Screenwriting : Gatekeeping by CW Miles

I keep hearing the same speeches over and over again when it comes to writers. I'm a consumer and movie goer as well as a writer. I havent seen a movie that was worth the $40 it cost for a ticket and a hot dog and soda in 25 years. I hate being negative, folks, but Hollywood is a bucket of garbage these days. I would think that producers would be begging for scripts that they can make a buck from. Ive seen a lot of extremely talented writers just GIVE UP because of the Gatekeeping and misinformation in selling their material. I cant be the only person alive that sees this, can I?

Hi CW Miles I love this discussion. I come at it from a different perspective I think and that is such a valuable part of the experience Stage 32 provides. My take is that this view becomes entangled in commerce, nostalgia and generational divide. I think you can take those words and apply them to our parent, grandparents and great grandparents. Might be a different topic, probably would be, but the sentiment would remain.

Why is that? I'd suggest that rather than things declining that we are constantly trying to make contemporary sense using historical prisms. Pretty difficult to align those tools.

Commerce is always a sea tide that changes in discreet timeframes. You're looking back 25 years and completely missing how many times the business has changed since then. You aren't the target of the art artists are creating. Someone else is. Of course, right?

SO then nostalgia kicks in and we start placing value relative to what provides you comfort versus what provides someone younger comfort. Those are always going to be two very different pieces of art. If we accept the premise above, commercially what your crave isn't a financially smart investment because there are so few of you willing to part with the money it costs today to create it.

It's why I decided to write the stories I want to expose people too. Not because I think they'll be universally desired but if I can craft that perfect blend of nostalgia, contemporary message and meeting the financial requirements for anyone to invest in it. I think I've discovered that appealing to those gatekeepers you're addressing requires you to be the one to change, not them.

I don't disagree CW but I'm still throwing punches. I decided to retry another format, and I started writing a novel as well. Giving up hasn't crossed my table yet, but I can promise you if I ever break in, I'll definitely be giving-down. I'll help people who haven't slithered across this threshold. Take care and all the best.

You are not alone sir, nothing wrong in expressing this, I appreciate you hate being negative. But this is far better than masking a positivity and feeling hollowed out inside. I appreciate this Because You are being authentic version of yourself and what you say is true. My recent connection who is an agents in Hollywood say they only respond to their own clients and friend circle and the only way is networking. Its exactly the same in India too. Especially in south we don't even have paper work procedures to fill our resumes. North of India atleast have paperwork procedures to fill our resumes

I also think it's partly a generational divide. A lot of the movies that those of us forty and older enjoy watching aren't as appreciated by the teens and early twenty somethings of today. Even I preferred the older family movies of the '90s and '80s over the 2000s movies I saw the trailers for as a teen. On the other hand, I think that even among the younger generations there is some sense of dissatisfaction with the movies that are released today. I see it in the comments all the time on youtube of people of all ages complaining about the "garbage" that the film industry churns out. I've seen some commenters refer to it as sequel-itis. Too many sequels and not enough original ideas. And some people find reading a book more enjoyable today than watching a movie.

This isn't a very hot take at all, and the negativity toward the industry makes a writer look arrogant and ignorant. There are a lot of great movies being made. You are unaware of them.

CJ Walley, let me guess, you probably think the Christopher Nolan disaster take of "The Odyssey" was life changing. Arrogant and ignorant? It doesn't take a scientist to decide if a movie has any entertainment value or not. And I'm just a beginner so I have an excuse for nobody ever hearing of me, whats your excuse?