Is there anything I should know??

[cineman]

Well I have been trying to write at a 10 page maximum everyday. Sometimes that doesn't work out to as much but I am learning everyday. A couple months ago I purchased Syd Fields "the screenwriters problem solver" and it was a book that was of good use to me. I have been reading scripts to see how the pro's do it and I have been feverishly thinking up new material for future projects to keep busy. So what else should I do?

I know what the screenwriting terms are (EXT, INT, POV, CUT TO etc.) and I know that you are suppose to show, instead of tell with your scriptwriting, but I need more. I need to know how to wrastle up an agent, and I don't want a little detail about the process I need alot. I am young, naive, and downright lost when it comes to the real way hollywood does its dealings so enlighten me.

I know about the 2 brads, with the three punched holes, I know everything there is to know about format. but I also need to know what are my chances? I love movies I love the idea of people enjoying my script, but really is it all going to be worth it or am I living in a dream world here.

Can a script that has a high budget be sold from a first timer? Should I take it easy with my stories and only write ones that would be cheap or easy to make?

Am I just whining and should get back to work? I think so.

Help me! tell me everything!!!!

:) Cineman.

[CRASH]

If you have to ask if it's worth it, then maybe you're not ready for it. If you've got that itch and can't help but spin words, then warm up that computer. The second you doubt yourself, it will show in your writing.

For us who do it, it's a dream. For those that don't, it's a fantasy.

[ksk2]

I have a less philosophical view than Crash's, but I don't disagree with it.

Download more scripts that have been sold. Check the length. Next, check to find loglines and synops that got scripts read in the first place.

People told me I'd never work with Gaiman. For over 4 years. The publication record proved that to be wrong. You must learn to separate your vision from the realities of what it takes to get someone to even listen to you about your vision. Just like comics.

Try to sell the next Maus to Marvel? You're screwed. Try to sell the next X-Men to Fantagraphics? Screwed again. Think like that for films. Learn the basic requirements of anyone you'll submit anything to. The rules may suck, but they're always there. And some times, with good reason.

keep that chin up, kosk

[GirlinGray]

Your chances are bad. The odds are against you. Will it be worth it, if you don't make it?, is maybe more the question. If you need a guarantee of success to write, well, you don't get one. There are no guarantees. You take your chances and know, if you make it, you pulled it off, and if you don't, going out swinging mattered more than never trying at all.

[Teris1]

Self-doubt is ever present (at least with me) and a prime motivating factor.

[Zeeman13]

It is a far better thing to have tried and failed than to do nothing at all and have succeeded.

[cineman]

I am always going to stick with the writing through thick and thin, but sometimes people tell me that I am being to optomistic and that I should be prepared for a fall. Now I know that I am not going into this thing thinking that I am definetley going to succeed, but I know that not trying is worse than trying so I am going to stick with it.

Somedays I just have bad moods, my friends constantly tell me that I should think realistically and that I should go to school and become a teacher or some stupid thing like that, but I say to hell with them. One of my friends in particular thinks that he really wants to write and direct movies, but he does absolutely nothing to achieve those goals. Instead he brings me down by saying that I am not original enough and that it is such a growing market that it would be stupid to try and break in. All I got to say is flake off, at least I am burning the midnight oil thinking up stories, writing ten pages a day.

For a while there I had self doubt, and that is because I live no where near hollywood. I have no agent, let alone know how to get one, and sometimes don't know where to start. All I know right now is how to write.

Maybe I should cross those other bridges when I get to them.

Cine.

[Steve]

Keep writing. Don't listen to negative people. Find some work to pay the bills that you will find interesting for the next 10-15 years. Yes, I said 10-15 years. If you think that way, you're not being unrealisitic, or idealistic or stupid. You're thinking like someone who is committed to writing.

Not willing to put in 10+ years of master the craft of writing and hopefully have a chance of making a living at it? Give up now and save yourself a lot of pain.

[lilybet]

What Steve said.

lilybet

[callit]

What Lilybet said.

BTW, >>The second you doubt yourself, it will show in your writing.<<
>>For us who do it, it's a dream. For those that don't, it's a fantasy. <<

Words to write by. I'm taping this to my monitor frame.

[gdover]

Hey GirlinGray you nailed it. I enjoyed reading...

"...You take your chances and know,if you make it, you pulled it off, and if you don't, going out swinging mattered more than never trying at all".

Remember Cineman, its the journey that's important...but a big ol' fat check for half a million bucks wouldn't hurt.

Cineman here's what you need to do to get started.

1. Buy the thickest notebook you can find at OfficeMax (you will need it, to put all the rejection letters you will receive from producers, agents, etc.....don't worry I'm getting to purchase my second notebook...since the other one is popping rivets.

2. Remember its not the quantity of pages per day...its that QC thing that's important...you know Quality Control.

3. Let that ol' brain conceive thoughts that have never been thought...you may need some LSD to help along these lines (just kidding).

4. Remember your competition makes up about 3 percent of the writers that are damn good)...the other 97 percent are just supporting the POST OFFICE and killing the sh.t out of trees.

5. Never take just anybody's advice...including mine. There is a lot of B.S. and at the same time a lot of brilliant ideas...develop that built-in Sh.t detector...takes time.

Running out of time here...I have to go address another Priority Mail for a producer who wants to see my latest screenplay...dog! just killed another tree.

Good luck old shep.

[lilybet]

What g said.

But not even kidding about the LSD. I had a friend who killed himself because of involuntary flashbacks, years after he took the stuff. He was living in hell.

lilybet

[CRASH]

Oh yeah, well, I had a friend who had a whole sheet of acid in his pocket and then accidentally spilled orange juice on his pants. The acid and juice soaked into his skin, and for the rest of his life he thought he was a tall glass of orange juice.

No laughing matter.

[gdover]

Hi Lily.

Sorry bad choice of words regarding the LSD.

[lilybet]

No, Crash, I wasn't making a joke and no, it wasn't an urban myth. I'm sorry your friend thinks he's orange juice but I'm far sorrier that mine is dead.

lilybet

[PteranoDon]

Hi lilybet. You still love me?

[MystiCarly]

Me again, the lurker, dark and mysterious..living in Carly Land..whatever. (Maybe I might come out to play someday soon:)

Cineman--

Just incase you didn't read my message in the other thread, I need to talk to you about your X-Men script! Please e-mail me: Carly_in_hollywood@yahoo.com.

Everyone else ---

Keep up the good work. Your vast knowledge and experience is truely helpful.

Back into the shadows,

[lilybet]

Pet,

I'm having trouble between you and callit and Nem and this new Tony and Greg and Steve. Ahhh, I guess only time will tell.

lilybet

[Nemesis Unbound]

Wow, I didn't even know I was in the mix :b

[lilybet]

You plenty smart and say it well. Mighty appealing.

lilybet

[Roxanne Battle]

I knew this guy and well he sniffed some glue, and well, and well then he started sniffing, you know, bumholes, and well, and well then he started to, you know touch himself, you know down there, touch himself, and and then you know he started to you know write screenplays, and and touch himself down there.

[lilybet]

Oh, Roxanne, I offer nothing but my sympathies for your suffering but do you really need to inflict it on others. We all have our sufferings.

You have made some very good posts but you don't seem to be able to resist sinking into the cesspool that I sincerely hope you can pull yourself out of.

lilybet

[Roxanne Battle]

It's not me really, it's this whole damn food chain thing.

[lilybet]

I'm sorry, Roxanne, but I don't want to play with you, or discuss with you or debate with you. So, you can ignore me and I will ignore you.

lilybet

[Nemesis Unbound]

I'm sorry to hear about your ex-boyfriend Roxanne, but can you try to contribute something meaningful to the message board.

[Roxanne Battle]

I'll be your best friend?

[Tony R]

She noticed me...hehehehe....Lilybet noticed me!!! Oh, gosh...golly...I...oh, I better just hang my head and walk away. She'll think I'm stupid if I talk too much. Girls always think that. Me and my big stupid mouth. It betrays me every time...

Tony

[Tony R]

Come on Roxanne, play nice with the nice people.

Can I be your best friend? Can I be your boyfriend? Well, that is...if Lil won't have me. Oh jeez, there's that stupid mouth of mine again. Oh gosh...

Tony

[Roxanne Battle]

Tony, what the hell em' I gonna' do with these broads ere', there actin' like a bunch a girls?

Roxanne Battle

[lilybet]

C'mon Tony, you're going to get me in trouble with Gig. Everyone is in love with Gig, with good reason.

Let's get back to cute Cineman's questions. He sure has the determination. Hoping he won't become jaded too quickly but by golly, he has the spunk and he listens. Cineman, just sort out what you listen to. And don't listen to your negative friend but unless lightening strikes, you will need a way to support yourself until you hit it big. Don't reject the idea of school.

lilybet

[Tony R]

I...I...I'm at a loss for words...(stupid mouth, damn you).

I have trouble talking to girls. My friend Billy, he says I shouldn't pull on their ponytails and throw erasers at 'em and stuff. Then maybe they'll talk to me. I told Billy, it's not the stupid erasers or the stupid ponytails. It's my stupid mouth. I open it and wacky things come out. Funny stuff, but not funny like "hey Tony that was a funny joke, wanna french kiss?", more funny like "God Tony, what goes on in that head of yours".

What will I do, Roxy?

Tony

[Roxanne Battle]

Shut yer' @#%$in' trap!

[Roxanne Battle]

Oh and did I mention please buy the next round.

[Tony R]

Yeah, cineman. What she said. Have I won your heart yet, Lil? Did that do it? Come on, I'm racing to see who's heart I can win first, yours or Roxy's.

Seriously, though cineman, hang in there buddy. Think of it this way...the only ones who have ever sold scripts are the ones who tried. The ones who stuck with it, come hell or high water. "If you don't play the game, you can't win", and all that first year high school varsity football sentiment. Like someone else said, expect to wait ten years or more. But don't let that discourage you. If you keep it up over a ten year period, with dogged persistence and consistency...if you write every day without fail...jeez (my favorite word tonight), think of what a kick-@ss writer you'll be. Few have it in them to do it. You DO.

And who knows, it may hit sooner than you think, but let all of that go and just WRITE. That's your job. WRITE.

Tony - currently trying to figure out an approach to seducing Gig :hat , but till then I only have eyes for Roxy and Lil.

[Tony R]

Oh, is that all I have to do? Now it's not fun anymore... ;)

Tony

[Roxanne Battle]

Still waiting for my double jack and coke?

[GirlinGray]

Friends who spend too much time telling you you should be "realistic" and "give up" are maybe not people you want to spend a lot of time with, Cine. It's hard enough getting over the hurdles in front of you in this business. You don't need more at home. Ya know?

[Roxanne Battle]

Just remeber there's alot of bad and beware.

[Tony R]

Want another, Roxy?

Tony

[Roxanne Battle]

I know your hand is kneeding your package and well, that's down creepy, seriously

[Tony R]

Okay, I think it's time to call it a night. You imagining me doing that is...well, goodnight.

(keeping thinking about it though, don't deprive YOURSELF)

Cheers, it's truly been an entertaining diversion,



Tony

[lilybet]

Sorry, Tony, if Rox is on your list, I'm out.

Back to Cineman.

lilybet

[Leandro]

Cine,

You should share a cyber beer with Bill Martell sometime; I read an interview he gave(www.scriptsales.com/Marte...view.html) (http://www.scriptsales.com/MartellInterview.html)) and found great encouragement in his story. As he tells it, he spent ten years stocking and stacking for Safeway while writing in his spare time. In those ten years he claims to have written 30 screenplays, one of which finally got him an agent (of sorts--read the interview, you'll understand what I mean.)...Long story short, after his first sale he left Safeway behind and has never looked back. Granted, he's not exactly writing big budget blockbusters, but he's getting paid for what he loves doing. If you haven't already, take a couple minutes to read the interview. His story gives a lot of weight to the old adage that, "If you can dream it; you can do it."

[ksk2]

...for getting us back on topic.

Cineman, on top of what others have said here, I'll suggest that when looking at movies/scripts you love, feel free to be utterly inspired by them. But don't lift from them. Or modulate them. You like punchy dialogue? Make sure that your lines are your own, totally your own. No "Asta la Veeesta, baaaaabee" or anything close to it. No "Game over, man! Game over..." Work to find all the lines you'd say that would have the same effect on an audience, but ones that only you would think of or say.

Best, kosk

[cineman]

You guys are the greatest, I really mean that. I don't even have best friend who support me like you guys do, but here you are just dishing out the friendly advise. I deffinetely will stay in the game because i Know the godd world of cinema will be able to benefit from me being part of the fold.

I know I was being pesimistic, but that is the way I am sometimes. I guess it is because of all the negative friends I have.

As for you Roxanne ( I hope I spelled it correctly ) I could totally go for a drink with you, you can have the JD while I have the jimmy bean straight up.

Yeah Call me crazy and I know you will, but that is the way I am right now. You see me and the buddies decided to have a boys night out so we went to the nudie bar. (bad I know) then we went partying at the clubs where I tried to dance with some very unenthusastic females. In the end we did about a million donuts on the way home finally cooking ourselves some KD and readying ourselves for bed.

Like I said, there is no way you guys are going to get rid of me, I am going to write until I am blue in the face and then some.

Your friendly inebriated Cineman

:) Oh yeah I love to party.......I love all you guys.

[Leandro]

I'll drink to that...

[cineman]

Leandro must not be of my time zone, or he is a hardcore partier like me, because I left this thread 10 minutes ago and already it is updated. At the current time it is 4:05 am and I am feeling pretty good right now, although the sun is at the cusp of rising and I know I will be feeling this in the morning.

Like I said I am here to stay.


YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

BTW. Please give me information on how to secure an agent.

Thanks

Cine :)

[Leandro]

...ropes, handcuffs, shackles, threats, extortion, ?

Cine,

It's been another "all-nighter" for me. Starbucks opens in exactly 40 minutes. I'm counting the minutes. My jousting with Kosk on another thread over moot yet banal religious issues has helped to keep my eyes wide shut through this long and seemingly endless night.

Glad to hear you're back, emotionally. Hope you still feel the strength of your convictions after the hangover sets in.

[Zeeman13]

Tony, you talking about seducing my girl, GIG? Huh? Huh!

Carly, with a tag line like "A fantasy girl in a fantasy world," I have a hard time believing you're not a 50 year-old guy with a J-E-L-L-O belly and hairy shoulders. Please tell me it ain't so.

Cineman, how you feeling this morning? How 'bout a nice greasy pork sandwich served up in a dirty ashtray?

[ksk2]

"moot yet banal"... perfect tag. Perfect. :)

But at that hour of the morning, probably best (like that stage of the party at around 3 AM? When everyone starts the meaning of life stuff?).

[cineman]

OHHHHHHHHH......My head hurts.......I need aspirine! Well I really had a blast last night, to bad I feel like somebody chewed me up and regerjetated me back up.

Ahh well maybe I should grab a nice stale beer to heal me. Hair of the dog that bit you.

Don't worry guys I'll be 100% in about a week, but now it is Friday, and you know what that means. More punishement. OUCH!

Since I feel like I should always post something to do with scriptwriting I will do so now. How many scripts should a writer be done before he tries to run out and aquire an agent.

Thanks,

Your friendly neighborhood hungover Cineman. :)

[Steve]

<How many scripts should a writer be done before he tries to run out and aquire an agent.>

Just one really, really good one.