Screenwriting : Screenwriter goals by Langley Coleman

Adapting pre-existing IP

Sarah Bellwood What do you look for when searching for material for adaption?

Writing and selling for now as I have other business interests. Once my time is more free, I would like to adapt.

To work on someone else's project, you first need to make it your own. I can't do that, so I only work on my own projects.

Dear Langley, To answer your question, I look for something primarily that I'm emotionally moved by -- then that I can get a shopping agreement for, or even better, that is out of copyright.

Definitely prefer writing my own projects and getting them produced.

I prefer writing my work and sell it, rather than being hired, when someone hires you, he wants the script to flow in his/her way, I may end up conflicting with the way I want the story to be told. 100% prefer working on my scripts and sell them.

Have a feature I re-wrote, produced and filmed (already into the journey)...then, someone might see the movie, like it and say, "hey, let's give this Kiril guy another job..."

I'm interested in being hired to write someone else's ideas. Writing for myself doesn't pay enough

I am an aspiring screenwriter who wants to sell my own original screenplays :)

I would be happy to do either or both.

I believe if you get hired to do the latter and do a good job, you'll ultimately accomplish the former.

I love writing my own scripts but If I have the chance to write for others I will.

I love writing original projects but adapting or given an assignment is something Im use to with my ghost writing history. I think both r great to do

Original spec turned to a franchise, and quit after the 1st movie, collect $ from video games & merch, do seminars, "how to write a franchise movie screenplay."

Neither. I'm interested in raising capital to produce them myself.

I'd like to do both - the more you write the better you get, so I don't see the downside of being hired to write. My ideas will still be there for me to write later!

Can I pick both, Langley Coleman? :) I'm more interested in writing and selling my own original screenplay.

Langley, I've got to be honest with you: I'd rather write and sell my own screenplays...hands down. (But heck, if someone hires me to write on assignment, I'll take it...since you really never know what written idea gets your foot in the door!)

My own...by a longshot. If I could raise the money to produce on my own, I would.

My dream would be to sell the screenplays I wrote..:)

Sell the screenplays

Dan MaxXx That seems like a pretty sweet gig. Would you mind sharing the name of the project that took off for you? Seems like you really struck gold.

Definite sale. I'm a total scribe whore. Picture me multitasking (working drags on my cigarette while brushing my teeth) as the studio head leaves the hotel room with script in hand and muttering -- "The money's on the writing desk." Door SLAMS.

Fantastic question! Really interesting seeing all of these different answers - personally, I just want to write, so both

Both

@emily Best answer yet. Fall in love with process, not the destination.

When George Lucas wrote what he wanted to write he came up with Star Wars When he got paid a ton of money to write with a specific target audience in mind he came up with this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eD0NCmtcSQU

Lucas was an Oscar nominated Director before Star Wars. Ppl forget American Graffiti was a box office hit.

Dan MaxXx washed out your mouth. Film educated people remember American Graffiti, it launch “Happy Days” the TV show. As well as so many acting careers, Harrison Ford anyone.

I lean toward working on an original screenplay, but hey - working is working

There's no call to be personal Dan and Craig. I am not film educated, and that's ok.

I am looking to learn, meet people, perfect my craft, be as creative as I know I can be, and whatever happens from that, we will see. I want to write scripts to give me a sense of doing something I love and putting me in another world and thought. Selling something would be a definite dream of course. lol

Yeah Kevin I agree. I feel like if somebody is offering money then they want a certain product. A writer may find that confining. You might be overly worried about who the audience is and it could effect what you do. If somebody is paying me, I would feel like it were my job to satisfy them, as in that one person. That would change my whole approach.

Definitely getting hired

I'm a screenwriter and I honestly must say I'm more interested in developing and writing my own original screenplays. Although I wouldn't frown upon the idea of getting hired on a writing assignment or adapting a pre-existing IP, but that is just secondary.

Either way is fine by me. I have some ideas already. And I can work to make a screenplay as long as it’s not butchered by producers or editors.

Trying for both. I'm passionate about the current screenplay I'm shopping around, for its creation was a spiritual experience, so I feel a duty to get it made, but writing assignments would be wonderful too.

@wiliam Greenberg - Interestingly, GL actually didn't make his money from the Star Wars movies themselves. -- Lucas considered himself more of an avant-garde filmmaker and made his name with a scifi movie called THX-1138 (where the THX sound system's name comes from). His goal with Star wars was to do something that seemed impossible technically (much like James Cameron nowdays) - The original Star Wars production went over budget and almost got shut down by the studio. Lucas bought the rights for merchandising back from the studio in order to keep production going (back in those days, merch rights weren't thought of as very important). After he was able to deliver on a level of spectacle the public had never seen before, his merchandising rights became insanely lucrative and he made most of his money from Star Wars licensing deals.

I have written four screenplays but have not sold any because I don’t have any agent to help me out and any money to access stage 32 ,they are entitled

THE MALL

DEBT

POLITICAL TRAGEDY

MY FAMILY IS AT KALANGALA

I kindly request for your help please.

Langley Coleman Not to mention that George almost had severe conditions with his health. Which is why he opted out as being director for The Empire Strikes Back. When he decided to retire he wanted to give back Star Wars so other generations can continue the story. Unfortunately he gave it to big wigs. The ones who appreciated his indie work made ‘The Mandilorian’ and ‘The Book of Bobba Fett’. Not to mention other projects down the pipeline.

Of course I'd love to have my work produced. The idea of seeing my characters alive and in some cases resurrected is exciting. However, as a trained writer/editor I am more than happy to help fix and in many cases elevate a story.