I was reading the entertaining thread "Writers - Be Aware Of Amazon Studios!" (go check it out!) and was thinking about the usual mantra "go write a great script" which is usually followed by "great script triumphs everything".
I'm a believer -and living proof- of the concept. Still, for the sake of argument, I'd like to talk about it, with a little help of you guys.
First things first: what's a great script? For example, tons of writers are praising the lord for the Brigands of Rattleborge, which "isn't for me". Does it mean they are right and that I have supbar taste? What makes it so good for the other and not so good for me?
So the first barrier for our success is the one who is reading it. Could be great for exec 1, not for exec 2. Too bad, exec 2 is the one who is going to read your script. Trash can. Start over.
Second thing would be the standard. One thing I realized is that the average moviegoer will be happy if he sees specific things in the movie he paid to see. I.E : Dialogue and over the top characters in Tarantino flick, production design and sfx in Sci-Fi, Ryan Gosling in any movies. Sometimes, even okay cinematography is enough (*wink* Revenant/birdman *wink*). So maybe your script will receive major praises, making you more confident of its qualities, then will fall flat if the exec reading it has high standards.
Third thing would be the context. As James Gunn recently wrote, now, everyone will produce his own Deadpool. The average exec likes to be told what to do. The easiest, safest way.
So the third barrier would be time/context. Your Deadpool like script was sent wide three years ago? too bad. In three years? Too bad too.
Forth thing would be who you are. Comedians talk about the difference between being known versus being unknown. When you are unknown, you have to fight for the audience to laugh, to work harder. When you are known, they are laughing even if you don't do anything funny.
So a great script might depends on the context, the reader, and your level of success. What is your opinion about this?
I'm a believer -and living proof- of the concept. Still, for the sake of argument, I'd like to talk about it, with a little help of you guys.
First things first: what's a great script? For example, tons of writers are praising the lord for the Brigands of Rattleborge, which "isn't for me". Does it mean they are right and that I have supbar taste? What makes it so good for the other and not so good for me?
So the first barrier for our success is the one who is reading it. Could be great for exec 1, not for exec 2. Too bad, exec 2 is the one who is going to read your script. Trash can. Start over.
Second thing would be the standard. One thing I realized is that the average moviegoer will be happy if he sees specific things in the movie he paid to see. I.E : Dialogue and over the top characters in Tarantino flick, production design and sfx in Sci-Fi, Ryan Gosling in any movies. Sometimes, even okay cinematography is enough (*wink* Revenant/birdman *wink*). So maybe your script will receive major praises, making you more confident of its qualities, then will fall flat if the exec reading it has high standards.
Third thing would be the context. As James Gunn recently wrote, now, everyone will produce his own Deadpool. The average exec likes to be told what to do. The easiest, safest way.
So the third barrier would be time/context. Your Deadpool like script was sent wide three years ago? too bad. In three years? Too bad too.
Forth thing would be who you are. Comedians talk about the difference between being known versus being unknown. When you are unknown, you have to fight for the audience to laugh, to work harder. When you are known, they are laughing even if you don't do anything funny.
So a great script might depends on the context, the reader, and your level of success. What is your opinion about this?
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