39 Minute Conversations: The Scott Myers Edition

My conversation with screenwriter Brian T. Arnold.

I got to know Brian when I interviewed him in 2022 after his original screenplay “In the End” made the 2021 Black List. We had a great conversation about his background, the Black List script, and the craft of screenwriting, so we have stayed in touch ever since.

Within the last half-year or so, Brian started a new podcast. It’s called 39 Minute Conversations. Why 39 minutes? Because Brian won’t pay to get Zoom Pro. Ha! That’s a fun hook and adds an element of suspense as the clock ticks away. Beyond that bit of business, Brian’s guests are all involved in the film and television business, most of them writers and/or filmmakers.

Brian just finished uploading his 21st episode, but sadly, it appears he was slumming because his guest was none other than me.

Listeners will have to forgive me. I normally talk fast when I discuss character-driven screenwriting and storytelling because I’m passionate about it. But I think because of the whole 39 minute ticking clock thing, I went into overdrive with my responses in this interview. It’s like I’m jacked up on speed!

Even as fast as I talked, Zoom got me. The last question Brian asked was probably something tied to my theological background. Here’s how that final part of the interview went:

Brian: What do you think happens after you die?
Scott: I don’t believe in an afterlife. I really don’t. I think we need to do it here. So — 
Zoom Voice: Your meeting has ended.

How great is that? I was just about to pontificate about how we need to make the most of this life with kindness, empathy, generosity, doing our best to engender the same spirit in others, but…

Well, as they say, all good things must come to an end. In this case, an abrupt end!

You may listen to the podcast interview here. You can even read a transcript of the conversation there.