The Toughest Scene I Wrote: Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber (“The Spectacular Now”)

Once again, Vulture does screenwriters a solid:

In this series, Vulture has been speaking to the screenwriters behind 2013′s most acclaimed movies about the scenes they found most difficult to crack. What pivotal sequences underwent the biggest transformations on their way from script to screen?

In this article, Scott and Michael talk about how “the whole movie hinged on the scene where Sutter meets with his father.”

Michael: That’s the entering point for everything in the story: Sutter has built up this mythology regarding his absent father being a hero, and that mythology really masks his own pain — it’s where he finds excuses for his own behavior. Everything comes crashing down in this scene. If it doesn’t work, I’m not sure the movie works.

Scott: We liked to say that Tommy, the father, is a bit like the shark from Jaws: There’s a lot of talk about him and a lot of build-up, even though you don’t see him that much. When he opens the door, you know you’re going to see either a train wreck or someone that gives you a little bit of hope.

For the rest of the article, go here.

And for my interview with Scott and Michael where they discuss The Spectacular Now in detail, go here.

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