Mark Gauthier yammer at you himself. And he has the bona fides to back up his yammering! Read on: I’ve read them all. You folks know which books

Interview: Barbara Stepansky (2013 Nicholl Winner, 2013 Black List) — Part 5

Barbara Stepansky’s original screenplay “Sugar in My Veins” not only won the filmmaker a 2013 Nicholl fellowship, it also landed on the 2013 Black List, so I was excited when she agreed to do an interview to see what we could learn from this talented young filmmaker. Today in

Documentary: “Her: Love in the Modern Age”

It’s perhaps the most thought provoking movie of 2013: Her, written and directed by Spike Jonze. As a contribution to the conversation, this: Her: Love In The Modern Age, chronicling reactions to Spike Jonze’s Oscar-nominated film, Her. The documentary, directed by Lance Bangs, features stories and reflections

The Toughest Scene I Wrote: Steve Coogan (“Philomena”)

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, Steve

Movie Trailer: “Stranger by the Lake”

Written by Alain Guiraudie Summertime. A cruising spot for men, tucked away on the shores of a lake. Franck falls in love with Michel. An attractive, potent and lethally dangerous man. Franck knows this, but wants to live out his passion anyway. IMDB 2014 Sundance Film Festival Comment Archive

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 5

Last Monday, 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 people

Great Character: John Bender (“The Breakfast Club”)

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: John Bender from the 1985 movie The Breakfast Club. The year of 1985 was actor Judd Nelson’s breakthrough calendar. Nelson was in the Amblin

Daily Dialogue — January 17, 2014

Arlen Finkle: Larry? He looks up, startled. Arlen Finkle stands in the doorway. Arlen: As you know, the tenure committee meets-are you all right? Larry sits frozen with the white envelope in his hands. Larry: I’m… fine. Arlen Finkle: I’m sorry. I know you’ve hit a

Calling all smart people!

There are three things I could use your help with. First, other than when I made the switch to partner with the Black List about 30 months ago, this blog site has remained pretty much the same since its launch in May 2008. Oh, we added sliders and a few

Interview: Barbara Stepansky (2013 Nicholl Winner, 2013 Black List) — Part 4

Barbara Stepansky’s original screenplay “Sugar in My Veins” not only won the filmmaker a 2013 Nicholl fellowship, it also landed on the 2013 Black List, so I was excited when she agreed to do an interview to see what we could learn from this talented young filmmaker. Today in

The Toughest Scene I Wrote: Kelly Marcel (“Saving Mr. Banks”)

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, Kelly

Movie Trailer: “Only Lovers Left Alive”

Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. A story centered on two vampires who have been in love for centuries. IMDB Release Date: 11 April 2014 (USA)  Comment Archive

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 4

Last Monday, 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 people

Writing and the Creative Life: Structure and Freedom

Words of creative wisdom the great 20th century composer Igor Stravinsky. When I was an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia, I took a music class with a delightful professor from Eastern Europe. His enthusiasm was infectious. And even though it was the only 9AM class I ever took

Daily Dialogue — January 16, 2014

Miranda Priestly: So you don’t read ‘Runway’? Andy Sachs: Uh… no. Miranda Priestly: And before today, you had never heard of… me. Andy Sachs: No. Miranda Priestly: And you have no style or sense of fashion. Andy Sachs: Well, um… I think that depends on what you’re —  Miranda

Why I keep blogging

I keep posting here every single day because of emails like this: Dear Scott, A couple of years ago, more specifically, March 18th, 2011, I wrote to you and asked for advice on how to visualize the inner world of a character. This was during a time when I wrote

Interview: Barbara Stepansky (2013 Nicholl Winner, 2013 Black List) — Part 3

Barbara Stepansky’s original screenplay “Sugar in My Veins” not only won the filmmaker a 2013 Nicholl fellowship, it also landed on the 2013 Black List, so I was excited when she agreed to do an interview to see what we could learn from this talented young filmmaker. Today in

The Toughest Scene I Wrote: Ryan Coogler (“Fruitvale Station”)

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, Coogler

Movie Trailer: “Killers”

Takuji Ushiyama (original story), Timo Tjahjanto (story) Mr. Nomura is an eerily handsome, sharply dressed, sociopathic serial killer who preys on the women of Tokyo. In Jakarta, a world-weary journalist named Bayu finds himself unexpectedly falling into vigilantism after brutally killing two sadistic robbers. When each posts videos of

So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’: Part 3

Last Monday, 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 people

Script To Screen: “Galaxy Quest”

A fun early scene from the 1999 movie Galaxy Quest, screenplay by David Howard and Robert Gordon, story by David Howard. Plot summary: The alumni cast of a cult space TV show have to play their roles as the real thing when an alien race needs their help. Here is

Daily Dialogue — January 15, 2014

Blake: You’re talking about what.You’re talking about… Bitching about that sale you shot, some sonofabitch who don’t wanna buy land, some broad you’re trying to screw, so forth. Let’s talk about something important. They all here? Williamson: All but one. Blake: I’m going

Final Update: The Official 2014 GITS Spec Script Sales Prognostication Contest!

The deadline has passed and everyone who has gazed into their crystal ball has made their predictions for how many spec scripts will sell in 2014. The Grand Prize: I will read any script of the winner’s choice and do a thirty-minute teleconference to discuss it with them.

Interview: Barbara Stepansky (2013 Nicholl Winner, 2013 Black List) — Part 2

Barbara Stepansky’s original screenplay “Sugar in My Veins” not only won the filmmaker a 2013 Nicholl fellowship, it also landed on the 2013 Black List, so I was excited when she agreed to do an interview to see what we could learn from this talented young filmmaker. Today in