Go Into The Story

Grandpa: Richard… Richard: Yeah… Grandpa: Richard, whatever happens — at least you tried to do something on your own, which is more than most people ever do. I include myself in that category. You took a big chance, it took guts, and I’m proud of you, okay? Richard: Okay, Dad.

Sony buys baseball pitch with an unusual hook “Million Dollar Arm”: Columbia Pictures has Mitch Glazer writing Million Dollar Arm, a film that will be produced by Mark Ciardi, Gordon Gray and Joe Roth. The movie borrows its title from a reality series by sports agent JB Bernstein that aired

Question via email from Dylan D: Hey Scott, I wanted to know what you feel is the best way to cut from a script. I am doing my final revisions and am trying to cut around ten pages but the more I read it, the more I feel it’s

Interesting article in Variety last week (subscription required): Once upon a time, the ultimate Hollywood ambition was to direct. Nowadays, clients are more likely to tell their reps: “What I really want to do is polish scripts.” For Hollywood’s dozen or so top-tier script doctors, that means commanding

Back in September 2009, I posted about “Popcorn Fiction”, a cool site featuring original fiction that had just gone online: This site grew out of a love for pulpy short fiction that used to dominate popular magazines in the mid-20th Century. As a screenwriter, my partner and I have

One of the most important things a writer wants to do when they begin a script is establish the story’s tone — and this is nowhere more important than with a cross-genre movie. A great example is Zombieland (2009). Written by screenwriters Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick, the movie

Frank: You know, when you were two years old, we thought you had polio. Did you know that? Gil: Yeah, Mom said… something about it a couple of years ago. Frank: Yeah, well, for a week we didn’t know. I hated you for that. [Gil looks surprised and hurt]

Reader Question: Who is the Nemesis in “character driven” films? Is it necessary for more character-oriented movies to feature a specific Antagonist figure? Via email from Tom B: Scott, First time I’ve emailed you; enjoy your blog immensely! My question is: Who is the nemesis/antagonist in “character

Per Vulture, more pre-branded brand madness: Paramount planning a Magic 8 Ball movie: When the idea of a romantic comedy based on the Magic 8 Ball novelty toy was first bandied about back in 2006, it seemed far-fetched, even with a director like Tom Shadyac attached and the

As some of you know, I had to make an unanticipated trip to California a few weeks back. My mother-in-law Sally died suddenly. She was in hospice care, but declined quickly and unexpectedly. Fortunately my wife and her sister were able to be with Sally the last four

If you’ve followed this blog for any length of time, you know of my interest in and support of independent filmmakers. Therefore when GITS reader Nate Winslow informed me he was producing his first full-length feature film and inquired if I’d be interested providing GITS with an

With the ratings success of HBO’s “The Pacific,” how about this story idea: U.S.’ Women WWII Aviators Finally Get Their Due: An oversight that lasted far longer than it should have was partly corrected Wednesday with U.S. lawmakers awarding their highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, to

Mufasa’s ghost: [apears among the stars] Simba, you have forgotten me. Adult Simba: No. How could I? Mufasa’s ghost: You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in

Question via email from Lee G: Greetings Scott, Here’s a question that you can add to the pile. I’ve always wondered how screenwriters do their books, and by “creative bookkeeping” I do mean legal ways to avoid paying too much tax. I realize that it will be different

Variety is reporting (subscription required): Paramount has scooped up George Mahaffey’s spec script “Heat Seekers” for Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes to produce. Logline under wraps. Supposedly high six-figures. Preemptive buy. Mahaffey is repped by Paradigm and Generate. By my count, this is the 16th spec script to

You’ve got movies. You’ve got beer. Put them together and voila… you’ve got this: NEW BELGIUM BREWING SEEKS ACTORS, ACTIVISTS AND CRAFTY SHORT FILMMAKERS FOR TRAVELING BEER & FILM TOUR Fort Collins, Colorado — New Belgium Brewing, maker of Fat Tire Amber Ale, is seeking short digital, film

DoneDealPro.com is reporting that Radar Pictures has bought contained thriller “Tormenta” from writer John Petro: When their yacht becomes stranded in the Mediterranean after a storm, five survivors clash while struggling against the onset of a deadly nautical psychosis. Repped by Paradigm. By my count, the 15th spec script

The Sundance Institute does an annual directing and screenwriting lab and yesterday they announced their projects: The directors lab projects and fellows are: * 40 Days of Silence/Saodat Ismailova (writer/director), Uzbekistan * Bluebird/Lance Edmands (writer/director), USA * Drunktown’s Finest/Sydney Freeland (writer/director), USA * Martha Marcy May Marlene/

Judah: And if a man commits a crime… if he kills? Father: Then one way or another he will be punished. Uncle: IF he’s caught, Sol. Father: If he’s not caught, that which originates from a black deed will blossom and follow a man. Uncle: Well, you’re

Eric Heisserer is a screenwriter. He’s also on Twitter (@writerspry). This morning he Tweeted: The news is out, so now I can talk about it: I’m writing the next #FinalDestination movie. http://bit.ly/bXFVRh The link is to this THR blog post: Eric Heisserer, the scribe who