Basically, how young is too young.

I'm 16, been writing screenplays for five years, have a ton of written scripts on my harddrive, and am just now working to actually submit some.

Meaning, I'm redrafting old work that I think is good enough, outlining, working on new scripts etc. All to build a portfolio I can use to submit.

However, if I send a script to an agent, and they like it. If they find out I'm 16, will they just not even give me a chance?

-bodegage-

Since your work is what you are, I wouldn't think there would be an age limit on being a writer or getting representation. After all, there are young actors and actresses who have representation, why not? I doubt there is much of an industry age limit.

There are a lot of adults that write like kids.  And a lot of kids that write like adults.  Your age shouldn't help or hurt you; the only thing that will is your writing.


Phil

Nikki Reed co-wrote "Thirteen" when she was just 13.  It's the quality of your work, not your age, just don't get taken advantage of.

Nikki Reed also had a high powered agent for an aunt and working actor parents.

That said... age means little... except for experience.  I don't want to discourage you.  You may be a fine writer... but I wrote tons of stuff at 16... it was much better at 26 and now at 32... I have a wife, two kids... and I can write from experience a lot better than I did at 16.

But keep at it.  There are many phenoms out there.  Perhaps you are one.  Bottom line... take in as much of life and experience as much as you can.  It will only make you a better writer.

Right, the best thing to do is be persistant, and just keep writing. Submit, what you think is good enough to be pitched, and work on what's not. Who knows, perhaps, you'll have a script that strikes a cord, either now, or later.

Bill - how did you get into the business? What age were you...just interested.

I'm 27 now, been writing only for the last couple of years.

Did you have schooling, or was it all self-taught?

I would say just make sure you are willing to learn and can respond well to criticism so that you can develop your writing. Then you'll have as much chance of selling a script as anyone else. It will also help if you have a varied repotior, so that you'll have experience in writing scripts from different genres instead of just one. You might be a better writer at one genre than you are at the other. Give yourself as many lifelines as you can. Best of luck.

Age really wouldn't matter, Don't get side tracked If you think that because your young and to show your maturity as a writer by using big long words will get your script sold (IT WON'T) Agents and producers etc etc don't look for big words, it's not them that sell the script it's the story.

Obviously you'll use big words like me or anybody but don't pin your hope on that because of your age. Just plan and structure your screenplay and story well and HEY GOOD LUCK.

Normally in my first draft of any script I don't use big words, To me my first draft is to see it in the right format and to see how it works as a script then second draft I'd use the big words to explain things more easy.

I was 22 when I sold my first script.  Dropped out of UCLA to work on movie sets... and that's how I made the contacts that got the first one sold.  No schooling.  Just self-taught through reading LOTS of screenplays and watching LOTS of movies.

That's pretty impressive, Bill. I remember hearing that Shane Black was only around 23 when he wrote Lethal Weapon and that is still regarded as a fine example of action screenwriting.

Shane Black has written some fantastic action/buddy movies...then POOF! he disappeared. There was a great article about him in Entertainment Weekly a while back.

I believe he is back writing again...

His new movie "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" opens later this year.  He wrote and directed.

Oh, my...what a perfectly dreadful title...

I can't believe somebody couldn't talk him out of that.

The original movie song for Thunderball was entitled Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang after the club that appears in the movie. I believe the song was on the soundtrack. It was replaced just before releasr with an actual title song, Thunderball, sung by Tom Jones.

I would guess the title of this movie is likely inspired by Bond. Might allow us to guess as to the plot, but you can never tell.