Producing : Writing the Script Was Only the Beginning by Abhijeet Aade

Abhijeet Aade I completely agree! The biggest lesson I wish I knew was that some managers are great whereas others are "posers" without any real connections to make your screenplay into reality.

Michael David Thank you for sharing that perspective.

I think that's a lesson many writers and filmmakers eventually learn. Early on, it's easy to assume that anyone with a title automatically has the network or influence to move a project forward. But over time, you realize that relationships, track record, and genuine industry connections matter far more than titles alone.

One thing I've been learning is the importance of researching who you're working with and understanding what they've actually helped bring to market rather than what they claim they can do.

Out of curiosity, what were some of the signs that helped you distinguish the genuinely effective managers from the ones who were simply talking a good game?

Abhijeet Aade I agree. The signs that helped me distinguish effective managers from ones who weren't great was that the non-effective managers weren't able to sell my scripts and the effective managers were. I remember one manager I had would simply email my query letter to companies that only took solicitations from managers, but the emails would go unanswered because he didn't actually know anyone in those companies! Thankfully now I'm working with wonderful agents who know the game and get meetings.

Michael David Michael, that's a really valuable distinction. Having the title of manager is one thing, but having genuine relationships and the ability to get material in front of the right people is something entirely different.

Your example perfectly illustrates the difference between access and influence. Simply sending emails isn't the same as having industry relationships that lead to conversations and meetings.

I'm glad to hear you've found agents who understand the business and know how to create opportunities. It's encouraging to hear from someone who's experienced both sides of that equation and can speak from experience.

Thanks for sharing that insight.

So true! The script is just the starting point. For me, the biggest lesson is that pre-production organization is where the movie is actually made. If you treat your logistics with the same discipline as your story structure, you save yourself so much stress down the road!

Steffie Wong Very true, Steffie. A great script can only go so far without solid preparation behind it. The more I learn about filmmaking, the more I realize how important pre-production is in preventing problems before they reach the set. Thank you for sharing your insight!

The biggest lesson I learned is that nobody is going to do the work for you.

A lot of writers have this idea that if they can just write a great screenplay, someone will discover it, finance it, cast it, produce it, market it, and distribute it. That's largely a fantasy in today's industry.

If you want a project made, you have to become the driving force behind it. That may mean wearing a dozen different hats—writer, producer, fundraiser, marketer, recruiter, negotiator, and sometimes director. It's often seven days a week of pushing the project forward.

I recently took a film from script to a screening at the Cannes Film Festival in seven months. That didn't happen because the screenplay existed. It happened because there was constant execution every single day to move the project forward.

I remember a great Twitter thread from Christopher McQuarrie years ago where he talked about how writing a script and expecting someone else to do all the work is a fantasy.

Execution is what separates completed films from unfinished projects.

The screenplay is important, of course. But in my experience, it's maybe 10% of getting a movie made. The other 90% is everything that comes after "Fade Out."

Absolutely this - the journey really only begins with the script!

Tony Armer Thank you, Tony. I really appreciate you sharing your experience.

Your point about execution resonates with me. As filmmakers and writers, it's easy to focus on the screenplay, but bringing a project to life requires persistence, networking, problem-solving, and constant effort long after the writing is finished.

Congratulations on taking a film from script to a Cannes screening in such a short time. That's a great example of what can happen when creative work is matched with consistent execution. Thank you for the valuable insight.

Christina Pickworth Thank you, Christina. I couldn't agree more. Writing the script is a major achievement, but it's really the starting point of a much larger journey involving development, collaboration, production, and getting the story in front of an audience.