Screenwriting : Am I in this stack of scripts? If I am, I remind myself there's always another pile. by Phillip E. Hardy, Prolifique

What keeps me going is that I love writing, simple as that. If I have to compete against thousands of other scripts and writers, so be it. That makes it a big challenge and makes me have to write better to stand out. If it isnt challenging, its not worth it :)

I've spent a long time in the entertainment industry as well. My persistence to keep moving forward, working hard, and knowing in the pit of my soul I have what it takes to succeed keeps driving me forward. Every setback or rejection for me makes me work harder. Plus, having my wife's support keeps me pushing forward. Making good connections and friends in the industry who enjoy my work and what I create keeps me moving forward. Their support of my writing fuels my passion to keep going. As a pro wrestler, documentary filmmaker, and sports writer I always worked hard and got myself out there. This is no different. Have to say the support of writers like you Phillip and others on S32 keeps me thinking positive!

I was gonna address my situation on another post about dental school... But i ll do it here.. I dont want to go to dental school. Comes up at every family reunion. Dad: "Your cousin makes $200K a year cleaning teeth." Me: "Dad, Charlie don't surf." Dad: "Son, what are you going to do with your life?" Me: "I wanna blow shit up."

Dan M: Funny! David: Thanks!

Some days I wonder why I keep at it. I'm sure I could find more productive ways to fill my time, lol. But then I sit down and give it another go. Because I'm crazy like that. :-p Seriously, positive feedback and any "wins" I get give me the momentum I need to keep striving. I've learned to take criticism constructively, yet also with a grain of salt, because this industry is sooooo subjective. And while I don't think I will ever stop learning new ways to become a better writer, I do also have confidence in my ability.

Hey philip How are the drugs in the music biz? :)))))

Dan: I used to hang with guys that had great coke. One of them owned the studio where I rehearsed.

Jody Wins are good.

For me it´s rewarding every time I actually finish a piece of creative content. Loving the Movies, finishing a screenplay, polishing it, making it the best I can possibly make it is something I truly enjoy. When a person loves something for real it is never hard or difficult to do. That keeps me going. The love I have for the creative part of it all. With both feet on the ground, knowing I probably have about 0,000001 % to actually make it from where I live, I am still not disheartened about it. People also told me I would never walk again as a kid (long story) but I did. So I know percentages don´t always matter as long as we work hard and fight the good fight. If or when I make it... well, that´s a bed time story for another time, I guess :)

@Phillip, oh the great coke of the 80's....I remember it well. ;-)

I (seriously) cannot stop thinking creatively. I’ve done (for my age) so many things before I’d ever installed Final Draft and stared at the blinking curser… However, the feeling I got in my stomach after I later typed Fade Out was undoubtedly, the PUREST form of confidence that I’ve ever felt. I just knew it then as I know now... I must.

^ Pun intended on the Blow^

I switched from writing screenplays to producing. So now I am rewriting some of my old screenplays with that objection in mind. Both these things don't come easy but if they were everyone could do it and I wouldn't want to if that was the case. I really enjoy the challenge just as much as the writing itself. Plus I don't drink, smoke or take drugs so I have to do something in my spare time.

Great post, P. We have a lot in common, my friend. I'm obsessed with living the richest, fullest life possible. For me that means the freedom of doing whatever I want - every second of every day. That keeps me goin'.

Agreed Stephen. I felt much the same way the first time I finished off a draft. Thanks for the post, Phil. As always you find ways to inspire me to keep going and try harder!

@Jody & Dan M: Dem was good days! @Shawn and Brian: You are both fine gents.

Patricia: Well done!

@Katie As they said in the 60s, keep the faith baby!

Look at that stack of scripts Katie. They are all "brilliant".

I'm back from the Writer's Guild of America, NYC Office. They held a free seminar tonight, "How to Get an Agent." Room of 100-150++ unsigned Writers (and WGA union writers) pleading to be read. Lots of Talented folks in the room with sad stories.

Katie: I'd like to read your pilot.

Dan: That sounds like an AA meeting.

Christ Katie don't be such a child.

Philip- very much like AA. I hate seminars when the open mic questions turn into, "Hi, My name is (....). I can't my materials to be read." Anyways, I do agree that Talent , Luck, and Timing play huge roles, as well as being humble in Life and approachable, making good first impressions. For example, tonight's event at the WGA office. I was turned off by the live pitching. Instead, I spoke to the lady who runs the WGA Office; she invited me to future WGA Members Only Events. So it was a good night that got better. I left the building and I ran into the Agent (all alone) who was one of the Guest Speakers. He was hailing a cab, or waiting for a ride. I approached him, introduced myself, and thanked him for speaking. He said, "You're Welcome. Are you a Writer?' I said, "Yeah. I'm the Asian Shane Black." He laughed. I followed, "I'm going to send you my script." He said, "Okay." DONE DEAL. I shut up and walked away from Agent. His verbal "OKAY" means my script has gone from UNSOLICITED to SOLICITED. That's the story I'm telling his Agency Lawyers. (OKAY means YES, I WANT TO READ in New York City Literary language). so there u go. Gotta be humble, good Karma.

Dan: I have a good friend who is a retired LA police officer and is now celebrity bodyguard. About three years ago, he told me I'm very intimidating to people because of my confidence and my quick thinking, fast talking style. So, I try to dial it back and spread as much positive energy as possible when conducting my creative affairs. And what you did tonight with the agent is a good way to go. I equate it to dating. Don't be too needy or act like a pest. People will respond better.

philip absolutely. best with humor and humility. nobody likes a know-it- all. and women decide in 30 seconds if they're gonna sleep with a dude or not :)

FFR: Thanks and some of my favorite folks checking in, including you. Dan M: I always told my buddies be a combination of Clint Eastwood and James Dean and you'll be fine. I met my wife one night playing at the Viper Room in Hollywood. Bill C knows. It's a musician thing.

The LOUIS LATOUR wine boxes in the photo says it all. "I was well into the second box, when I discovered this fantastic screenplay..." :)

lol...Asian guys have few choices, combination of Bruce Lee and Chow (Hangover) :))))))

☝️Not gonna touch that line with a 10' pole...

Not to hijack the thread, but I did have some good news today that reminded me why I do this. I finally heard back from the producer who liked my script. She is interested in having me possibly do some writer for hire work (just as I suspected!) and is sending me info in a couple days. She also said she might be able to "do something" with my script if I convert it from a feature script to a MOW script. Then I got an email from ANOTHER producer I'd sent the script to. Said he liked my writing but it wasn't for him. I gave my canned polite response, of 'thank you for taking the time to read and respond, if you would ever like to see any of my other scripts please let me know.' Went on to mention I had scripts in various genres, including a tv pilot. He asked about the pilot, I tossed him the logline. He said "send it". Problem? It's not quite done yet....so I know what I'm doing for the rest of this week.... So at the end of the day, there is the reason "why". Because what you occasionally get back is so exciting and, well, amazing! Be careful what you wish for!!! :-)

Dan: Work with what you got. Remember, Tony Manero had a picture of Bruce Lee in his room in "Saturday Night Fever".

FFR: In between posting, I'm judging short films for a festival. So far, the posts are better than the movies.

@Jody: I get what you're saying and have pitched loglines and synopsis for scripts I hadn't yet written. The biggest one I pulled off was last year with "The Negro League", which made it to the President's of Tyler Perry Productions. I wrote the script in 10 days and the VP loved it. However, the President didn't like it enough to pull the trigger. Especially not with the kind of budget the film would require. I once answered an Inktip ad for a biopic about an obscure historical figure and wrote that script in a week. The guy loved it, requested a few minor changes and additions and optioned the script. That project went nowhere but that's the same producer who got me into Tyler Perry Studios, A&E, Jay Roach and William Morris Endeavor last year with several other scripts. Sometimes bold actions pay off. Also, there's nothing like a little pressure to inspire.

@Phillip I do well with quick deadlines. It's why I've carved out a moderately successful freelance career. And I'm queen bee of procrastination, so eleventh hour projects are kind of my thang ;-) not that I recommend it, lol.

Congrats Jody! That is awesome news and couldn't happen to a better person.

@Dan thank you so much! It is, of course, all a bunch of "maybes" still, but I feel like I'm one step closer. This stuff moves at a snails pace!!!!

Jody- stuff moves slow because the people with the money have $$$$. They are not in a rush. They have the $$$ and TIME to make a movie every 3-5 years. Find a Producer/Agent/Manager who is broke (hungry), behind on mortgage payments, can't pay for private school for their Kids...That "hungry" person is gonna hustle his/her ass for material. scripts, set up projects...

@Phillip: I was in the pro wrestling industry for over fifteen years. Saw my fair share of drugs. One second Doink the Clown is making kids laugh and five minutes later he's in a hotel room doing coke with Greg Valentine. Not to mention the Iron Shiek pulling out his crack pipe after show. That;s not my style though.

David: I had a coke phase but haven't touched the stuff in more than thirty years. It made me too jumpy. Quit smoking pot when I was 21. There's no room for drugs in a healthy lifestyle.

my prod company is called COCAINE & HOOKERS but I've never done both :))

Dan: I have done both many times. But again, not in a long f#8king time. But unlike Clinton, if you ask me if I inhaled, I'll say hell yeah!. But as Beth would say, back to topic... LOL

@Phillip my late teens and 20's were pretty wild. Makes for great stories but it all sounds exhausting to me now. I can barely stay up past 10, much less imbibe in any vices, lol.

You know I look at the picture of the stack of scripts and I'm of two minds. First I think, "Wow, that's intimidating. If your script is in there it might never get read". But then the other side of my brain says "I would kill to have a script in that pile. At least it would have a chance to be read. It's not going to be read by anyone but me if it's sitting on my desk". It's all about perspective. When you're starting out, you have to take the small victories, and keep piling them on each other until you get a big victory. Then it'll still be hard work, but every crack you open that door makes it easier to get through it. So to the Katies and other beginners out there (myself included) don't stop, don't give up hope, if this is truly something that burns within you. And most of all, don't let the naysayers stop you from having your say. Keep contributing. I've made some great friends here, and I did it by ignoring the negativity and staying focused on why I'm here.

Brian: In less than an hour, I'm having a Skype meeting with a director to review ideas for the next draft of a sci-fi script. No big victories ever really come quickly. Any project that comes to fruition will take a great deal of time. One only needs to look at the stories about famous scripts like Unforgiven, Dallas Buyer's Club and Madmen that kicked around Hollywood for years. We have good days and bad days and keeping perspective is a necessary component of maintaining discipline. I'm always thankful for where I live, how much I've been blessed with and that I continue to have the energy to forge ahead. You're a super positive guy with a great attitude and I wish you some great future victories big and small.

The naysayers are just a bunch of frustrated screenwriters that never had any success. Since only about one in 4,000 make any money writing screenplays so there is no shortage of naysayers out there. I never listened to them and have done okay as a result. Really I think the key is to never give up and use your scripts to make contacts with people that are really in the business and making films.

Phillip: I hope your meeting went well. The way I look at it, this is truly a community and I celebrate everyone's victories, small or large. The more I see people succeed, the more I believe I will eventually join them, but the best part of it all is learning and growing as a creative. When I was young I didn't have mediums like this to learn in, and I appreciate all the encouragement and knowledge that people here share. Thanks for the kind words, and keep going strong!

Worse when i started writing, late 90s/2000 there was No internet or websites like stage 32. Those days u had to go door to door, face to face, people use phones then. No skype, no texting. like joining organized crime, the Mob. Really. Someone in the Industry had to vouch for you. U needed a "Godfather"

Brian: Yes, I'm with you on newer channels we have to promote ourselves. The internet has allowed me to put my music out to thousands of people around the world. My online book made me a nice chunk of change; and now I'm able to reach out to film makers around the world. Yesterday's Skype meeting went well and David and I brainstormed for two hours on things we wanted to add to what he calls our "selling document" (the screenplay). He is very excited about the project. This is exactly the reason I don't do multiple rewrites on my work until someone is interested in optioning or making a film. The changes we're making to my original draft will only constitute about 5 percent of the script. Consequently, I will have spent little time spinning my wheels.

That's what's up, P... You're my hero, brother!

Shawn: Right back at you.

Phillip. I hope your meeting went well!

I know it is hard to break in as a screenwriter and unfortunately it normally takes a lot of time. Like Philip said you have to made some good connections that can help you launch your career. I almost gave up a couple of times in fact once I did quit for about two and a half years. When I decided to give it another try I did manage to get an agent and sell a few screenplays and was hired to write some. Unfortunately I will never get those two and half years back but I have done okay since that time. I have four projects in production and another one heading there. We just attached Charlie Picerni to direct it.

Same stuff. You hit the nail on the head!! Go Phillip!

Great pic. Hilarious.

I love the picture. It might discourage some but it might encourage others to work harder. The ones that are encouraged to work harder are the ones that might be real screenwriters. However, that picture is only a tiny fraction of the number of unsold spec screenplays out there. There are probably more than 150,000 unsold script floating around Hollywood on any given day. However, 80% were probably written beginners that didn't learn how to properly format and structure a screenplay and have about a zero chance. If someone takes the time to learn how format and structure a screenplay that is really up to industry standards then they would be competing with the top 20% that have even a slight chance of success. If someone continues to write screenplays after screenplays and their scripts glows in the dark among the competition then they would be competing with the top 1 or 2 percent or 1,500 to 2,000 have a real decent chance. Those numbers aren't bad considering the fact that you could have five or six screenplays competing at the same time. Also buy the time you reach that point in your career you probably have met some people in the business that really do make movies and that is when all this talk about odds goes away.

if a screenwriter writes 1 studio released movie every 7 years, that's a successful writer. and if u write a franchise (Pirates..., Fast N Furious, Rush Hour, Hunger Games, Hangover, Frozen...), thats like winning Powerball.

Dan M. Everyone has their own definition of what a successful screenwriter is. I prefer writing and working with smaller independent producers over the big studios.

Kathleen: Not really. I can look at that photo everyday and still keep moving forward with a positive attitude. Poctures like those is what makes me work harder.

The competition is out there whether you look at the picture or not. It will make some people like David work harder and it could discourage others. Personally I never worried about the competition it because I liked writing screenplays and I was going to keep writing them either way. I really wasn't looking to make a career out of this. We are all different.