Scott Myers

Studying Aristotle’s “Poetics” — Part 13(B): A Well-Constructed Plot

As I’ve been interviewing screenwriters, I typically ask what some of their influences are. One book title comes up over and over again: Aristotle’s “Poetics”. I confess I’ve never read the entire thing, only bits and pieces. So I thought, why not do a weekly series with

Screenwriting News (November 11–17, 2013)

Theodore Bressman and Matthew Bass sell comedy spec script “The Politician” to Sony Pictures. J.J. Connolly adapting his own crime drama novel “Viva La Madness” for SJ Pictures. Jeremy Doner writing historical drama “Napoleon” for Warner Bros with Rupert Sanders to direct. Cliff Dorfman signs a first-look deal

Interview [Video]: Julie Delpy and Richard Linklater (“Before Midnight”)

Another great DP/30 interview: Before Midnight co-writers Julie Delpy and Richard Linklater (along with Ethan Hawke). Comment Archive

Daily Dialogue — November 17, 2013

CHERYL: Picture yourself as a six year old boy at the beach. Can you do that? MARK: Yes, very easily. EXT. BEACH. DAY The scene has a hazy, dreamlike reality. We see the six-year old Mark, able-bodied and full of energy, running and playing in the sand with

Daily Dialogue theme next week: First date

As we wind down our week’s worth of Daily Dialogues on the theme of therapy (thanks, Despina, for that), we prepare for next week with a suggestion from igetsbuckets: First Date! I would think this theme is right in the wheelhouse for all you folks who like romantic comedies,

Declare Your Independents: Volume 15

GITS development assistant Wendy Cohen here, and welcome yet again to Declare Your Independents, our new series highlighting the latest developments in the world of independent film! This week… Watch the 2013 Hollywood Reporter directors roundtable Robert Redford on Making All Is Lost Ranking the Best and Worst NC-17-

“Feet on the ground… head in the clouds”

Feet on the ground… head in the clouds A twist on a familiar adage speaks more to the business of writing. I’m sure we’ve all seen the saying, “Keep your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground.” If you Google the phrase, you find all

Great Scene: “Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back”

I would argue the best Star Wars movie is The Empire Strikes Back (1980). And one of the reasons is because it trafficked in the some of the most interesting ideas in the SW saga, in particular the relationship of Luke Skywalker to the “dark side” of the Force. This

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 112th installment of Saturday Hot Links! Today: The Some Of The Musicians I Have Been An Opening Act For Edition! Breaking news: Batman saves San Francisco! FXX pays $750M for syndication and VOD rights for “The Simpsons”. 15 ambitious plans to colonize the Moon. 11 movies with

Interview (Written): Ryan Coogler (“Fruitvale Station”)

One of the most notable movies of the year is Fruitvale Station, written and directed by newcomer Ryan Coogler. Here is an excerpt from a Filmmaker magazine interview between Coogler and writer-director Ava DuVernay. DUVERNAY: As filmmakers tackling real-life subjects, do you think we have the responsibility to

Daily Dialogue — November 16, 2013

Paul Vitti: How was that? Dr. Ben Sobel: It was going great until the cutting off of the balls and the shoving them up his ass. You know what I do when I’m mad, Paul? I hit a pillow. Just hit the pillow. See how you feel. Paul whips

2013 Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship Award Speeches

Recently the AMPAS held a ceremony celebrating the six recipients of this year’s Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowships. Frank DeJohn, Barbara Stepansky, Alan Roth, Stephanie Shannon, David Alton Hedges, Patty Jones The links below take you to speeches given by each of the winners and their presenters: Frank DeJohn & David

Part 5: If you are a beginning screenwriter…

Recently I received an email from someone who wants to begin the process of learning the craft of screenwriting. I started my response with the advice to use this blog as a free resource. After all, there are over 13,000 posts in the archives… Then it dawned on me:

“Being a real writer means being able to do the work on a bad day”

“Being a real writer means being able to do the work on a bad day.” Words of wisdom from Norman Mailer. These comments round out a week’s worth of tough love about the writing process. Basically a story won’t get done unless you do it. That means writing

Movie Trailer: “Crave”

Robert Lawton (screenplay), Charles de Lauzirika (screenplay) A man struggles to cope with life’s annoyances and romances, while trying to distinguish between fantasy and reality. IMDB Release Date: 6 December 2013 (USA)

“Break your story in prep”

Prep-writing is essential to the success of page-writing. Let me begin with this acknowledgement: There is no right way to write. Each writer is different. Each story is different. There is no single universal approach that works for everyone. However in my view, it is impossible to overstate

Great Character: Maria Elena (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”)

In November, guest columnist Jason Cuthbert looks at five significant female characters in Woody Allen movies. Today: Maria Elena in the 2008 comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona, written and directed by Woody Allen. “Summer Love” is that unexpected romance that occurs during that heated season while traveling abroad; filled with the

Daily Dialogue — November 15, 2013

KATHERINE: (mouth full of food) Can I help you? ADAM: I have an appointment with Dr. McKay. KATHERINE: Oh… please come in… Katherine removes her files from the couch, while awkwardly balancing her sandwich on top. She rises and puts her hand out to shake Adam’s — he reluctantly shakes

Your writing space?

Last month, I led a 4-day Quest Workshop in Santa Monica. It was amazing! More on that soon. One of the writers Michelle Burleson sent me this photo: Some days, that’s precisely what we need to keep in mind: “Keep going.” Got me thinking: I wonder what other

Spec Script Sale: “The Politician”

Sony Pictures Entertainment acquires comedy spec script “The Politician” written by Theodore Bressman and Matthew Bass. From Deadline: The film is an action comedy that follows a disgraced Governor and his accomplice on the run from the FBI and U.S. Marshals. Along the way, he is kidnapped by a

Spec Script Sale: “From Here to Albion”

Participant Media acquires thriller spec script “From Here to Albion” written by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. From Deadline: The story is set in a coastal English town, where a tragic accident sets a chain of violence in motion and a malevolent stranger seeks revenge on the perpetrators and the

Part 4: If you are a beginning screenwriter…

Recently I received an email from someone who wants to begin the process of learning the craft of screenwriting. I started my response with the advice to use this blog as a free resource. After all, there are over 13,000 posts in the archives… Then it dawned on me:

Spec Script Sale: “Nemesis”

Warner Bros. acquires spec script “Nemesis” written by Christopher Wheeler. From Deadline: I don’t recall ever writing a spec script deal story that includes setting someone to do a rewrite. But the Warner Bros deal includes the hiring of a new writer in Craig Rosenberg, the Australian writer who

“Discipline is everything for a working writer”

“Not to be preachy about it, but discipline is everything for a working writer, at least for this one. I can’t just wander around fields of flowers or sit brooding in coffee houses waiting for the muse to land on my shoulder and whisper in my ear. That would

Movie Trailer: “Out of the Furnace”

Written by Brad Ingelsby, Scott Cooper When Rodney Baze mysteriously disappears and law enforcement fails to follow through, his older brother, Russell, takes matters into his own hands to find justice. IMDB Release Date: 6 December 2013 (USA)