Scott Myers

Classic 80s Movie: “Ghostbusters”

Today’s Classic 80s Movie guest post comes from Dean Scott. Movie Title: Ghostbusters Year: 1984 Writers: Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis (uncredited) Lead Actors: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis. Director: Ivan Reitman Plot Summary: Three unemployed parapsychology professors set up shop as a

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 116th installment of Saturday Hot Links! Today: The Joseph Campbell And The Hero’s Journey Edition. Superhero movies are getting too greedy. If you’re bored with the regular way of playing Pokemon, try the Nuzlocke Challenge. Script for Star Wars: Episode VII has not been turned

Interview [Written]: Joel and Ethan Coen (“Inside Llewyn Davis”)

Anne Thompson at Indiewire landed an interview with Joel and Ethan Coen about their latest movie Inside Llewyn Davis. Anne Thompson: What music did you grow up listening to and caring about? Joel Coen: During this period, we were very young. I wouldn’t say we even listened to music;

Daily Dialogue — December 14, 2013

VITO CORLEONE: So — Barzini will move against you first. He’ll set up a meeting with someone that you absolutely trust — guaranteeing your safety. And at that meeting, you’ll be assassinated. I like to drink wine more than I used to — anyway, I’m drinking more… MICHAEL: It’s

Declare Your Independents: Volume 18

GITS development assistant Wendy Cohen here, and welcome to another edition of Declare Your Independents, our new series highlighting the latest developments in the world of independent film. This week… 2014 Golden Globe nominations announced THR’s first documentary roundtable Is it better to screen an Oscar hopeful early or

“All The Things That Are Wrong With Your Screenplay In One Handy Infographic”

By now, you’ve probably seen this making its way around the web: A professional scriptreader read 300 screenplays for five different studios, all the while tracking the many recurring problems. The infographic he made with the collected data offers a glimpse at where screenwriting goes wrong. There are 14

“Writing is a process of discovery”

“Writing really is a process of discovery. The biggest enemy is being satisfied. When I think, ‘Oh, this is so great. They can’t change a word. They’ve got to film it exactly like this,’ that’s when I know I’m not pushing hard enough. That’s when

Movie Trailer: “Jupiter Ascending”

Written by Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski In a universe where humans are near the bottom of the evolutionary ladder, a young destitute human woman is targeted for assassination by the Queen of the Universe because her very existence threatens to end the Queen’s reign. IMDB Release Date: 25 July

Classic 80s Movie: “Blade Runner”

Today’s Classic 80s Movie guest post comes from Nicholas James West. Movie Title: Blade Runner Year: 1982 Writers: Philip K. Dick, Hampton Fancher, David Webb Peoples Lead Actors: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos Director: Ridley Scott Plot Summary: Deckard, a blade runner, is tasked to

Great Character: Willie T. Stokes (“Bad Santa”)

In December, guest columnist Jason Cuthbert looks at Christmas Grinch characters. Today: Willie T. Stokes from the 2003 movie Bad Santa, written by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. Billy Bob Thornton has had several illustrious highlights in his diverse Hollywood career. Thornton directed, starred and also won an Academy Award

Daily Dialogue — December 13, 2013

Ramona Calvert: Hey honey, your momma called a while ago, she said she’d be home soon. You want me to tuck you in? Bernice: (nods) Ramona Calvert: How tight? Bernice: Tight. Ramona Calvert: (tucking in bedding) Okay…as snug as a bug in a rug. (beat) You’re so

Update: Award season screenplay downloads (37 scripts!)

It’s that time of year again when studios make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season. As in years past, we will be tracking them and posting links as they become available. Current total of scripts for download: 37. Newly added scripts [The Wolf of Wall Street, Saving

Spec Script Market Analysis: Genre

One of the available Go Into The Story resources is The Definitive Spec Script Sales List (1991–2012), what I think is an invaluable database for research and analysis. As an example, earlier this year Susana Orozco, a loyal blog follower, went through all of those spec script sales to

Interview (Part 2): Writer-Director Laura Colella (“Breakfast With Curtis”)

Recently I had the pleasure of screening a wonderful indie feature called Breakfast With Curtis, written and directed by Laura Colella. Some background on Laura: Laura studied filmmaking at Harvard University. She has been awarded numerous fellowships and grants and was one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of

“In the end something has changed”

“In the end something has changed. If nothing has changed, it isn’t a story.” Author Malcolm Cowley’s observation rings true. And something to bear in mind from micro to macro, scene to story. In a story, things happen. Characters are forced to respond to those events. Invariably this

Movie Trailer: “Bad Words”

Written by Andrew Dodge A spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult. IMDB

Classic 80s Movies: “Full Metal Jacket”

Today’s Classic 80s Movie guest post comes from Zach Jansen. Movie Title: Full Metal Jacket Year: 1987 Writers: Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick & Michael Herr & Gustav Hasford; based on the novel The Short Timers by Gustav Hasford Lead Actors: Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D’Onofrio, Arliss

Writing and the Creative Life: Wherein I embrace my messy desk!

For decades, I have waged a relentless war. The battlefield? My desk. Raised a military brat and a Southern Baptist to boot, the message I received on an almost daily basis was to keep my desk tidy. Organized. A place for everything and everything in its place. Cleanliness next to

Daily Dialogue — December 12, 2013

Senior Ed Bloom: You are in for a surprise. Will Bloom: Am I? Senior Ed Bloom: Havin’ a kid changes everything. There’s burping, the midnight feeding, and the changing. Will Bloom: You do any of that? Senior Ed Bloom: No. But I hear it’s terrible. Then you spend

Reader Question: Could we talk more about stacking projects?

Reader question from Tom: Hi Scott, thanks for all you do with “Go Into The Story” I often find lots of helpful information on your site and email. One request, could you do a longer piece, or a series of pieces, on “Stacking Projects”? This topic is relevant to everyone

Interview (Part 1): Writer-Director Laura Colella (“Breakfast With Curtis”)

Recently I had the pleasure of screening a wonderful indie feature called Breakfast With Curtis, written and directed by Laura Colella. Some background on Laura: Laura studied filmmaking at Harvard University. She has been awarded numerous fellowships and grants and was one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of

“People forget years and remember moments”

“People forget years and remember moments.” These words of wisdom from author Ann Beattie are profound in their simplicity and nowhere more true than movies. Think about a favorite film of yours. What do you remember? Moments. A character. A situation. An event. You can see the pictures in your

Movie Trailer: “Godzilla”

Screenplay by Max Borenstein and Dave Callaham and Frank Darabont, story by David S. Goyer A giant radioactive monster called Godzilla appears to wreak destruction on mankind. IMDB Release Date: 16 May 2014 (USA) Comment Archive

Classic 80s Movie: “Better Off Dead…”

Today’s Classic 80s Movie guest post comes from Jonathan Melikidse. Movie Title: Better Off Dead… Year: 1985 Writer: Savage Steve Holland Lead Actors: John Cusack, Curtis Armstrong Director: Savage Steve Holland Plot Summary: John Cusack stars as Lane Meyers, a geeky loser high school student whose girlfriend dumps him

Script To Screen: “Wag the Dog”

A key scene from the 1997 satire Wag the Dog, screenplay by Hilary Henkin and David Mamet, book by Larry Beinhart. Plot summary: Shortly before an election, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to fabricate a war in order to cover up a presidential sex scandal. INT