Scott Myers

“Similar but different”

Or Precedent / Analogy. However you refer to it, it’s how Hollywood operates. Sequels. Prequels. Remakes. Reboots. Why do Hollywood studios choose to go this route with such familiar material? Why not fill their development slates with bold projects full of fresh ideas and innovative stories? That would run entirely

Writing and the Creative Life: Flow

We revel in it when we have it and curse it when we don’t. As writers, we know the experience. We sit down to write. Conjure up a scene in our mind. Fingers on keyboard. Scene description. Dialogue. Characters coming to life. Scene end. Leads directly to the next

Daily Dialogue — November 14, 2013

Conrad “Con” Jarrett: [Berger is pretending to be Buck, Con’s older brother] Bucky, I didn’t mean it! Bucky, I didn’t meant it! Dr. Berger: What? Conrad “Con” Jarrett: I said put the sail down, but you said keep it starboard, and then we go over! And you

Important Black List announcement for TV writers

Good news for those writing original TV spec pilots: LOS ANGELES (November 13, 2013) — This morning, the Black List’s online script database (http://www.blcklst.com) launched its long awaited expansion into television and episodic scripted content. Beginning today, writers from around the world will be able to upload

Part 3: 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:

“First you have nothing, and then… you have something”

“First you have nothing, and then, astonishingly, after ripping out your brain and your heart and betraying your friends and ex-lovers and dreaming like a zombie over the page till you can’t see or hear or smell or taste, you have something.” An observation on writing from novelist

Movie Trailer: “Ride Along”

Screenplay by Greg Coolidge and Jason Mantzoukas and Phil Hay & Matt Manfredi, story by Greg Coolidge Fast-talking security guard Ben joins his cop brother-in-law James on a 24-hour patrol of Atlanta in order to prove himself worthy of marrying Angela, James’ sister. IMDB Release Date:

“Living and writing in L.A.”

Should you live here to be a writer? Do you HAVE to live here? Let me say up front, there are enormous advantages for a screenwriter to live in or near Los Angeles. Here are a few key ones: * You are where the action is. There’s no better way

Script To Screen: “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”

A memorable scene from the 1982 comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High, written by Cameron Crowe. Here Mr. Hand (Ray Walston) does battle with Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) over a popular adolescent food item. INT. U.S. HISTORY CLASS - DAY The third attendance bell rings, and Mr. Hand strides to

Daily Dialogue — November 13, 2013

Don Masters, CEA Agent: I’m a CEA agent. Dr. Sidney Schaefer: [rises from desk, walks over to read ID card] You ARE a CEA agent. And you really did kill someone! Don Masters, CEA Agent: Ahhummm. Dr. Sidney Schaefer: Fascinating, Don… I suppose it’s the conditioning of motion

Infographic: The Clues to a Great Story

Some of you may remember the TED Talk given by Andrew Stanton, writer-director of such Pixar movies as Finding Nemo and Wall-E. I ran a 10-part series, which you can access here including a transcript of the entire presentation and a link to the video. Distilling the

Part 2: 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:

“If I waited until I felt like writing, I’d never write at all”

“If I waited until I felt like writing, I’d never write at all.” That’s some serious wisdom from author Anne Tyler. I know it’s true. You know it’s true. Writing a full-length screenplay is not about feeling it. It’s about doing it. Doing it

Movie Trailer: “Tar”

A poetic road trip through Pulitzer prize-winning CK Williams’ life. IMDB Release Date: 1 December 2013 (USA)

“Stacking projects”

One key to the craft: Learning how to manage several projects at once. Here’s something interesting to do if you subscribe to IMDBpro.com: Check out some of the top screenwriters and see what projects they have in development. Here are three of them: Ron Bass, Steve Zaillian, and

Screenwriting 101: Jeremiah Friedman

“It’s tricky because you have to walk that line between staying open to feedback, to criticism, to all the things that are going to make you a better writer and make the material better, but you also have to come into everything, not with an arrogance, but with a

Daily Dialogue — November 12, 2013

Dr. Constance Petersen: You’re resisting a memory. What is in your mind? John Ballantyne: No. Dr. Constance Petersen: You’re resisting it. John Ballantyne: Don’t start that again! Don’t stand there with that wiseacre look. I’m sick of your doubletalk. Dr. Constance Petersen: You’re looking

Update: Award season screenplay downloads (22 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: 22. Newly added scripts [The Fifth Estate, Fruitvale Station, Lee

Screenplay time

Time is a mystery and perhaps nowhere more than in stories. As writers, we can jump through decades with one scene transition. Conversely we can stretch out mere moments for many pages, slowing down, even stopping the clock. Indeed something so fundamental as the choice of past tense, typical of

Part 1: 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:

“The story must be a conflict”

“The story… must be a conflict, and specifically, a conflict between the forces of good and evil within a single person.” This from novelist Maxwell Anderson. The necessity of conflict in story is so fundamental, we may well overlook it. Conflict is dynamic. Conflict is evocative. Conflict is compelling. Like

Movie Trailer: “Cold Comes the Night”

Written by Tze Chun & Oz Perkins & Nick Simon A struggling motel owner and her daughter are taken hostage by a nearly blind career criminal to be his eyes as he attempts to retrieve his cash package from a crooked cop. IMDB Release Date: 10 January 2014 (USA)

“Know your genre”

If you want to write in a genre, you’re wise to immerse yourself in it. I have gotten to know a lot of screenwriters through the years. In talking with or interviewing them, one thing I find they pretty much have in common: They know their genre. That is

On Writing

“Every scene is either a fight, a seduction, or a negotiation.” — Mike Nichols Comment Archive

Daily Dialogue — November 11, 2013

INT. SEAN’S OFFICE — DAY Lambeau stands across from Sean, seething… LAMBEAU: You’re wrong, Sean. I’m where I am today because I was pushed. And because I learned to push myself! SEAN: He’s not you! A beat. Lambeau turns, something catches his eye. Sean turns to look,