Good news if you love writing you have something you can do till the day you die. It doesn’t take a team or any support network. Just a willingness to tell a story.
Bad news, only great writing will rise to the top. There are no short cuts. No magic formula, No prediction that can be made. No format which is easier to break in with. Only excellence will win.
In a nutshell. I just like in life. If there is no love in the relationship it will die. If you think writing is your key to success, I am afraid you will be heart broken.
PS: Yes some crap films get made. How many crap careers are there?
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Hi Craig! Very true statements here. I believe you should write because you love to, because your passion for it is so strong that you can't see yourself not writing. If you put the work in, put the hours of writing in, and an effort to make yourself seen, to get noticed, to try, then success can come. Thank you for sharing, Craig.
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How many crap careers? Look no further than our government. Lol. But in all seriousness, I suppose it depends on what you're chasing. Everyone wants to be the next J.K Rowling or Dan Brown, but they're a dime a dozen.
Like Dan said, its ambiguous. I feel more comfortable confiding myself to helping out wherever applicable and keeping my writing aspirations realistic.
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That is why I share my work with the world; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYQ_MHAfHwn_UBHXs0iZjbQ
. My stories are too sexy to waste.
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In my experience, there is a lot of room for mediocre writers and actors outside of Hollywood. The real issue is that too many people only think Hollywood when they think of the production business. You'd be surprised how many companies are desperate for writers looking to make low budget projects and aren't nearly as selective as a producer in Hollywood. The difference is you're not writing to be famous. You're writing to pay bills. I enjoy seeing the things I write get made and I enjoy paying my rent on time. If I never get famous, I'll still be able to say I got stuff made without paying to make it myself and even got paid to do it. People need to stop trying to flock to LA, which happens to be my hometown. I left at 18 and never went back. I'm a produced screenwriter and actor.
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Well said! For me, writing is something I must do, I can't live without it. I can own it, live it, be it. The opportunity to embrace writing and storytelling gives me life! :)
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Thanks everyone. As my man Dan says, few will be rich or make good coin.
Terrence is like me. I sell into the UK, Canada and New York. They are open to new styles of stories and non-formula stuff. Terrence I would strive for mediocre, I would say non-standard.
There is an old saying “if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life”. That may be true.
I stay writing spec indies so I can work when I want and maintain the love. If I was force into a 70 hour a week writing gig, that would soon kill the love.
Hi Dan,
The people I am working with has happened organically. I have reached out to some LA based people in previous years and that didn’t even warrant a reply in many cases.
I may cast an eye in that direction again.
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Rebecca, yes and no. You will fail more than succeed in artistic pursuits. So love keeps you going. Love makes you explore.
And if success never comes. It doesn’t matter. You have spent you life doing something you love.
I visited a grave lately. It said “living mother, grandmother and wife”. It mentioned all the things in her life she loved.
PS: my wife has promised I can have this in my grave stone.
“what do I have to do to get away from you people”.
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From the movies that have been released in the last few years, I would say the bad screenplays rise to the top faster than great screenplays.
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It’s not just good writing. Because I seen good writers write bad. It’s the story. If you don’t make people vibe with your story it’s on the shelve. There is a formula. Write 3 lines of dialogue for an actual beat. After that keep the pattern until pacing dictates a new area scene or sequence
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Even the crappiest movies are still better than specs in drawers. Working/making a living alongside ppl making movies is a blessing.
My guy was a professional NBA player; all the millions of men/women dreaming of playing ball for a living and he did it long enough to earn a NBA pension.
Same as any occupation. Lots of average talent with okay careers/okay income, but it so rare to work with 1% - 5% best of their fields, and the stress that comes with working with top ppl.
One time I did dailies for cinematographer Robert Richardson; our whole post-team was stressed working with an Oscar winner.
You definitely need some love mixed in.
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Good news I love to write. Bad news Im not getting paid to write.