Screenwriter SCOTT ROSENBERG: Tricks of the Trade

Boston-born Scott Rosenberg burst onto the scene in 1995 with his hard-boiled screenplay for Things to Do in Denver When You'™re Dead. His repertoire crosses the film spectrum with indie films like Beautiful Girls to the big-budget studio pictures Gone in 60 Seconds and Con Air. His adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel High Fidelity garnered him a WGA Award nomination and he is frequently called in for his skills as a script doctor. In this interview, Rosenberg candidly reveals his tools of the trade, from the inspiration of a Metallica album to his œintoxicating recipe for overcoming writer'™s block. He explains how being a Red Sox fan prepared him for life as a screenwriter, why no one is more brilliant than Winnie the Pooh, and what happened that infamous night at a bar in North Carolina.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• girls
• script
• movie
• beauiful
• interview
• screenplay

[TheBlaspheme]

I don't buy that for a second about not being able to learn dialogue. Why should screenwriting be different from learning any other art form. Just practise.

[Chitownrunthis]

Scott your the man I can really relate to you - I'm on my ninth script and it finally all clicked I moved to Cali this year and Im broke I actually have 3 dollars on me and I never graduated Columbia - God bless screenwriters.

[Chitownrunthis]

@normalguyable My comment was from two years ago, let me tell you what's happened since, I work production in TV to pay the bills and my first feature is being made this December, so guess what my answer is? HELL NO!!! Make it happen everyday, breath, eat, sleep writing, no days off, it's going to be hard, but once it happens its the greatest feeling the world.

[normalguyable]

@Chitownrunthis i got broke in cali too, do you think its time to give up the dream, i really love screenwriting but cant find anyone to raed them in l.a.

[normalguyable]

hes also a vegetarian

[jazz4]

This guy's pretty arrogant.

[MrFrankBullitt]

Do you really want advice from the guy who wrote KANGAROO JACK???!!!

[alhotti]

i don't like this guy , the way he behaves makes me wanna punch him in the face

[detroituntilidie]

fuck boston

[vapid1000]

I like him.

[mrjcfromcalifornia]

Scott had some great advice in the book The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters.

[Tones4me1]

@TheBlaspheme I agree with you about being able to learn writing skills but dialog is based on your own communication ability. Example: A very shy personality might have a hard time writing believable dialog for an out going character. If they can't carry on a conversation with all personalities in real life then in may be a problem to capture it in a story. So part of the learning curve would be to expose yourself to many types of personalities and dissect what they are about verbally.