Hey everyone!
My name is David McKenna, writer of American History X, Blow, and SWAT, and 30+ other scripts that have sold.
When I started, I thought that if I just wrote a great script, Hollywood would come find me.
Shocking update: it did not.
What I didn’t understand at the time is that this is a business first. Who reads your script, why they read it, what they’re looking for, and how you position yourself, that’s the game.
Most writers aren’t stuck because they lack talent. They’re stuck because no one ever explained how this actually works.
So I put together a bootcamp where I break it down the way I wish someone had for me. No fluff, no “just follow your passion,” just the reality of how scripts get sold and careers get built.
If you’re serious about doing this professionally, this stuff matters a lot more than you think.
Happy to answer questions here.
— David
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Very cool David McKenna - thanks for sharing your time with us and congratulations on all you've done. Question: How did you make your first sale? Thanks in advance!
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Congratulations on all your success David McKenna! I'm very curious to hear more about this bootcamp and how you break down the way the business actually works. How did you make the shift from waiting for Hollywood to come to you, to selling 30+ scripts? What made the difference?
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David McKenna, Big thanks for being here! Where's your bootcamp advertised, and how can we learn more about it? Thank you! #El-Padrino Yo Comprendo-Yo Comprendo!
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Hey Dave, Blow was a crazy movie
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Hi David — really appreciate you sharing the business reality here.
When you were breaking in, what actually led to your first “yes” — representation, a producer champion, contests, or something else?
Curious what truly moves the needle at that stage.
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Stephen Barber Thanks for reaching out man! You can find more information at screenwriterbootcamp.com. I got some free info & a couple trailers to the bootcamp if you are interested!
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Billy Kwack Thanks man! Glad you liked it.
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Leonardo Ramirez I had written 3 scripts, but no bites. Then I wrote American History X, which I felt was a highly controversial yet compelling topic, and it sold. Yeah, baby!
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Avril David well, I discuss this a lot in my bootcamp. I didn’t have a plan b. And waiting tables allows you to survive and write simultaneously!
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Ruslan Malakhov I had written 3 scripts that were really good, and that got me an agent. But none of these scripts sold, and that’s when I wrote American History X.
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Very cool David McKenna!
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No plan B = Burning the ships! Sometimes the only way to move is forward!
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Thanks for sharing that, David.
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Hey, @David! It's great to meet you. Really impressive resume! Congratulations on all your success! I saw SWAT in theaters. Loved it!
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Appreciate you sharing this—this is something I’m starting to understand more recently. The shift from just focusing on writing a good script to actually thinking about positioning and the business side has been a big realization.
Out of curiosity, what do you think is the biggest mistake newer writers make when trying to get their work in front of the right people?
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As a new screenwriter that's just completed a script I so get this! "Hollywood would come and find me"......not a chance!
I look forward to hearing more about your bootcamp David.
In the meantime - I read Story by Robert McKee which helped me write the script and I'd encourage new writers to read it too.........but has anyone got an equivalent book suggestion that may help me (and others) sell the scripts and get representation?
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Abdilatif Mohamud I see a lot of writers try to write something that they think will get it sold. However, agents are reading hundreds of scripts per day. You need to write something that stands out, something incredibly unique and true to you. Because when you write about something that you are knowledgeable in and passionate about, the scripts will sell itself.
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David McKenna
That makes a lot of sense—appreciate you taking the time to share that.
I’ve been working on leaning more into what feels authentic instead of trying to chase what I think the market wants. It’s definitely a shift in mindset.
Out of curiosity, when something does stand out to you, is it usually the concept first, the voice, or the execution on the page?
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Hollywood executives are tough to convince when you pitch an idea. Mostly my material is unsolicited. That is why they cannot take my screenplay or my pitches.
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Hey David! Would love to chat sometime and get your insight.
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Hi David.