Screenwriting : Keeping yourself in mind? by Matthew Barker

That's the business. All you can control is the script. The other stuff is out of your control by large - unless you can bring $, Talent, and a track record of success on the side (published books, music, youtube, short movies).

Movies take a long time, especially studio distributed movies. "Book Smart", "Long shot", "Highwaymen", "Gemini Man" - these scripts were written over 10 years ago. Gotta keep writing more than 1 idea, stay relevant to new Exes as old Execs are fired.

I don’t think it is a matter of them not staying focused long enough. Getting the script into development is not hard it is getting it out of the development stage into the production that is difficult. Nine out of ten people who option screenplays can’t afford to make them. Unless you have the money to fund the movie or have talent you can attach to help them raise money there isn’t a lot a screenwriter can do except find a better career choice.

I got screen writing coverage on my first screenplay, and received a consider grade. Which I thought was really, cool. My plan though is to make it on a micro budget. Then distribute it myself.

Having a contact, that's the important part. But most producers won't read the script, they have someone else that is a script reader, read it and grade it. If it's worth grading . Good luck, I wish you the best.

The producers and development execs I talk to are pretty laser-focused on a lot of things simultaneously - what they're looking for; the current state of cinema; financing potential; the marketing landscape, etc, etc. And that's just the business end of things - they all have personal lives, too.

When they don't work for a big studio or a prodco with a $300,000,000 capital fund, or aren't working full time on a green-lit project, it's probably the toughest gig in cinema. They're always hustling and selling. At any given time, they probably have a bunch of scripts under option or in some stage of potential pre-funding, funding and development, and they're probably working a bunch of different things simultaneously. If they are not, they probably feel like they are "getting behind" or "losing it". That's enough to make the average person's head spin 24/7. They're always trying to set up deals and carry them forward so those projects can come to fruition. And then they have to do the actual producing and marketing once it is finished.

And then start over again.

That's part of the reason I really admire and respect indie producers. It's not an easy gig, and they're constantly pushing projects and potential projects up the hill, and usually in ways that nobody sees. And once they go into pre-production they have a "to-do list" with 1,000 items to accomplish. And even then, shit still happens - and in production, too. It certainly is a tough gig. The best way to keep your "bright shiny object" on their mind is to give them a script that they love and that they think they can get funded and successfully marketed once it's produced: the right script to the right person at the right time. Easier said than done, right?

Best fortunes in your creative fortunes, Matthew!

Even if you're a contest winner, it seems the last thing that will get your project produced is to sit on it like an egg expecting it to hatch. Seems obvious, but I know otherwise intelligent people doing this. Contests and networking sites like this one give me hope that continued writing and working consistently to improve my craft, my projects, and the way I present these will eventually bring one of my beloved projects to fruition.

Thank you again, everyone! Very much appreciated!!!

Does anyone write spec scripts as samples for assignment work? I'm reading amazing spec pilots by unemployed WGA Television writers and they're using specs as calling cards. They're writing new material just to stay relevant.

Gotta agree with Bill; it's a lot of hard work. Understanding the guy was just making a joke to placate, but it's way way off and rather insulting to both producers or "those in Hollywood" and those who have A.D.D. Lack of focus has nothing to do with it. It has more to do with precision and specifics. They are looking for the "right" fit. Something they can build a production around. As Bill said, that's no easy task. ;)

Thanks everyone! I’m hearing you Beth and I have always tried to appreciate the massive workloads producers have. I could not do what they do, whether they’re successful and established, or otherwise. I just found it such an intriguing thing. Was it a cop out or an excuse? Was it a true reflection of their experience (bad joke aside)? Fundamentally, if we’re told our work is good and people want to make it, how do we manage the situation if there’s radio silence for several months? What’s an appropriate way to deal with that? Or is that acceptable and we just need to deal with it? All a learning curve, I know.

The Seven Stages of Film Production

I’d say “we just need to deal with it” but in a professional manner. This is reality, folks. Look, I get the easy-to-accept notion that phones and the internet are distracting, sure, but again, that is misplaced and makes this all seem trivial. It isn’t. People are making decisions for their jobs and for their livelihoods. “Radio silence” means people are extremely busy. Have you not seen the pictures of offices with scripts literally piled from the floor to the ceiling? They are inundated with material. Cop out? Hardly. You gotta be patient. You gotta be professional. It can take weeks or months or longer to hear back, if at all and if they even accept or request your material. “Radio silence” can also mean the work is not up to par or is not a good fit. Sorry, this whole thing seems more like misplaced blame than acceptance of our own responsibility and accountability for our work. Work has to be exceptional to rise above the fray. Again, it’s a hard truth. If you are not making traction then you need to adjust. Keep working at it. Try someone else or some other company. Find a better fit. This is a highly competitive and subjective field. It’s extremely difficult. As I said, the joke was made to placate, to make you and/or others feel not so bad about rejection. Something that is very common and experienced by everyone. Hey, just giving a little ‘tough love’—Lol! ;)