What are some of the reponses you get when you tell somebody you're a screenwriter?
Among the ones I've heard:
-Have I seen any of your movies?
-You mean you just write the whole thing?
-I've got a great idea for a movie. Want to write it/help me write it?
-How much does that pay?
-How do you come up with your ideas?
-Do you write stuff like (name of popular film)?
-You should write stuff like (popular film)
-(film title) sucked. What did you think of it?
-Hollywood puts out so much trash. I could write a better movie than any of them.
-My life story would be a great movie.
-(something) happened. You should put that in your script.
-I could never find the time to write.
-Ugh. I hate writing.
-Do you know (famous writer-director)?
-So when are you buying that big mansion in LA?
What about you?
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Almost forgot - for those of us who don't live in Los Angeles - "why don't you live in LA/when are you moving to LA?"
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... "Your hero seems a bit X. Make him/her a -something completaly rediculous- and you have a winner. Duhhhhhhhh!!
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I had a teacher say, "I have a great idea for a movie! Teachers as SPIES! Because we know everyting that happens in a school!" Umm okaay. Or I am asked what a screenwriter does / what I write.
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I don’t say anything. I could care less. Lol! I’ve met many who work in the field and industry, etc. And those who don’t. I just listen. If the conversation turns then I talk about my interests, which is more than screenwriting. No titles. No assumptions. And none of those questions above. Often many who have far more to say professionally don’t announce what they do either. And I don’t live in LA. Guess what, industry people live in other places too, especially up the West Coast. ;)
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When I lived in LA, I told my mailman I write and he gave me his actor’s headshot. Then, he gave me attitude because I didn’t pass around. My mail stopped coming :( This business is a balance of selfish and selfless.
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I feel like I'm about as far away from Hollywood as I could possibly be right now, so I don't really talk about it. The people who know are supportive--asking about stuff I've done, wanting to see shorts, asking what I'm working on now, offering encouragement, and stuff like that. Although, I never tell anyone about what I'm writing. I seem to be more productive when I DON'T talk about it.
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I try to avoid telling anyone because I don't want to hear their stupid responses.
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In Sydney, around 8 out of 10 people ask me "What kind of films do you like to write?" The rest ask if I've done something they might have seen. To those people I say "I went full time only recently and it takes a few years to get one on screen, so hopefully you will soon."
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I'm with Dan G on this - I generally keep my mouth shut but a few folk do know and over time that info has leaked out. I try to be kind and patient as I explain what & when but it's getting harder and harder to maintain my cool.
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Pamela. I hope you sell your screenplay but if you don't buy your son a Ferrari. They are expensive to maintain and they aren't very safe.
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My son traded my twelve month old RX7 for an old Lotus Elan. He rebuilt it and has an Esprit he has rebuilt into a beautiful vehicle. We've become a Lotus family. If he's prepared to rebuild the Ferrari, I think it's exciting.
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Pamela Bolinder, how brave you are! Apart from the industry, I don't show anyone my work. I continue working on all my scripts even those that have awards so they're never finished enough to be bound and distributed.
I really hope you sell your Backcountry and other scripts.
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Patricia, Lotus you say - takes me back to my days as an engineering student at the U of A in the '60s when I tested & tweaked the Lotus 51 for the American tracks and got to campaign a 21B. My everyday car was a '62 Elan and I had a John Player Elite - I loved those cars! I learned why Lucas was known as the Prince of Darkness.
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I usually got "I have an idea for a movie"
Erik has been to more places than Johnny Cash...and since Erik is now in Pondicherry...figure I might as well introduce him to Raj.....he's been everywhere, man, too...he's been everywhere....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X0aDLDkOik
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Usually, I say nothing at all about what I do, but if the occasion arises and I tell someone that I write books, screenplays, and in the process of producing, then most of the time it's like "I have a great idea that we can work on.' You know the whole my life story would make a great movie...um, doubt it. My kids on the other hand always say I work, like in writing, but I don't have a job...like one that makes money and I work outside the home. It's a lose-lose situation.