Scott Myers

Great Scene: “Rushmore”

What a terrific movie Rushmore (1998) is. Co-written by Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson, who also directed the film, it’s a stellar follow-up to their first film Bottle Rocket (1996). A plot summary from IMDB: Max Fischer [Jason Schwartzman] is a precocious 15-year-old whose reason

Hidden Movie Gem: “Beautiful Girls”

Today’s Hidden Movie Gem guest post comes from Chris Chun: Movie Title: Beautiful Girls Year: 1996 Writer: Scott Rosenberg Lead Actors: Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon, Noah Emmerich, Michael Rapaport, Max Perlich, Uma Thurman, and Natalie Portman Director: Ted Demme Plot Summary: A piano player at a crossroads in his

Daily Dialogue — October 12, 2013

“Are you going to shoot me, Frank?” — In the Line of Fire (1993), written by Jeff Maguire The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is assassination suggested by Aarthi Ramanathan. Trivia: John Malkovich improvised the scene where he puts the gun into his mouth. Wolfgang Petersen liked it so much

Declare Your Independents: Volume 13

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… Ted Hope talks about the future of indie film This Week in Streaming: From Giallo to Grindhouse, A Guide to

Dispatch From The Quest: Christian Fontenot

Over the course of the 24 weeks I am working with the writers in The Quest, each will write a weekly dispatch to share with the GITS community. There are several reasons for doing this, the main one educational: Hopefully you will learn something of value for your own understanding

Interview (Part 5): Destin Daniel Cretton

One of my favorite movies of 2013 is Short Term 12, so I was understandably excited when its talented writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton agreed to an interview. Our hour-long conversation did not disappoint. Destin’s script “Short Term 12″ won a 2010 Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship. He used that

“32 Qualities Of Better Film”

I was all set to interview Ted Hope yesterday, but then this news broke. So our talk is pushed back. But here’s a nifty taste of Ted’s producer’s world view: 32 Qualities of Better Film: 1. Ambition 2. Originality 3. Innovation 4. Integrity To The Concept 5.

Go On Your Own Quest — Week 13: Prep

The 2013 version of The Quest has entered Week 13. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by because you can Go On Your Own Quest by following the structure of The Quest to dig into screenwriting theory [Core — 8 weeks], figure out your story [Prep — 6 weeks], and write

Movie Trailer: “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”

Screenplay by Steve Conrad, screen story by Steve Conrad, short story by James Thurber An office worker who lives inside fantasy worlds where he gets to live an adventurous life while romancing his co-worker sets off a global journey to fix things when both of their jobs are threatened.

Hidden Movie Gem: “Spies Like Us”

Today’s Hidden Movie Gem guest post comes courtesy of Esmeralda Kendall: Movie Title: Spies Like Us Year: 1985 Written by: Dan Aykroyd (story and screenplay), Dave Thomas (story), Lowell Ganz (screenplay) and Babaloo Mandel (screenplay). Starring: Dan Aykroyd as Austin Millbarge and Chevy Chase as Emmett Fitz-Hume. Directed

Great Character: Sam Wheat (“Ghost”)

With Halloween approaching, our theme this month is Supernatural Characters. Today in his regular weekly guest post, Jason Cuthbert looks at Sam Wheat from the 1990 movie Ghost, written by Bruce Joel Rubin. The biggest blockbuster and highest grossing movie of 1990 (over $500 million on a $22 million budget)

Daily Dialogue — October 11, 2013

Louis Bernard: [dying] A man… a statesman… is to be killed… assassinated in London. Soon… very soon. Tell them in London… tell them to try Ambrose Chapel… — The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), screenplay by John Michael Hayes, story by Charles Bennett and D.B. Wyndham-Lewis The Daily

Do you want to write a guest post?

Interesting convergence recently with several folks inquiring about writing guest posts. Perhaps the success of the Hidden Movie Gem series? Not sure, but I’m happy to oblige if: * The subject you have would be of interest to the online screenwriting and movie community. * The tenor and tone of your

Dispatch From The Quest: Troy Klith

Over the course of the 24 weeks I am working with the writers in The Quest, each will write a weekly dispatch to share with the GITS community. There are several reasons for doing this, the main one educational: Hopefully you will learn something of value for your own understanding

Interview (Part 4): Destin Daniel Cretton

One of my favorite movies of 2013 is Short Term 12, so I was understandably excited when its talented writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton agreed to an interview. Our hour-long conversation did not disappoint. Destin’s script “Short Term 12″ won a 2010 Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship. He used that

9 horror films under 9 minutes

From TheWeek: This Halloween, you can enjoy zombies, demons, madness, and suspense all in delicious bite-size pieces. Though short, these films are well-made, real horror movies, which include all the terror and gore you demand from your Halloween viewing. Just take note: None of the below are suitable

Go On Your Own Quest — Week 13: Prep

The 2013 version of The Quest has entered Week 13. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by because you can Go On Your Own Quest by following the structure of The Quest to dig into screenwriting theory [Core — 8 weeks], figure out your story [Prep — 6 weeks], and write

Movie Trailer: “Inside Llewyn Davis”

Written by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen A week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. IMDB Release Date: 20 December 2013 (USA)

Hidden Movie Gem: “Still Walking”

Today’s Hidden Movie Gem guest post comes courtesy of Vera Mark: Movie Title: Still Walking (Aruitemo aruitemo) Year: 2008 Written and directed: Hirokazu Kore-eda (original story and screenplay) Lead actors: Hiroshi Abe, Yui Natsukawa, You, Kiri Kirin Plot summary: Still Walking is a contemporary family drama about grown

Daily Dialogue — October 10, 2013

INT. UNION OYSTER HOUSE, BOSTON Barris, dressed in a suit, sits with Patricia Watson. He smiles across the table at her. PATRICIA: I can’t believe you finally left your two-hundred-dollar-a-night cave to see me. I’m honored. BARRIS: Y’know, I got a visit this

Open Forum

Haven’t done this for awhile. Open forum! If you have any questions about screenwriting, post them in comments and I’ll be happy to provide my two cents on them. If you have a screenwriting, writing or movie related blog that you would like for me to link to

Dispatch From The Quest: Waka Brown

Over the course of the 24 weeks I am working with the writers in The Quest, each will write a weekly dispatch to share with the GITS community. There are several reasons for doing this, the main one educational: Hopefully you will learn something of value for your own understanding

Interview (Part 3): Destin Daniel Cretton

One of my favorite movies of 2013 is Short Term 12, so I was understandably excited when its talented writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton agreed to an interview. Our hour-long conversation did not disappoint. Destin’s script “Short Term 12″ won a 2010 Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship. He used that

Diablo Cody: The 7 Things No One Tells You About Being a Top Screenwriter

Vulture is generally great, but it’s especially gratifying whenever they promote screenwriters. And they seem to do that a lot as this latest piece featuring Diablo Cody demonstrates. An excerpt: With her first produced screenplay, 2007’s Juno, Diablo Cody won an Oscar and became something of a rarity

Go On Your Own Quest — Week 13: Prep

The 2013 version of The Quest has entered Week 13. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by because you can Go On Your Own Quest by following the structure of The Quest to dig into screenwriting theory [Core — 8 weeks], figure out your story [Prep — 6 weeks], and write