2020 London Screenwriters’ Festival

Pleased to announce I will be returning to the LSF in April.

In 2017 and 2018, I was a guest of the London Screenwriters’ Festival and had a wonderful time. All told I gave 8 presentations, hosted 1 masterclass, and worked with 6 writers in a script lab. Hectic weekends, but so fulfilling to connect with Europe-based writers.

For 3 days, join 150 speakers and 1,000 delegates for an exhilarating deep dive into screen storytelling: April 17th to 19th, 2020, London.

They took a break in 2019 to shift their annual schedule to the spring, but the good folks at the London Screenwriters’ Festival are back in 2020 and they have invited me to return. Here are four presentations I will be giving:

Pixar and the Craft of Storytelling

Pixar Studios is THE most successful filmmaking group in history. The biggest key to their success? Their understanding of and commitment to STORY. Learn how the master storytellers at Pixar employ these narrative dynamics to imbue their movies with compelling themes and universal emotional appeal.

Using Screenplay Style to Express YOUR Voice

Scene description offers a writer the opportunity to express their unique voice. How? Through the marriage of genre and style. Scott Myers debunks the mythical screenwriting ‘rules’ and demonstrates the ways in which successful professional writers convey their voice through screenplay style.

Write a Worthy Nemesis

A well-drawn Nemesis will enliven a screenplay by functioning as a worthy foe to the Protagonist and creating the story’s central conflict. Learn how to think of the Nemesis as a projection of your Protagonist’s shadow enabling you to create a psychological connection between these two pivotal characters.

Write like a Pro Screenwriter Before You Turn Pro

The best way to prepare yourself for a career as a professional screenwriter is to approach the craft as if you already ARE a professional screenwriter. With over thirty commissioned film and TV writing projects to his credit, Scott Myers will clue you into twenty-plus tips and techniques he has picked up over the years.

Plus, I will be doing another script lab with six writers, workshopping their stories. Then on Monday, April 20, I will host a masterclass:

Master Character-Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling with Scott Myers: Day 7 of Festival Week (April 20th 2020)

In a story, one character demands a writer’s overall attention: the Protagonist. Learn how to find your story by immersing yourself in all your characters, beginning and ending with the Protagonist.

In this one-day masterclass, you will learn how to find your story by immersing yourself in the lives of your characters, beginning and ending with the Protagonist.

• Managing Multiple Character Arcs
• Character Metamorphosis as Integration
• Getting laser focus on your Protagonist’s Narrative Imperative
• Deep diving into Subplot and how it reflects relationships
• Creating your Character Map to help when lost in the woods
• Mastering the Five Primary Character Archetypes: Protagonist, Nemesis, Attractor, Mentor, Trickster

You will conclude the day by learning a proven, professional approach to breaking new stories rapidly, and put theory into practice by workshopping a character from one of your own new stories.

Remember, execs and producers are always going to ask ‘What else do you have?’ and being able to rapidly shape a great idea into a killer outline, with character, conflict, plot and genre all clearly signposted is a key skill.

Make your stories come to life through a character-driven approach to screenwriting.

Note: This masterclass offers a preview of the book (The Protagonist’s Journey: Character Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling) I am writing for Palgrave Macmillan, a London-based publishing company.

Not to brag… well, maybe a little… evidently, I was the highest rated speaker at the 2018 London Screenwriters’ Festival. Here are some comments:

‘Without a doubt, everything Scott Myers did was as if you could hear the penny dropping in every delegate’s brain throughout his well-reasoned and enabling lectures (plus he does a wicked Anthony ‘Hannibal’ Hopkins voice).’
 — Stephanie Wessell, Screenwriter

‘Scott’s knowledge, insight, depth, passion, humour and laser sharp delivery was unmatched. Each lecture he gave was rammed to the hilt with ammunition and he gave us FOUR MASTERCLASSES. Good God that was worth the price alone.’
 — Richard Paul Wheildon, Screenwriter

‘Scott taught me more about writing description than my entire MA did.’
 — Liz Holliday, Screenwriter

‘The sheer breadth of Scott Myers’ knowledge is amazing, and he knows how to share it in an accessible and reassuring way.’
 — Carmen Radtke, Screenwriter

‘Scott is fantastic. I was bombarded all afternoon with people saying he was the best speaker they’d ever seen at LSF. I know he’s been invited back. Please make this happen, please!’
 — Alexis Howell-Jones, Screenwriter

Well, it has happened and I am excited to return to this wonderful event.

I hope to see you in London in April!

For more information about the London Screenwriters Festival, go here.

Twitter: @londonswf.