We always hear that originality is key — but let’s be real, the industry also has its trends, formulas, and expectations. I’m curious to hear from those who’ve been through it:
Did you ever have to adjust, water down, or reshape your story just to get it through the door?
Where did you draw the line between staying true to your vision and making your project "industry-friendly"?
Real experiences and advice would mean a lot — especially for those of us navigating this balance for the first time.
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Our artistic voices, when refined, make everything we write original, even if the plot has been done a million times before.
My portfolio is quite niche and quirky, but it's mainly there to demonstrate what I can do in terms of craft. When I write on assignment, those projects tend to be far more mainstream.
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I don't think I've had to do this, Mateo Montehugo. I write what I want to. I have had to scale back on things for budget, like cutting out some locations in a script.
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"Did you ever have to adjust, water down, or reshape your story just to get it through the door?"
Yes, I feel that I have to revise most of my scripts for marketability. Either add some things that are more relevant to now. Or, one in particular, pare it way down from the amount of characters as no one is marketing a 10-character ensemble spec by an unknown.