I would love to see people who are asked: "Since getting a script made is so difficult, how come so many awful and forgettable films get made.?" In these videos, they always talk about how scripts need to leave lasting emotions, scripts get rewritten dozens of times until they are unbelievably tight and polished, numerous people read and oversee the script, etc. However, a vast majority of new movies that get released never create emotion, are super predictable, and have laughable dialogue.
Because those are made by established industry professionals that are above the rules. They produce their movies, or they get a pass from a higher up because they're known, and they can do what they want.
A lot of those movies are "made by committee" meaning that it may have started with a good script, and then that script got passed around and everyone got a say about what needs to stay and what needs to go. It's the "too many cooks" problem. Especially if a movie has a big budget, the studio will make that once exciting script as safe as it can be, appealing to the widest audience they can in the hopes of maximizing profit. The problem is that modern audiences want to go to the movies to see something different and unexpected, but most movies these days tell you everything you need to know from the trailer. Get Out was not a movie that any big studio would have taken a bet on. That's why it was only made with $4.5 million which is an indie budget in Hollywood. But it was something that hadn't been done before while still adhering to the traditions of its genre. So it was something new + something familiar and the creative vision wasn't watered down because of it's budget so it worked (though I will say don't watch the trailer before seeing it, it kinda ruins it).
Well, now, Hollywood producers are looking for twelve slightly different things: 1. Inclusion of Blacks. 2. Inclusion of Homosexuality. 3. Inclusion of social change. 4. Inclusion of Leftist policies. 5. Inclusion of sex, any form being acceptable as long as its erotic. 6. Inclusion of other minorities, especially Mexicans and American Indians. 7. Inclusion of common, overused clichés. 8. Inclusion of potential sequels. 9. Inclusion of known actors, regardless of talent. 10. Inclusion of Inclusion. 11. Inclusion of Oscar Bait. and finally... 12. Inclusion of quality, a solid, wholesome story, and what the audience actually wants to see.
@@Mr.Monta77 but have they written GREAT screenplays. Being successful just means getting work which is great in itself, but it’s not exactly brand name defining
@@jawhoney It depends on your definition. In youtube commentaries people are more interested in scoring points and insulting others, than actually achieving new insights and increasing their knowledge. To me, a commercially succesful screenwriter is a great screenwriter. It’s bloody hard to write and sell a successful screenplay. How you choose to define ‘great’ is a personal choice. Some people would say Ben Stiller is a great comedy actor. I wouldn’t.
@@jawhoney Besides, history is full of extremely successful inventors who were also successful teachers. Albert Einstein at Berkely for one. You are just dumb.
There are only three things a producer wants to know: Can we get it cheap? Can we change it out of all recognition to the original draft? Can we make a huge profit out of it? Going by the junk that's on TV and Netflix, I don't think producers are looking for well crafted storylines.
I’m an actor in London who’s had my work cut due to corona, so currently isolated and spending time looking into all the aspects of what goes into the wonderful creative productions I get to play a part in. So much work goes in by you guys way before I get a script, so I just wanted to say I appreciate you guys!! Keep writing, follow your passions and let’s make some stories 🙌🙌
"Make money first by writing Christmas movies with dogs. Do that for awhile then go back to your good idea." If you want to burn yourself out writing garbage that you can't stand behind, follow this guy's advice. Don't forget that everything you write that gets made will be attached to your name forever. So don't ever write something that you don't believe in, unless of course writing is just a job for you. There's nothing wrong with that. But if you want to write because you enjoy writing, don't follow that advice.
This is idealistic. The truth of the matter is that you probably have to write some effective commercial films to actually 1) make any money if you want to be a professional writer and 2) fortify the connections necessary to make what you actually want. Noah Baumbach wrote a Madagascar movie. Jordan Peele worked in sketch comedy for years before becoming the face of contemporary upmarket horror. Damien Chazelle sold some commercial thrillers and wrote 10 Colverfield Lane (and he came out of Harvard’s film program, so not even those who graduate from well regarded film schools are exempt). Besides, learning what makes those genres tick will probably make you a better writer because you’ll learn how to effectively play with audiences’ expectations. And you can make good stuff within commercial frameworks-Stephanie Rothman, the feminist exploitation horror director, for instance.
@@nickbosi3017 All of your examples are examples of well regarded, successful works. Jordan Peele's sketch comedy is phenomenal and 10 Cloverfield Lane is a great film, not a straight to DVD Christmas movie with dogs like the advice given in this video. I don't think Jordan Peele felt like he had to do sketch comedy so he could one day do what he really wanted. He has a deep love for comedy and is really good at it but he developed other interests as his career progressed. His success as a horror writer/director doesn't make his comedy any less good or important in its own right.
@@Matt_Sorensen That’s all besides the point. You have to be willing to do something that may not be exactly what you want to do first before you’re able to make that special movie (unless you already have connections or care nothing for the Hollywood film biz). Sorry if that sounds didactic, but I think that’s often lost on a lot of people interested in breaking in.
It sounds like a writer should be mindful yes, but we should also follow our vision because depending on the person reading it they'll either like it or not.
I love that you counter balance advice, one woman says genre must stay in its own corner, the guy following explains genre is merely a consumer identifier and as long as story works genre doesn’t matter.
I honestly disagree with the man at 7:00. How are those types of films more popular than for instance, a drama or comedy coming of age story?? I'm pretty sure these sound more interesting and entertaining to most people and would be more popular...
One thing I like about these compilation videos is that it shows there are many points of view. All have been successful to some degree, but not all are compatible with each other. If there is someone who rubs you the wrong way (there is one in this compilation for me), ignore him and pay attention to the others. Also, if there is something that is echoed across many voices, maybe it is a less mutable rule than you might hope.
You must be GenX or older because all that millennials and GenZ ever do is criticize people who are doing what they can't. They literally think that if you can't beat them or join them then criticize them - as if that's their only formula for success.
True. Write what you love. However learn why people love other things. Expand your horizons. That is how you get a Star Wars, Indiana Jones, or Philip Marlow.
I agree with a lot of what these people are saying, as far as story and what appeals to them in a script, but almost none of them have made any movies I've ever heard of. These are the people who cannot take your script to the next level, or to produce a studio film. Anybody can be a producer in Indie films. There is a big difference. You need someone higher up the food chain to move your story along.
How many "higher up the food chain" movies have YOU produced or written? And claiming that "almost none of them have made any movies I've ever heard of" only shows your own level of ignorance.
Someone wrote a script about Sharks in tornadoes. And it got made into a movie. Someone wrote a script and called it shark boy and lava girl. And it got made into a movie. Someone wrote a script called Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. And it got made into a movie. Someone wrote a script with Randy Travis in it. And it got made into a movie. So don't give up guys, lol
To be completely honest, I'm going to write what I want to write, and if there's negotiations for a rewrite later, then that's just part of it. But I'm not going to let a single person try to poop on my creative vision or a potentially good storyline depending on their singular perspective. I mean, I know movie goers are morons, how else do you explains Transformers, but at the same time perhaps a good script written by a single individual is what counts first.
You explain Transformers by describing it as a children's movie. Children are not going to critique Transformers in the same way adults are. The child and younger demographic make up the largest box office. Two pieces of advice - 1. Never say 'to be honest' it's bad English, nobody well versed in the highest form of language would use this expression. Millions say it but that doesn't mean it's good English. We expect you to be honest in everything you say, you shouldn't need to use this phrase to emphasise trustworthiness. Your grammar also needs work, you need to pay attention to that because if you can't write a simple opinion on youtube without multiple mistakes, what kind of reader do you think is going to pass your script to their boss? 'If there's negotiations' should be 'if there are negotiations' or 'if there's negotiation'....Starting a sentence with 'But' isn't good either. You talk about singular perspective, everybody's perspective is open to objective evaluation and you should look at critique as an opportunity to take a step back from your opinion and analyse it further to see if it holds merit or needs re-evaluating. You say 'I know movie goers are morons' - this tells me your thinking is shallow and you don't realise that just because a particular audience takes pleasure in something you don't, it doesn't make them 'moronic'. How do you know that somebody who enjoyed Transformers can't respect Schindler's List? You don't, you assume. Less assumption, more humility and more attention to detail would be a good start to understanding the 'business' of film. Best of luck.
@@jamesargyll4226 You need stick to being the English school teacher that you are. I think I am gonna get a lecture on how I shouldn't start a sentence with how I shouldn't have used "You" to start a conversation. Bring it on teacher, I have dealt with worse.
It's not apparent to you, but you write for the moviegoers, not for yourself. You can write for yourself, but you'll never be a produced writer. If that's okay with you, then go for it. If not, you're the only delusional moron in this debate.
I wish they would of give some concrete examples of the things they're talking about. If you're going to say that a movie was really good but came out 2 years too early and people weren't ready for it... GIVE ME THE NAME OF THE GODDAMN MOVIE so I know what the hell you're talking about!
"The most interesting films break the rules almost constantly." The counter argument to that would be that those films don't break rules just to break the rules. The most interesting movies are still finely crafted to manipulate the emotions of the audience aren't they? Also a lot of great movies weren't a massive success at the box office, which is why most studios don't want to take a chance on them. It would be more worthwhile for you to give constructive, practical tips to viewers of this video.
@Annemarie Hollywood makes plenty of original ideas, you need to watch more Hollywood films. I could name a hundred original films that are celebrated globally. I'm not going to bother because what's the point. But try telling people who really know US cinema as well as non-English spoken cinema that Wes Craven, David Lynch, The Cohen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, Woody Allen, Tim Burton or Wes Anderson's films aren't original and they won't have much time for your views on cinema. I think you have a lot of cinema to catch up on, you're lucky. I wouldn't insult Hollywood writers either, it doesn't advertise authoritative knowledge as they make up some of the greatest writers in the history of cinema.
What is producer Wendy Kram on about!? Maybe she is terrible at conveying what she really meant, or she's full of contradictions. First she claims that a screenplay with lots of dialogue on one page is the sign of an amateur, and the screenplay goes in the trash. Which is just a ridiculous thing to say, considering all the great writers that include long dialogue scenes. Then later on she hails writers like Greta Gerwig and Quentin Tarantino for their unique voice. Two writers who write screenplays that contain long dialogues. Sheesh. I'm hoping ms Kram just used the wrong words...
This kind of explains the state of movies today. Make something generic, guaranteed to make money, make us like 10 of those and we'll consider your actual ideas
I was VERY impressed by what John Paul Rice said (30:14 - 32:24). I don't recall many producers not only taking blame for a project not coming out to potential, but also saying it was because they had 'too much' money and didn't handle it well.
Oh man, such good questions and points! The section about the budget really got me thinking! Thank you all so much for putting these videos together and making them available, this is such good stuff!!
I hate to say it but these people talk in catch words that they must have read or heard in a book or film class.The best writers put together a script from the seat of their pants after a life of hard earned experience and from their own heart and soul.
Film Courage I have NO background in film and you’ve done an excellent job of asking the right questions and getting the right people to answer those questions and expound in a simple, understandable way. Thanks again. I’m already a sub and looking forward to watching more of your videos and passing them along.
There are 1.6 million members in the screenwriting subreddit. But, it is so difficult to get a script sold and it’s gig to gig. It looks exciting and it is but the likelihood of someone having a successful well paid career is like 5%.
What Hollywood Needs seems very shortsighted. If you're doing what everyone else is doing, you're not likely to stand out to pitch your own ideas Instead of fitting your ideas for a production company, try shopping for a production company that fits your script. Got a killer horror idea? Try to get it into Blumhouse. After that, you let producers get involved and change what you need changing
The guy that said if you only make family block busters that realistically you’re script will never see a day of production is the reason the last five years have been absolutely horrendous, things are just starting to turn around. Fucking hell if it’s that far out that 20th century won’t pick it up at least you can go to A24 if it’s half decent they’ll pick it up.
Very good series, very helpful. From this particular video I believe that Jay Silverman is a guy I would like to work with; same with Heidelberger. Silverman isn't as much nuts and bolts but has a feel, the same feel that I've put in to two scripts of mine (one finished, the other is in first draft but both have similar themes). When the second one is done I will try to find and pitch to Silverman. (ps...at #9 you misspelled relevancy)
FWIW here's my VERY limited experience. Wrote 2 scripts as a total beginner. A monster movie that's a variation on the werewolf story using an African legend. And a family film with an original take on the Kid & Animal genre. Both scripts did well in contests, attracted representation & the family film actually sold to a big production company in Canada. (still unproduced, however.) Conclusion: if you write a good script with an original take on an established genre & can pitch it well in a query letter, you & your work WILL get noticed. It might even sell. You don't need to know anybody in the business or have any special access or experience. Just a good script & a good query letter. People with access will request your script & try to help you sell it.
Brad Pitt starred in films where his character literally shows up a half hour into the movie, and he's done that with two movies. Killing them softly and Inglorious Basterds. Yeah, he's a well-known star, anyone who is a fan will watch his work, I think really it matters with a strong hook. Can you hook your audiences within the first five minutes of your film and make them care enough to go along with the journey?
I have watched so many of these type of interviews and they never say anything that isnt completely obvious. we all know when it works and when it doesnt work. Its just that most people hand in scripts that are no good (and deep down they know it)
Someone in the comments wrote "too many cooks" and that is correct. And yet a movie requires those half a hundred cooks, with the actors, directors, lighting...
8:00 Oh you can definitely state your thematic question overtly. Nothing wrong with it. Some of the best uses of the thematic question technique overtly state their thematic question multiple times. HBO's Chernobyl miniseries for example. Its thematic question is, "What is the cost of lies?" That question is stated verbatim in the very first line and in the very last line of the script. Every last scene in that entire series is about that thematic question.
I'm often confused by some aspects of writing labelled as 'Red Flags', such as 'a big block of dialogue'. Does it apply just as much to novels or is it only for screenplays? I'm just reading The Bourne Identity and reached a point in one chapter that consists of 22 pages of dialogue straight through.
My script is more of a black film involving a couple of poetry scenes. Great story but don't know if under or over budget. Does a scene out of town in a script compared to other locations over budget considering all mentioned from a monetary standpoint? Only around 14 characters.
No.4 - What Hollywood needs... Even if you do not like what "Hollywood" does? Is Noah Baumbach, for example, doing what Hollywood needs? This is a legitimate question to every writer.
All right, if scriptwriting is a very complicated occupation, there is such a long list of requirements for the script, and the writer have to be a genius of this craft for being simply read by producer, why the hell we see in our cinemas Cowboy vs Aliens, Emojie movies, The Red Sparrow, The 50 shades, batman vs superman, the Circle, Slender man and etc. Like really, scripts for these films can't be accepted and sponsored by adequate people.
I’m sorry but Hollywood is now a group of connected friends each massaging each others egos. The reason for a lack of quality and success in Hollywood in 2024 is because it’s impossible for new writers to break into the party. It’s members only!
Example: The 6th Sense. Horror? Thriller? Fantasy? Coming of age? Psychological drama? Journey of self-discovery? Bruce Willis once called it a musical comedy (with tongue firmly in cheek). I hear it was somewhat popular at one time whatever its genre.
Hey , can anyone guide me about the word count of a screen play. Mostly people say it should be around 110 to 150 pages. So is there a standard of per page word count also?
Word count is irrelevant. General guideline for features is 90-130 at the top end. Different genres have different average page lengths, but rule of thumb - keep it under 130 and most people won't ignore the submission. Good luck.
@@jamesargyll4226 Thanks for your advice. I might be doing it wrong, since word count on my script is exceeding 200 per page. Actually I read script of “The Dark Knight” and word count per page is over 200 in it. But, then I read script of “Eternal Sunshine…”, word count per page is far too low there. So, I am confused.
King Khan no worries. Let me repeat - word count is irrelevant. Nobody looks at it, nobody cares about it, it is not a consideration for anyone outside of journalism, full stop, period, the end :-)
@@jamesargyll4226 Dear can you please also advise me on standard length of a scene. I understand , there is no rule of thumb, but is there something regarded as two lengthy? Some of my scenes are extended over 5 and 6 pages, and I wonder if they are too long?
1. What's the genre? 2. Is it studio or independent? 3. Who's your protagonist? 4. What's their goal? 5. What's their flaw? 6. Who's the main relationship with? What's driving the story? 7. Who's your audience? 8. Who's the antagonist? 9. What's their goal? 10. What's their flaw? 11. What's the narrative question driving the film? Be able to sum it up in one main question. 12. What's your theme? Why are you telling this story?
I was told my script about Emperor Hadrian was great but getting this movie made would be an uphill battle, as movies set in the Roman Empire tend to run very expensive. Furthermore, it will be difficult to sell the mainstream film industry on some of the queer content. Very few NC-17 movies are box office successes, so a large studio would likely demand heavy cuts, which may compromise the quality of the script as the homoeroticism is, of course, integral to the plot.
The dude that tells people to write scripts for Hollywood completely contradicts what Quintin Terentino tells people to do. If you write a script for someone else it’s going to be dog 💩. And your going to lose interest in it. Never will I do that. I’ll write something unique for my audience and can relate to the story like me and I’ll be respected for it. What he’s saying is just sell out and then write what you want. Just sounds sad
Its interesting listening these people not for what they are saying but more as a character study of people in the business on decision making positions, what's their mindset. They all look to me like drones and have very little to do with actually making something with substance. Its more a business of manufacturing fast food type of content, like a craft, fabricating generic things by the book. No wonder most movies are boring.
I love this channel and I love this video absolutely but I just had to point out that the word revelancy is actually not even in the dictionary... I think you meant relevance instead or perhaps relevancy. Lol...
Item #4 does not contribute to give a stellar image of how Hollywood works. I'm glad Ed Harris more or less put aside some of that to create 'Pollock' in 2000 because it's an extraordinary film and it wouldn't exist if Harris hadn't first followed his heart.
The only part of this video that irks me is when Mark Heidelberger says, "...the potential for me to put my fingerprints on it." (14:23) I'm sure he does a fine job, but the thought that a producer has to change it no matter what, is why Hollywood films are garbage today. Too many uncreative executives worried about how they're gonna put their stamp on it. Most likely because they haven't contributed anything tangible, so they want to be able to point at the screen during the premiere and say, "That was my idea. Or, I wrote that joke," instead of just letting the real creatives make a great film.
Write to genre; don't write to genre. Give the market what it wants; write for yourself. So I guess part of being a success is parsing the distances between them. But for God's sake, it's relevant, not revelant.
Nobody will read your screenplay. Even if you manage to get someone to read it, they won't actually read it. When they tell you they liked it, but don't mention anything about your story in particular, you know they didn't read it, or if they did, it was only 20 pages at most. The only way to know you have something good is to know it yourself, when you don't need someone to tell you that.
No wonder hollywood movies are getting worse and worse. These producers have more Egos issues than a lot of crazy people. They feel so entitled "because we have the money and you don't". Now with the Pandemic, a lot of them are now out of business and many more are not millionaires anymore. Their system is very outdated. Want to experience a better story? read a Book (how about Greek Mythology, Encyclopedias of Social Problems, Disorders, Diseases, Disasters, Biographies, why? because in every conflict there's a story with emotions) or a Manga (Death-Note, The Promised Neverland, Monster, Wolf Children, A Silent Voice, etc.) Also that's why Videogames are getting more traction in the younger generations, and the market is growing exponentially, it's a mix of Storytelling, Interaction and Being inside the mind of the characters but also being inside a virtual tournament if they want to compete, adding awesome Soundtracks, SFX and VFX. In the movies, books or mangas you just consume and that's it. The new generations are not watching a lot of movies like older generations used to. What are they really watching in their spare time? other people doing the same stuff they like or doing stupid or intelligent things, how they react (neuro mirroring) Good TV series (Breaking Bad, GoT S1-S6) are more engaging to the public, because if they like the story and the characters, they want to see and experience more of it (again neuro mirroring). I'm a big fan of WB and HBO, but they keep repeating the sames mistakes over and over again (like Wonder Woman 84 atrocious script) sooner this industry will get hurt very bad and fast. Also there's the Korean Film Industry, I'm not saying all their movies are good, but most of them are very engaging and sparkle your curiosity, so that means they have a good system in place.
No it's not. The point of a story is to explore interesting ideas. If you know exactly what you're trying to say then you're not really exploring anything. You could have just written a Ted Talk or website article instead.
its Hollywood Who you know or who you blow HW or not its still gonna be that way, same with banks and small business, you got to have money to make money. its never about if your idea is good, its if you want to spend your own money then go ahead and spend it on your idea period!
Na! Everything nowadays is to be made fast! And Cheap! With the goal to make a lot of money. And changing gender roles like in many movies are not new ideas more less creative nor innovation
Scroll through social media? OH god no. Social media giving ideology megaphones is why Hollywood thinks it's a great idea to destroy the heroes in film created in the past 40+ years.
All very superficial people who wish to enjoy their few moments of superiority over aspiring writers. They would go at great lengths to advise actual writers though never have written a story themselves, but hold on they have advice on how to impress them with the opening line , first page first chapter just a tag line even , or few paragraph synopsis. The author must do a trick to grab these people's attention fast otherwise they are doomed. If they are so good and put every script through their rigorous laser eyes, how come Hollywood and Netflix are producing trash after trash. I am sure the formula these people are using is missing some great stories and great scripts which failed to impress their straightjacket approach in one line , one page, one chapter......
I would love to see people who are asked:
"Since getting a script made is so difficult, how come so many awful and forgettable films get made.?"
In these videos, they always talk about how scripts need to leave lasting emotions, scripts get rewritten dozens of times until they are unbelievably tight and polished, numerous people read and oversee the script, etc. However, a vast majority of new movies that get released never create emotion, are super predictable, and have laughable dialogue.
On god bruh
Because those are made by established industry professionals that are above the rules. They produce their movies, or they get a pass from a higher up because they're known, and they can do what they want.
A lot of those movies are "made by committee" meaning that it may have started with a good script, and then that script got passed around and everyone got a say about what needs to stay and what needs to go. It's the "too many cooks" problem. Especially if a movie has a big budget, the studio will make that once exciting script as safe as it can be, appealing to the widest audience they can in the hopes of maximizing profit. The problem is that modern audiences want to go to the movies to see something different and unexpected, but most movies these days tell you everything you need to know from the trailer. Get Out was not a movie that any big studio would have taken a bet on. That's why it was only made with $4.5 million which is an indie budget in Hollywood. But it was something that hadn't been done before while still adhering to the traditions of its genre. So it was something new + something familiar and the creative vision wasn't watered down because of it's budget so it worked (though I will say don't watch the trailer before seeing it, it kinda ruins it).
Go make your own movie.
Well, now, Hollywood producers are looking for twelve slightly different things:
1. Inclusion of Blacks.
2. Inclusion of Homosexuality.
3. Inclusion of social change.
4. Inclusion of Leftist policies.
5. Inclusion of sex, any form being acceptable as long as its erotic.
6. Inclusion of other minorities, especially Mexicans and American Indians.
7. Inclusion of common, overused clichés.
8. Inclusion of potential sequels.
9. Inclusion of known actors, regardless of talent.
10. Inclusion of Inclusion.
11. Inclusion of Oscar Bait.
and finally...
12. Inclusion of quality, a solid, wholesome story, and what the audience actually wants to see.
Why are there so many more experts on great screenplays than people who write great screenplays?
“Those who can’t, teach”
@@jawhoney Nonsense. Many of the writers interviewed in this series are successful screenwriters.
@@Mr.Monta77 but have they written GREAT screenplays. Being successful just means getting work which is great in itself, but it’s not exactly brand name defining
@@jawhoney It depends on your definition. In youtube commentaries people are more interested in scoring points and insulting others, than actually achieving new insights and increasing their knowledge. To me, a commercially succesful screenwriter is a great screenwriter. It’s bloody hard to write and sell a successful screenplay. How you choose to define ‘great’ is a personal choice. Some people would say Ben Stiller is a great comedy actor. I wouldn’t.
@@jawhoney Besides, history is full of extremely successful inventors who were also successful teachers. Albert Einstein at Berkely for one. You are just dumb.
There are only three things a producer wants to know: Can we get it cheap? Can we change it out of all recognition to the original draft? Can we make a huge profit out of it? Going by the junk that's on TV and Netflix, I don't think producers are looking for well crafted storylines.
Facts
How can we chase fashionable social ideological extreme viewpoints, and look virtuous doing it?
*Quick-Reference Guide*
1. 00:40 - Emotional Response
2. 01:52 - Genre
3. 02:59 - The Hero
4. 04:50 - What Hollywood Needs
5. 07:10 - Twelve Questions
6. 10:35 - It's Personal
7. 14:46 - Red Flags
8. 19:21 - Strong Voice
9. 22:11 - Relevancy (spelled wrong in the video as "revelency")
10. 25:06 - Budget
11. 32:25 - Personal Relationship
12. 33:16 - The Business Side
Legend
They do much worse than get the spelling wrong, in this useless video.
Is the answer to what Hollywood needs: CPR?
I'd work with Dan B. just saying. anyone who indexes for fun has my attention
baby, bless your heart ❤ i appreciate whenever someone does this
I’m an actor in London who’s had my work cut due to corona, so currently isolated and spending time looking into all the aspects of what goes into the wonderful creative productions I get to play a part in. So much work goes in by you guys way before I get a script, so I just wanted to say I appreciate you guys!! Keep writing, follow your passions and let’s make some stories 🙌🙌
Corona is so really real, so….IT IS…REALLY…
True. Writing is a lot harder than acting .
This really helped me understand why films suck for the last twenty years thanks guys.
"Make money first by writing Christmas movies with dogs. Do that for awhile then go back to your good idea." If you want to burn yourself out writing garbage that you can't stand behind, follow this guy's advice. Don't forget that everything you write that gets made will be attached to your name forever. So don't ever write something that you don't believe in, unless of course writing is just a job for you. There's nothing wrong with that. But if you want to write because you enjoy writing, don't follow that advice.
This person is a true writer and knows the score!!
This is idealistic. The truth of the matter is that you probably have to write some effective commercial films to actually 1) make any money if you want to be a professional writer and 2) fortify the connections necessary to make what you actually want. Noah Baumbach wrote a Madagascar movie. Jordan Peele worked in sketch comedy for years before becoming the face of contemporary upmarket horror. Damien Chazelle sold some commercial thrillers and wrote 10 Colverfield Lane (and he came out of Harvard’s film program, so not even those who graduate from well regarded film schools are exempt). Besides, learning what makes those genres tick will probably make you a better writer because you’ll learn how to effectively play with audiences’ expectations. And you can make good stuff within commercial frameworks-Stephanie Rothman, the feminist exploitation horror director, for instance.
@@nickbosi3017 All of your examples are examples of well regarded, successful works. Jordan Peele's sketch comedy is phenomenal and 10 Cloverfield Lane is a great film, not a straight to DVD Christmas movie with dogs like the advice given in this video. I don't think Jordan Peele felt like he had to do sketch comedy so he could one day do what he really wanted. He has a deep love for comedy and is really good at it but he developed other interests as his career progressed. His success as a horror writer/director doesn't make his comedy any less good or important in its own right.
@@Matt_Sorensen That’s all besides the point. You have to be willing to do something that may not be exactly what you want to do first before you’re able to make that special movie (unless you already have connections or care nothing for the Hollywood film biz). Sorry if that sounds didactic, but I think that’s often lost on a lot of people interested in breaking in.
Go ahead. Do it your way. Nobody's stopping you.
It sounds like a writer should be mindful yes, but we should also follow our vision because depending on the person reading it they'll either like it or not.
The moral of this video:
Producers suck and Hollywood has no desire to make creative art.
I recently finished a screenplay, and I am hoping that I will get it made, whether I get help from a studio or not.
Congrats on finishing the screenplay Joaquin! We hope you get it made too.
Good luck bro, I just started
Can I read it?
I just finished my first draft in three weeks
Do well, brother 👍🏾. I hope we all make it.
I love that you counter balance advice, one woman says genre must stay in its own corner, the guy following explains genre is merely a consumer identifier and as long as story works genre doesn’t matter.
He said for him genre doesn't matter.
I honestly disagree with the man at 7:00. How are those types of films more popular than for instance, a drama or comedy coming of age story?? I'm pretty sure these sound more interesting and entertaining to most people and would be more popular...
One thing I like about these compilation videos is that it shows there are many points of view. All have been successful to some degree, but not all are compatible with each other. If there is someone who rubs you the wrong way (there is one in this compilation for me), ignore him and pay attention to the others. Also, if there is something that is echoed across many voices, maybe it is a less mutable rule than you might hope.
As always, thank you for the insightful comments Lon. Words to live by!
You must be GenX or older because all that millennials and GenZ ever do is criticize people who are doing what they can't. They literally think that if you can't beat them or join them then criticize them - as if that's their only formula for success.
I appreciate the ones who encourage writing what you love.
True. Write what you love. However learn why people love other things. Expand your horizons.
That is how you get a Star Wars, Indiana Jones, or Philip Marlow.
I agree with a lot of what these people are saying, as far as story and what appeals to them in a script, but almost none of them have made any movies I've ever heard of. These are the people who cannot take your script to the next level, or to produce a studio film. Anybody can be a producer in Indie films. There is a big difference. You need someone higher up the food chain to move your story along.
How many "higher up the food chain" movies have YOU produced or written? And claiming that "almost none of them have made any movies I've ever heard of" only shows your own level of ignorance.
Funny how they're all being interviewed by Film Courage and you're not.
12 things a producer looks for in a script: a dollar sign followed by 11 digits
"I have the perfect script for you! 11 zeroes are still 11 digits... right?"
Damn. Took me a sec.
Right.
They'll call it Dollar's Eleven.
Someone wrote a script about Sharks in tornadoes.
And it got made into a movie.
Someone wrote a script and called it shark boy and lava girl.
And it got made into a movie.
Someone wrote a script called Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.
And it got made into a movie.
Someone wrote a script with Randy Travis in it.
And it got made into a movie.
So don't give up guys, lol
To be completely honest, I'm going to write what I want to write, and if there's negotiations for a rewrite later, then that's just part of it. But I'm not going to let a single person try to poop on my creative vision or a potentially good storyline depending on their singular perspective. I mean, I know movie goers are morons, how else do you explains Transformers, but at the same time perhaps a good script written by a single individual is what counts first.
You explain Transformers by describing it as a children's movie. Children are not going to critique Transformers in the same way adults are. The child and younger demographic make up the largest box office. Two pieces of advice - 1. Never say 'to be honest' it's bad English, nobody well versed in the highest form of language would use this expression. Millions say it but that doesn't mean it's good English. We expect you to be honest in everything you say, you shouldn't need to use this phrase to emphasise trustworthiness. Your grammar also needs work, you need to pay attention to that because if you can't write a simple opinion on youtube without multiple mistakes, what kind of reader do you think is going to pass your script to their boss? 'If there's negotiations' should be 'if there are negotiations' or 'if there's negotiation'....Starting a sentence with 'But' isn't good either. You talk about singular perspective, everybody's perspective is open to objective evaluation and you should look at critique as an opportunity to take a step back from your opinion and analyse it further to see if it holds merit or needs re-evaluating. You say 'I know movie goers are morons' - this tells me your thinking is shallow and you don't realise that just because a particular audience takes pleasure in something you don't, it doesn't make them 'moronic'. How do you know that somebody who enjoyed Transformers can't respect Schindler's List? You don't, you assume. Less assumption, more humility and more attention to detail would be a good start to understanding the 'business' of film. Best of luck.
@@jamesargyll4226 TLDR. Lighten up, Francis. There's a movie quote for you.
@@jamesargyll4226 You need stick to being the English school teacher that you are. I think I am gonna get a lecture on how I shouldn't start a sentence with how I shouldn't have used "You" to start a conversation. Bring it on teacher, I have dealt with worse.
@@jamesargyll4226 It's a TH-cam comment. Your analysis of this comment holds no value. Sorry.
It's not apparent to you, but you write for the moviegoers, not for yourself. You can write for yourself, but you'll never be a produced writer. If that's okay with you, then go for it. If not, you're the only delusional moron in this debate.
There I was feeling resigned to having to write a Christmas Dog Movie and then later on I'm not supposed to write just for the market. Oh well....
Now's the time to ask ourselves: who is Christmas Dog _really?_ How did (s)he become Christmas Dog? What does Christmas Dog really _want?_
maybe that's why Tarantino called It reservoir dogs, so he could trick Hollywood into producing his movie
A fantastic documentary I would recommend to any movie enthusiasts is "Tales From The Script".
I wish they would of give some concrete examples of the things they're talking about. If you're going to say that a movie was really good but came out 2 years too early and people weren't ready for it... GIVE ME THE NAME OF THE GODDAMN MOVIE so I know what the hell you're talking about!
It’s about the idea man. You’re not going to write your masterpiece going off other’s
I hear that "The Thing" wasn't well-received when it first came out.
I'm not buying into any of this. The most interesting films break the rules almost constantly. Just a bunch of opinions. Everyone's got one.
Thanks for the comment. How far into your writing career are you? Have you had anything you've written produced?
@@filmcourage Yes, three produced features. It's just my opinion.
"The most interesting films break the rules almost constantly."
The counter argument to that would be that those films don't break rules just to break the rules. The most interesting movies are still finely crafted to manipulate the emotions of the audience aren't they? Also a lot of great movies weren't a massive success at the box office, which is why most studios don't want to take a chance on them.
It would be more worthwhile for you to give constructive, practical tips to viewers of this video.
@Annemarie Hollywood makes plenty of original ideas, you need to watch more Hollywood films. I could name a hundred original films that are celebrated globally. I'm not going to bother because what's the point. But try telling people who really know US cinema as well as non-English spoken cinema that Wes Craven, David Lynch, The Cohen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, Woody Allen, Tim Burton or Wes Anderson's films aren't original and they won't have much time for your views on cinema. I think you have a lot of cinema to catch up on, you're lucky. I wouldn't insult Hollywood writers either, it doesn't advertise authoritative knowledge as they make up some of the greatest writers in the history of cinema.
@@jackwwalsh What's your IMDB page?
What is producer Wendy Kram on about!? Maybe she is terrible at conveying what she really meant, or she's full of contradictions. First she claims that a screenplay with lots of dialogue on one page is the sign of an amateur, and the screenplay goes in the trash. Which is just a ridiculous thing to say, considering all the great writers that include long dialogue scenes. Then later on she hails writers like Greta Gerwig and Quentin Tarantino for their unique voice. Two writers who write screenplays that contain long dialogues. Sheesh. I'm hoping ms Kram just used the wrong words...
This kind of explains the state of movies today. Make something generic, guaranteed to make money, make us like 10 of those and we'll consider your actual ideas
I was VERY impressed by what John Paul Rice said (30:14 - 32:24). I don't recall many producers not only taking blame for a project not coming out to potential, but also saying it was because they had 'too much' money and didn't handle it well.
Oh man, such good questions and points! The section about the budget really got me thinking! Thank you all so much for putting these videos together and making them available, this is such good stuff!!
These producers / script readers have very diverse opinions. What am I supposed to take away from this?
Probably that even if you write an amazing script, you still have a one in a billion chance that the person reading it is the RIGHT person to read it.
SirGriefALot dude you’re such a fucking downer
I hate to say it but these people talk in catch words that they must have read or heard in a book or film class.The best writers put together a script from the seat of their pants after a life of hard earned experience and from their own heart and soul.
This is an excellent MasterClass. Thanks for the post!
Thanks Danny, we appreciate you watching.
Film Courage I have NO background in film and you’ve done an excellent job of asking the right questions and getting the right people to answer those questions and expound in a simple, understandable way. Thanks again. I’m already a sub and looking forward to watching more of your videos and passing them along.
"If you're from Montana you'll never watch this" we are normal people who watch most films.
There are 1.6 million members in the screenwriting subreddit. But, it is so difficult to get a script sold and it’s gig to gig. It looks exciting and it is but the likelihood of someone having a successful well paid career is like 5%.
Which of these is most helpful to you at this time? Anything you strongly disagree with?
I didn't find any helpful as it was an unstructured list of random people saying contradictory things.
What Hollywood Needs seems very shortsighted. If you're doing what everyone else is doing, you're not likely to stand out to pitch your own ideas
Instead of fitting your ideas for a production company, try shopping for a production company that fits your script. Got a killer horror idea? Try to get it into Blumhouse. After that, you let producers get involved and change what you need changing
The guy that said if you only make family block busters that realistically you’re script will never see a day of production is the reason the last five years have been absolutely horrendous, things are just starting to turn around. Fucking hell if it’s that far out that 20th century won’t pick it up at least you can go to A24 if it’s half decent they’ll pick it up.
Very good series, very helpful. From this particular video I believe that Jay Silverman is a guy I would like to work with; same with Heidelberger. Silverman isn't as much nuts and bolts but has a feel, the same feel that I've put in to two scripts of mine (one finished, the other is in first draft but both have similar themes). When the second one is done I will try to find and pitch to Silverman. (ps...at #9 you misspelled relevancy)
FWIW here's my VERY limited experience. Wrote 2 scripts as a total beginner. A monster movie that's a variation on the werewolf story using an African legend. And a family film with an original take on the Kid & Animal genre.
Both scripts did well in contests, attracted representation & the family film actually sold to a big production company in Canada. (still unproduced, however.)
Conclusion: if you write a good script with an original take on an established genre & can pitch it well in a query letter, you & your work WILL get noticed. It might even sell.
You don't need to know anybody in the business or have any special access or experience. Just a good script & a good query letter.
People with access will request your script & try to help you sell it.
Did you copyright/protect your screenplays before selling?
Brad Pitt starred in films where his character literally shows up a half hour into the movie, and he's done that with two movies. Killing them softly and Inglorious Basterds. Yeah, he's a well-known star, anyone who is a fan will watch his work, I think really it matters with a strong hook. Can you hook your audiences within the first five minutes of your film and make them care enough to go along with the journey?
I have watched so many of these type of interviews and they never say anything that isnt completely obvious. we all know when it works and when it doesnt work. Its just that most people hand in scripts that are no good (and deep down they know it)
Someone in the comments wrote "too many cooks" and that is correct.
And yet a movie requires those half a hundred cooks, with the actors, directors, lighting...
Is there another art form that requires so many perfect performances to align?
Thank you very very much-- Film Courage.... Right on the nose..
8:00 Oh you can definitely state your thematic question overtly. Nothing wrong with it. Some of the best uses of the thematic question technique overtly state their thematic question multiple times. HBO's Chernobyl miniseries for example. Its thematic question is, "What is the cost of lies?" That question is stated verbatim in the very first line and in the very last line of the script. Every last scene in that entire series is about that thematic question.
I have an amazing plot for a story. Would make millions of dollars in the theatres.
"Like, tested the thermometer on...". Does this young lady have power over people trying to make movies?!
You guys are legends!
Great interviews. Thank you
I'm often confused by some aspects of writing labelled as 'Red Flags', such as 'a big block of dialogue'. Does it apply just as much to novels or is it only for screenplays? I'm just reading The Bourne Identity and reached a point in one chapter that consists of 22 pages of dialogue straight through.
Red box! Do the still exist! Hahah
My script is more of a black film involving a couple of poetry scenes. Great story but don't know if under or over budget. Does a scene out of town in a script compared to other locations over budget considering all mentioned from a monetary standpoint? Only around 14 characters.
I immediately read that as "Things a Predator looks for in a Screenplay."
😂😂
Producer / Predator. Tomatoe / Tomato. No real difference.
No.4 - What Hollywood needs... Even if you do not like what "Hollywood" does? Is Noah Baumbach, for example, doing what Hollywood needs? This is a legitimate question to every writer.
Interesting to listen to different points there's always take a ways..
Jay Silverman i personally align with. I love stories with a message
What's the name of the guy in the blue/pink Ralph Lauren polo shirt?
th-cam.com/video/Mrx7JWEuRkc/w-d-xo.html
they should have a stupid script to read in front of the camera, some of them cannot continue a sentence without interrupting them selves many times!
All right, if scriptwriting is a very complicated occupation, there is such a long list of requirements for the script, and the writer have to be a genius of this craft for being simply read by producer, why the hell we see in our cinemas Cowboy vs Aliens, Emojie movies, The Red Sparrow, The 50 shades, batman vs superman, the Circle, Slender man and etc. Like really, scripts for these films can't be accepted and sponsored by adequate people.
I’m sorry but Hollywood is now a group of connected friends each massaging each others egos. The reason for a lack of quality and success in Hollywood in 2024 is because it’s impossible for new writers to break into the party. It’s members only!
"To me, a good story transcends genre, mm-kay?"
Example: The 6th Sense. Horror? Thriller? Fantasy? Coming of age? Psychological drama? Journey of self-discovery? Bruce Willis once called it a musical comedy (with tongue firmly in cheek). I hear it was somewhat popular at one time whatever its genre.
Hey , can anyone guide me about the word count of a screen play. Mostly people say it should be around 110 to 150 pages. So is there a standard of per page word count also?
Word count is irrelevant. General guideline for features is 90-130 at the top end. Different genres have different average page lengths, but rule of thumb - keep it under 130 and most people won't ignore the submission. Good luck.
@@jamesargyll4226 Thanks for your advice. I might be doing it wrong, since word count on my script is exceeding 200 per page. Actually I read script of “The Dark Knight” and word count per page is over 200 in it. But, then I read script of “Eternal Sunshine…”, word count per page is far too low there. So, I am confused.
King Khan no worries. Let me repeat - word count is irrelevant. Nobody looks at it, nobody cares about it, it is not a consideration for anyone outside of journalism, full stop, period, the end :-)
@@jamesargyll4226 Sigh...! I am so grateful for your advice. I was getting worried over it. Thanks.
@@jamesargyll4226 Dear can you please also advise me on standard length of a scene. I understand , there is no rule of thumb, but is there something regarded as two lengthy? Some of my scenes are extended over 5 and 6 pages, and I wonder if they are too long?
5:40-6:04 AND 6:04-7:09 --- how the business works
"The story needs something I can hang my hat on, until the next movie comes out..."
What are the 12 Questions? At 7:10
1. What's the genre?
2. Is it studio or independent?
3. Who's your protagonist?
4. What's their goal?
5. What's their flaw?
6. Who's the main relationship with? What's driving the story?
7. Who's your audience?
8. Who's the antagonist?
9. What's their goal?
10. What's their flaw?
11. What's the narrative question driving the film? Be able to sum it up in one main question.
12. What's your theme? Why are you telling this story?
Can an antagonist and protagonist have similar (if not identical) core wounds and goals?
yep
I’ve been writing one for months
#9 is down as 'Revelancy', meant to be 'Relevancy' I think. First rule of screenwriting: Learn how to spell! ... it happens to the best of us!
The header for the section on relevance is written REVELENCY. Or am I missing something?
lol Christmas movies with dogs
Revelancy?
I was told my script about Emperor Hadrian was great but getting this movie made would be an uphill battle, as movies set in the Roman Empire tend to run very expensive. Furthermore, it will be difficult to sell the mainstream film industry on some of the queer content. Very few NC-17 movies are box office successes, so a large studio would likely demand heavy cuts, which may compromise the quality of the script as the homoeroticism is, of course, integral to the plot.
At about 27 minutes in, what is meant by the question “where are you going?”
The dude that tells people to write scripts for Hollywood completely contradicts what Quintin Terentino tells people to do. If you write a script for someone else it’s going to be dog 💩. And your going to lose interest in it. Never will I do that. I’ll write something unique for my audience and can relate to the story like me and I’ll be respected for it. What he’s saying is just sell out and then write what you want. Just sounds sad
I wouldn't work with half of them.
Genre is key but genre I don't care about... LOL
.
Great content
Pro Tip: It's Relevancy not Revelancy.
Its interesting listening these people not for what they are saying but more as a character study of people in the business on decision making positions, what's their mindset. They all look to me like drones and have very little to do with actually making something with substance. Its more a business of manufacturing fast food type of content, like a craft, fabricating generic things by the book. No wonder most movies are boring.
I love this channel and I love this video absolutely but I just had to point out that the word revelancy is actually not even in the dictionary... I think you meant relevance instead or perhaps relevancy. Lol...
Who cares about the current culture or lack thereof? Movies SHOULD NOT be political unless that's the whole point of the script.
Why shouldn’t movies be political? lmao
Thanks!
Item #4 does not contribute to give a stellar image of how Hollywood works. I'm glad Ed Harris more or less put aside some of that to create 'Pollock' in 2000 because it's an extraordinary film and it wouldn't exist if Harris hadn't first followed his heart.
The only part of this video that irks me is when Mark Heidelberger says, "...the potential for me to put my fingerprints on it." (14:23) I'm sure he does a fine job, but the thought that a producer has to change it no matter what, is why Hollywood films are garbage today. Too many uncreative executives worried about how they're gonna put their stamp on it. Most likely because they haven't contributed anything tangible, so they want to be able to point at the screen during the premiere and say, "That was my idea. Or, I wrote that joke," instead of just letting the real creatives make a great film.
"international countries" as oppose to National countries?
Write to genre; don't write to genre. Give the market what it wants; write for yourself. So I guess part of being a success is parsing the distances between them. But for God's sake, it's relevant, not revelant.
Nobody will read your screenplay. Even if you manage to get someone to read it, they won't actually read it. When they tell you they liked it, but don't mention anything about your story in particular, you know they didn't read it, or if they did, it was only 20 pages at most. The only way to know you have something good is to know it yourself, when you don't need someone to tell you that.
No wonder hollywood movies are getting worse and worse. These producers have more Egos issues than a lot of crazy people. They feel so entitled "because we have the money and you don't". Now with the Pandemic, a lot of them are now out of business and many more are not millionaires anymore.
Their system is very outdated. Want to experience a better story? read a Book (how about Greek Mythology, Encyclopedias of Social Problems, Disorders, Diseases, Disasters, Biographies, why? because in every conflict there's a story with emotions) or a Manga (Death-Note, The Promised Neverland, Monster, Wolf Children, A Silent Voice, etc.)
Also that's why Videogames are getting more traction in the younger generations, and the market is growing exponentially, it's a mix of Storytelling, Interaction and Being inside the mind of the characters but also being inside a virtual tournament if they want to compete, adding awesome Soundtracks, SFX and VFX. In the movies, books or mangas you just consume and that's it.
The new generations are not watching a lot of movies like older generations used to. What are they really watching in their spare time? other people doing the same stuff they like or doing stupid or intelligent things, how they react (neuro mirroring)
Good TV series (Breaking Bad, GoT S1-S6) are more engaging to the public, because if they like the story and the characters, they want to see and experience more of it (again neuro mirroring).
I'm a big fan of WB and HBO, but they keep repeating the sames mistakes over and over again (like Wonder Woman 84 atrocious script) sooner this industry will get hurt very bad and fast.
Also there's the Korean Film Industry, I'm not saying all their movies are good, but most of them are very engaging and sparkle your curiosity, so that means they have a good system in place.
Heidelberger may be good at his job, but he's almost incoherent at explaining it. Ofori is great. She thinks about the whats and whys.
22.13 Revelency?? what the...? This is a vid about writing! Trust in this spiralling
“Revelency” 😂😂
they want to make a profit. they copy everyone else. just listen to your heart.
If they can’t work around all these standards nowadays, they might as well only accept star wars scripts
Revelency???
The writer NEEDS to have an AGENDA….pssst…that's the point of the story being written in the first place….
No it's not. The point of a story is to explore interesting ideas. If you know exactly what you're trying to say then you're not really exploring anything. You could have just written a Ted Talk or website article instead.
I wonder if Screenwriters write movie trailers?
its Hollywood Who you know or who you blow HW or not its still gonna be that way, same with banks and small business, you got to have money to make money. its never about if your idea is good, its if you want to spend your own money then go ahead and spend it on your idea period!
Na! Everything nowadays is to be made fast! And Cheap! With the goal to make a lot of money.
And changing gender roles like in many movies are not new ideas more less creative nor innovation
These interviews are a window into why Hollywood makes garbage today.
These Rock!
hopefully "women in peril thrillers" will come to my keyboard to DIE, sir
9. Relevency (see 22:13). Relevency??? Really??? Looks like a professional writer didn't read the text graphics of this clip first!
Scroll through social media? OH god no. Social media giving ideology megaphones is why Hollywood thinks it's a great idea to destroy the heroes in film created in the past 40+ years.
All very superficial people who wish to enjoy their few moments of superiority over aspiring writers. They would go at great lengths to advise actual writers though never have written a story themselves, but hold on they have advice on how to impress them with the opening line , first page first chapter just a tag line even , or few paragraph synopsis. The author must do a trick to grab these people's attention fast otherwise they are doomed. If they are so good and put every script through their rigorous laser eyes, how come Hollywood and Netflix are producing trash after trash. I am sure the formula these people are using is missing some great stories and great scripts which failed to impress their straightjacket approach in one line , one page, one chapter......
Lost me at "Revelency" 🤣
Revelency?!
Rachel is super cute and intelligent