Trials and tribulations of writing for the market |
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Suave
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 25 Jan 2015 Location: Thailand Status: Offline Points: 25027 |
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Posted: 06 May 2018 at 11:43pm |
When writing a screenplay for the market does anyone else feel they are standing on the mountain calling out to the void, "Is there anyone out there?"
Lets face it, if it gets to one person that matters it will be an exceptional feat. Besides that one person that might read it, who in their right mind reads screenplays every night in bed to fall asleep like a book, who reads screenplays at all? At least with the a book it can go on Amazon and be ignored, but a screenplay? Me thinks not. One solution could be write the book first an then the play. Or, write the book after the rejections come rolling in and try to get some momentum that way. What is your motivation when writing these things? |
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JeffreyHowe
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 02 May 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 1966 |
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Breaking into trade publishing is easier than breaking into TV/movies the same way hitting the jackpot in your state lottery is easier than hitting the Powerball.
Self-publishing books is easier than indie film-making, but you don't get to meet as many interesting people, and your work languishes on Amazon either way. So do it because you love it, or because you can't imagine not doing it, and endure until you sell something or death, whichever comes first. Unless you're John Kennedy Toole, in which case the line gets fuzzy. Sorry, it's Monday. I can't be inspiring before Tuesday night most weeks.
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Gandalf
NYC Midnight Groupie Joined: 07 Dec 2017 Location: Middle-Earth Status: Offline Points: 235 |
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What he said.
A month ago, I completed a feature-length screenplay (the second one I've done... or the third, if you count my rookie effort, which I don't). Without any contacts in the industry, the chances of it being read by anyone is precisely nil. I've entered it into a handful of the more prestigious competitions - but even if it wins them all (it won't), the odds are stacked against "breaking in". So you write because it's in your blood, and because you get great enjoyment from the intellectual challenge of creating these worlds and these stories. If you focus on outcomes, you'll get discouraged. Quickly.
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Suave
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 25 Jan 2015 Location: Thailand Status: Offline Points: 25027 |
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Haha. That is why I write books and short stories; at least when I am dead someone might read them - but a screenplay, give your head a shake. It seems such a huge expenditure of time and effort for much less than I could make with a bad serial on Amazon where I can pocket $12. Ya, I was just wondering if everyone else has these feelings about it. It is a new experience to know that if it does not get used then it is just going into a drawer and that is it - I always put a lot of effort into things. If I think it is good, then I have put way more into it than you know - ya, I heard that. So I have the first screenplay that I had started for this contest and then figured out that there was no way to get there in just 12 pages, but now I can do it - without the baby shower or the parole officer, yea! Edited by Suave - 07 May 2018 at 8:37pm |
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Suave
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 25 Jan 2015 Location: Thailand Status: Offline Points: 25027 |
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haha, see my comment above, was intended for your post, I think I got confused when he said "What he said" when he started off. |
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Mikey
Newbie Joined: 26 Apr 2018 Location: London, UK Status: Offline Points: 15 |
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do it because you enjoy the process and challenge of it. It’s a creative outlet, just like painting.
And don’t be shy in contacts producers, and send them your work.. Mikey |
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Mikey Reynolds
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Lynne
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 14 Jan 2011 Location: Santa Fe, NM Status: Offline Points: 1586 |
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There are ways of breaking in, on various levels. I know several people who have sold their work. None have risen to stardom but a solid sale.
Many things have been said about Inktip - but since you are in Thailand, it might be worth a gander. Their magazine/newsletter sends out loglines to industry professionals. There are also people who do script coverage that will refer you if you are given a pass. You are right, getting your work read, without representation is difficult but not impossible. Hang in there and one day, maybe tomorrow, you'll strike up a conversation with the person next to you at the noodle shop and one thing leads to another. Rah ra! |
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Rd1 2024 Mystery Michlin Heights
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Lynne
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 14 Jan 2011 Location: Santa Fe, NM Status: Offline Points: 1586 |
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oh - tracking board - high marks do result in requests to read...
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Rd1 2024 Mystery Michlin Heights
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Suave
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 25 Jan 2015 Location: Thailand Status: Offline Points: 25027 |
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Good advise. I am not a quitter, specially not after I have written a script that I believe is good. I do know some people in the stuntman profession, so as you say they are contacts when the time comes. |
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Joni
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 17 Jul 2017 Status: Offline Points: 1840 |
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I would say at a bare minimum, it's worth entering into some competitions. So many people who have been readers talk about how a VERY large percentage of screenplays submitted are not good. Formatted incorrectly, not well-researched, obviously didn't have outside readers help them determine faults, etc. Because of this, I'm always amazed at this comp - the talent level is so high and the majority here really work to get it right. But, I've seen in some screenwriting groups - there are a lot of people that don't want criticism, think they've written the next great thing, and will pay to submit it in competitions even though it's nowhere near ready. That is pleasantly surprising, because it gives newbies like me hope.
I submitted in a small competition for screenplays no longer than 15 pages. Became one of the 5 finalists, and part of the prize was to have it read on stage by actors in front of a crowd at a film festival. It was comedy, and they crowd actually laughed when they were supposed to, and THAT was all I needed for the motivation to keep going. Winning best overall and audience choice was a bonus. While there, a very small local production company came up and gave me their card and asked to work with me on something in the future. Enter some small comps, enter some big ones. Then, when you get some wins under your belt, you can hit up producers or agents, etc. There is a LOT of competition out there, BUT from what I've seen - people who actually have a talent (you do) stand out in the sea of those who don't- unless you give up first (because it can take just that right script in the right moment to make it happen). Maybe I'm still delusional about it. Maybe that's necessary. But I have always wanted to write screenplays and see my work come to life on the screen. I was always too scared to try, until short screenplay here after flash fiction. I bombed horribly on first one and only did marginally better on second. BUT, I finished a screenplay, and that gave me the courage to keep going. It's possible to break in, even if difficult- but in today's world with streaming services and more independent production companies than ever before, the odds are better than they've been in the past. |
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