Scott Myers

Hidden Movie Gem: “Ball of Fire”

Here is a Hidden Movie Gem courtesy of Traci Nell Peterson: Movie Title: Ball of Fire Year: 1941 Writers: Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Thomas Monroe Lead Actors: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck Director: Howard Hawks Plot Summary: A group of ivory-tower professors commissioned to create an encyclopedia. Stuck on the

Writing and the Creative Life: There are no useless ideas

The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas. One of my favorite quotes regarding creativity originates from Nobel Prize winning scientist, author and educator Linus Pauling: ”The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.” This is especially relevant

Daily Dialogue — October 3, 2013

Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: [First lines, camera pans around Serenity in re-entry and a panel flies off the nose] What was that? Hoban ‘Wash’ Washburn: Did you see that? Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: Was that the primary buffer panel? Hoban ‘Wash’ Washburn: It did seem to resemble… Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: Did

Tarantino, Sorkin and Dialogue as Purpose

In my current Core V: Dialogue online class, we’ve had some really enlightening discussions including this one about two masters in this arena: Aaron Sorkin and Quentin Tarantino. Both of them are known for the occasional long dialogue-laden scene and we might be tempted to interpret these as

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

Audio Q&A: “Jayne Mansfield’s Car”

A 30-minute audio recording of a recent post-screening Q&A with Tom Epperson (writer) and Katherine LaNasa (actor) from the movie Jayne Mansfield’s Car: [soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/scott-myers-15/audio-q-a-jayne-mansfields-car[/soundcloud] Jayne Mansfield’s Car Date: 9/13/2013

Go On Your Own Quest — Week 12: Prep

The 2013 version of The Quest has entered Week 12. 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: “A Case of You”

Written by Christian Long, Justin Long and Keir O’Donnell A young writer tries to impress a girl he meets online with an embellished profile, but he finds himself in a real mess when she falls for him and he has to keep up the act. IMDB Release Date: 21

Hidden Movie Gem: “Diva”

October is Hidden Movie Gem month at Go Into The Story. Why? Because we all need to — say it together with me… WATCH MOVIES!!! I have asked members of the GITS community to write guest posts about their favorite Hidden Movie Gems and many of you have responded. Today’s

Script To Screen: “Five Easy Pieces”

The famous ‘hold the chicken’ scene from Five Easy Pieces (screenplay by Carole Eastman, story by Carole Eastman and Bob Rafelson) Setup: Bobby (Jack Nicholson) with some traveling companions wants to order a meal at a diner… and he knows exactly what he wants. INT. ROADSIDE CAFE - DAYAll four are

Daily Dialogue — October 2, 2013

Susan [on phone]: Don’t be irrelevant. The point is I have a leopard and the question is what am I going to do with it? David [on phone]: Well, Susan, I regret to say the leopard is your problem.  Susan: You mean you refuse to help me? But David,

Update: Word Cloud Logline Challenge — Winners Revealed!

So after all the entries here, here, here, and here, and waiting around for Max Millimeter to return from MIA status, we finally have the winners of this most recent Word Cloud Logline Challenge. Here is the Word Cloud [click on it for a larger view]: Here is Max with

Dispatch From The Quest: Miranda Sajdak

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

Audio Q&A: “Blue Caprice”

A 44-minute audio recording of a recent post-screening Q&A with Isaiah Washington and Tequan Richmond, actors in the movie Blue Caprice: [soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/scott-myers-15/q-a-blue-caprice[/soundcloud] Blue Caprice Date: 8/11/2013 Location: The Silent Movie Theatre/Cinefamily With:

Go On Your Own Quest — Week 12: Prep

The 2013 version of The Quest has entered Week 12. 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: “Philomena”

Screenplay by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, based on a book by Martin Sixsmith A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman’s search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a

Hidden Movie Gem: “The Missionary”

October is Hidden Movie Gem month at Go Into The Story. Why? Because we all need to — say it together with me… WATCH MOVIES!!! I have asked members of the GITS community to write guest posts about their favorite Hidden Movie Gems and many of you have responded. Today’s

Screenwriting 101: Scott Derrickson

“Reading a mediocre screenplay is like driving when you’re sleepy — every minute is work.” — Scott Derrickson Comment Archive

Daily Dialogue — October 1, 2013

Joe: What’s the matter now? Jerry: How do they walk in these things? How do they keep their balance? Joe: Must be the way their weight is distributed. Now come on. They walk, but Jerry stops fussing with his skirt. Jerry: It’s so drafty. They must catch cold

Rewriting your script

Let’s face it: Rewriting is a bitch. Or a bastard. Pick your gender specific invective. Doesn’t matter. The process is a pain no matter how you shake your fist and swear at it. One big issue I’ve found with writers caught up in the maelstrom of rewriting

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

Audio Q&A: Nicole Holofcener (“Enough Said”)

A 21-minute audio recording of a recent post-screening Q&A with Nicole Holofcener, writer-director of the movie Enough Said: [soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/scott-myers-15/q-a-enough-said[/soundcloud] Enough Said Date: 9/20/2013 Location: Arclight Hollywood With: Nicole Holofcener Role: Writer/Director

“Gamechanger Films” Launches to Exclusively Finance Women-Directed Feature Films

Great news: Mynette Louie Tapped as President, Founders include Julie Parker Benello, Dan Cogan, Geralyn Dreyfous and Wendy Ettinger September 27, 2013, New York, NY — Gamechanger Films, a new company founded by Julie Parker Benello (Afternoon Delight, Pariah, Brooklyn Castle), Dan Cogan (Hell and Back Again, How to Survive a

Go On Your Own Quest — Week 12: Prep

The 2013 version of The Quest starts Week 12 today. 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: “Dom Hemingway”

Written and directed by Richard Shepard After spending 12 years in prison for keeping his mouth shut, notorious safe-cracker Dom Hemingway is back on the streets of London looking to collect what he’s owed. IMDB Release Date: 4 April 2014 (USA)