Is it just me?!

[dlshooter]

Just picked up my new copy of Creative Screenwriting...ahhhh, feels good! Thumbed through to the back and the ProdCo's profiles for the one single part of the mag that irks me. The ProdCo's listing of "types of scripts we want to see", at which point I gaze up at the slew of un-original, mediocre and mindless movies they've actually spent money to make.

One of my favorites: "It's all about the voice!"

...then there's: "We want something bold and original!"

And always the classic: "I want a script that makes me look at life and the world in a different way!"

Does this bug anyone else as much as it bugs me?

[kcshc]

What bugs me is why people pay homage to those a-holes by submitting their work in the hope that they will be 'discovered'.

Rant coming...

If writers would only get better organized - to create a representative body with real 'teeth', and also retain creative control (authorship) of their work, it would (eventually) force the industry to realize that it all starts with the writer's original script. And then, and only then, would writers be treated in a manner which befits their real and as yet unrealized status. What's more, the industry knows this so it is in their collective interests to keep writers at the sh1t end of the stick. Hence the bs from a-holes mentioned above.

No (original) writers = No Movie Business.

Rant over.

Go read what some enlightened WGA members reckon at www.screencredit.com

[wcmartell]

Judge them not by what they say, but by what they do.

They want an original voice... telling a story with mass appeal.

They want something bold and original... as long as it's in a genre that sells tickets.

They want to look at life differently - think Bruce Willis' character in THE SIXTH SENSE.

None of these people are lying - they are looking for BOTH the mass audience story (required because films cost so much to make) and something that is interesting and unique. That's hard to do - write a script that is both.

They are talking about MOVIE SCRIPTS - so everything they say is in the context of MOVIE SCRIPTS.

- Bill

[BAI HE]

"We want something bold and original!"

Now that is a LOAD of crap.

[kcshc]

Then listen to the 'silence'...

[supaNeRo]

What the hell do you want them to say?

"We want what you wrote, no matter what it is, because you wrote it, and we realize that whatever you write is exactly what you want us to want."

- now that's the only load of crap I see

Why do people feel the need to be angry or pissed off for nothing. What's mindless or mediocre to you is exactly what got that script sold in the first place. Let's not be idiots. We tend to judge work harshly when we're aspiring or what not. I guess because we're frustrated at the fact we aren't yet in the little circle. I guarantee that once you are, though, you'll become less of a critic because your insecurity that drives you to criticize the "business" and the production companies or whatever, will be replaced with a fat pocket and a bit of an ego.

[BAI HE]

"What the hell do you want them to say?

* "We'd like to have a look at your screenplay." would
be nice.:D

"We want what you wrote, no matter what it is, because you wrote it, and we realize that whatever you write is exactly what you want us to want."

*Now that's the only load of crap I see. You really took the ball, distorted it and ran with it on that one.
I have my own words and frankly, you putting words in my mouth just doesn't seem fair, nor fun.

What I meant is that, If your story lacks familiar elements that a potential buyer can associate with financial gain, your chances slim considerably. If they are craving true originality, whty are they remaking developing remakes of every foreign film, comic book, older films and bad television shows into features. I'm just waiting for a "Dukes of Hazard feature." Y'know, Vin Deisel and the Rock star. Kind of like the "Fast & the furious" meets "Sweet Home Alabama."

If you script contains elements that are too familiar, no matter what your take on it, you get the old "We've seen this before".


"Why do people feel the need to be angry or pissed off for nothing."

* I don't feel any need to feel extreme emotions. Nor am I angry or pissed off, especially for "nothing". That will just lead to discouragement.

"What's mindless or mediocre to you is exactly what got that script sold in the first place."

* Let's not generalize.

"Let's not be idiots."

* You first.

"We tend to judge work harshly when we're aspiring or what not."

* Let's not generalize again.

"I guess because we're frustrated at the fact we aren't yet in the little circle."

*How many failures away can success be?
We're all running the same 40 yard dash in a thirty yard gym?

" There is only one success- to spend your life in your own way"
- Christopher Morley.
Besides, I can only be frustrated if I am physically restrained from writing and expressing myself.


" I guarantee that once you are, though, you'll become less of a critic because your insecurity that drives you to criticize the "business" and the production companies or whatever, will be replaced with a fat pocket and a bit of an ego."

* You make a lot of assumptions and guarantee's about things and people you don't know.


Furthermore, judging from your post, you are in fact
sounding a bit frustrated and angry.

Secondly, it is my opinion that "Bold and original" is a load of crap. It's just an opinion, don't lose any sleep over it.

"Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting"
- My man Christopher Morley0]
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[captain bligh]

of course it's true that if you write something that they believe has no commercial appeal they won't be interested. these are businesses run by business people. as martell already said: they want something bold and original that will make money. and so what? is it too much for someone spending thousands of dollars on your script and millions on a movie to expect that you provide them with product that has the potential of earning their money back for them, plus a little extra?

[dlshooter]

I wasn't critisising the machine, quite the opposite. Unlike most of my artsy, film school friends I understand that Hollywood will never drop what they're doing to make "serious" films full-time. Frankly I don't want them to either. Yes, studios are run by ivy league business school grads and they make decisions based on the bottom line and feedback on scripts from the marketing dept. Nature of the beast. Fine. I accept that, but I just find it annoying that prod. entities all say they want some "daring, breakthrough" work when all they really want is some POS they can lace with marketing gimmicks. It's like listening to pro-athlete interviews: you get tired of hearing the same four things over and over, that's all.