Saw this today on the importance of future screenwriters and thought it fit well with a lot of us here. Outsiders trying to break in. Unspoiled by the Hollywood process. It was even a little inspiring.

https://medium.com/art-science/a-warning-for-our-next-great-screenwriters-4af580c2e0b7

cool  article - thanks for the link

I'm not actually trying to break into anything.

If somebody wants to come along and make a short of mine, which probably won't happen anyway, then fair enough... but I ain't chasing after it as much as others.

I have so many other interests which I care about more tbh; I get what you're saying tho, but I'd like to know how many people are looking for a career in this ting.

Interesting article nonetheless, ty.

I think trying to break in is the wrong way in the first place. If what you write is good enough, there will be opportunities sooner or later anyway. So all you should care about is getting better at writing and to make your work available in the public.

Currently I'm thinking about making one of my shorts on my own. I've got no experience with it, but I guess there's enough film students who can use a camera and sound effects who would be happy to get some experience in a small project, even if it costs me a dollar or two.

ThorstenL is pretty much bang on...

Quoted from Equinox I think trying to break in is the wrong way in the first place. If what you write is good enough, there will be opportunities sooner or later anyway. So all you should care about is getting better at writing and to make your work available in the public.

Just by writing and sharing our work publicly we are trying to break in.

It takes a lot of guts for a writer to share their work publicly for the first time. Many of those writers will (and do) declare that 'it is just for fun'.

If a writer shares their work publicly, which takes a huge amount of balls, then it's safe to assume they're looking to gauge the public reaction with the ultimate aim of their work being adored. Everything else is just a bullshit excuse in case of failure.

Interesting article, wonder if he would alter any of it three years down the line?

Personally, I'm writing because I enjoy it, but as (I think) Stephen King said, who said I have a choice?

But if I didn't want to 'break in' in some respect I'm not sure I'd be writing screenplays,  and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be posting them on here or elsewhere. As I see it screenplays are not really for reading anyway, they are the bones of a story and serve one and only purpose - to be filmed.

So, if 'breaking in' means getting a script filmed, then I think we ALL are to a greater or lesser degree.

So accepting that we all want to get our scripts filmed, then all improvements to that script that can increase the chances of a Producer or Director wanting it are good things. That includes, spelling, grammar, punctuation, script format AND actual improvements to Story, Characters etc.

Sometimes that feedback may be given a little bluntly, and I've had my share of this when I started, but you have to sift the advice from the way it's delivered.

Sure some people get hung up on formatting 'rules' (there is no rulebook), and some people are grammer snobs... BUT using industry norm formatting and having decent grammer will both increase your chances of getting scripts filmed.

Of course, they do not replace the need for a great story, but they certainly will help.

So on feedback and criticsm, here's a quote from the article itself...
You’re going to get a lot of notes in your career. And it’ll be your instinct to resent them. But, I’m telling you now to ignore this instinct.
The fact is that most of the notes you get will be smart and thoughtful.
And all of them;even the bad ones; will teach you something about where you failed to articulate something as clearly as you had it in your head or where something just didn’t make it on the page, where something just didn’t land.

I think, in general, the advice and feedback offered on here is pretty decent... I certainly credit SS and the people on here as largely responsible for making me a better screenwriter.

And I've certainly seen a lot worse advice, and delivered really badly, on other forums. Check out some of the exchanges on  Stage 32!

That's my two penneth anyway.

Anthony

SteveDiablo,

Quoted from SteveDiablo JUST STOP PICKING ON NEW WRITERS!!!! Give them a frickin' chance, man.

Nobody here is able to give you a chance or not. You are totally free to ignore any advice you get here, who knows maybe you'll even land a big hit some day.

To topic:

I think it's very unprofessional when you submit a script with grammar or typo issues to anybody in charge. If you don't even care to put in enough effort to get the language right, why should anybody in charge care to read or even consider to read the work at hand. Scripts I post here are mostly work in progress or early drafts, and I'm always thankful for anybody pointing me at typos or grammar problems. My native language is german, so I know my english isn't always perfect and it's great that people on a site like this offer their help on this.

I realized some people have problems with taking notes, especially negative ones. I don't know why. If somebody spends his/her time to read your stuff and point you at issues they found, that's worth more than gold. You don't have to agree with everything in such notes, at the end it's your script and you decide, but in the majority of times I have to laugh myself about an issue after somebody pointed me at it.

Any notes or feedback is valuable, in the worst case scenario you disagree with everything the reviewer says and that's perfectly fine. Still the reviewer spent hours to read and comment your work and to point you at problems he found, which is always worth a thank you.

Quoted from Equinox I think trying to break in is the wrong way in the first place. If what you write is good enough, there will be opportunities sooner or later anyway. So all you should care about is getting better at writing and to make your work available in the public. Currently I'm thinking about making one of my shorts on my own. I've got no experience with it, but I guess there's enough film students who can use a camera and sound effects who would be happy to get some experience in a small project, even if it costs me a dollar or two.

Maybe.

I think a lot of chances come about because people like you...ie networking/socialising with the right people.

I remember reading a little write up about the writing process of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The guy who wrote it got the job because Lucas had a feeling about him when they met in a restaurant (I think). He never even read any of his work. The writer actually asked Lucas about that..saying "How do you know I'm any good?" and he replied " If you're not I'll just fire you and get someone else".

Being good is necessary, but....what is good? Good is just something that someone wants to make. Most of the time the money men buy something when they've told a guy they know what they are looking for...then that guy writes it.

Is an average writer who is friends with people in Hollywood and is writing stuff they have said they are looking for  in a better position  than the good, even great, writer who is outside of the system? I'd say Yes.

I think people here harp on grammar and spelling because it is low hanging fruit. It's much easier to "fix" a typo or misspelled word than it is to explain what went wrong with the rising action you've set up on pages 8 - 12.

That said, because it is such a basic expectation if you really want somebody to think about and dive deep into your story you have to make it easy for them. And that means a clean script, low on errors so the reader can focus solely on story.

I was, and still am, a major grammar offender when it comes to writing, but I quickly realized from everybody here that an easy to read script is just as important as a well crafted plot and memorable characters.

Also, handling edits has a lot to do with dealing with rejection, and you know you'll have to become very comfortable with that if you intend to swim in this pool.

Quoted from CameronD I think people here harp on grammar and spelling because it is low hanging fruit.

If you're talking about me, then in the most recent thread I tackled grammar and the story. I did both. If somebody argues or harps on about how right they are. Then, if I know I'm right, I will harp on too.

I wasn't talking about you. Just people in general on this board, including me. It's easier and the most basic way to help improve a script is all I was getting at.

Quoted from CameronD I wasn't talking about you. Just people in general on this board, including me. It's easier and the most basic way to help improve a script is all I was getting at.

It was the phrasal verb 'harp on' that says you meant it in a disapproving way. I suppose herein lies another reason why using the right verbs is important.