Why do you think you are gonna make it?

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  • #16
    Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

    Ed Wood is my illegitimate grandfather.

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    • #17
      Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

      Originally posted by Baby_Neill View Post
      Well, Jamesfox, you've got some tough competition here. Talent and creativity are no match for my three skills: talent, creativity, and fabulous boobs.
      o rly?

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      • #18
        Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

        talent, creativity, and fabulous boobs.

        Anything more than a mouthful is a waste.


        Odo

        President Emeritus
        IBTC Men's Auxillary
        If you really like it you can have the rights
        It could make a million for you overnight

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        • #19
          Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

          Originally posted by Jamesfox View Post
          Why do you think you are gonna make it?
          I don't think I will.

          Sure, I'll have fun trying, but there is no reason to assume that I'll succeed. It's still a fun hobby for a mid-life crisis, though.

          For me, i know my writing is good(contests & script consultants) AND creativity is 2nd nature to me. I'm very creative.
          Naturally I think my writing is good (at least the best bits are) and naturally I also think that creativity is second nature to me. But let's be honest .. being good and creative isn't good enough.

          It is also easy to be wrong about how good we are, though. We've all seen examples where people have come to the board claiming that their script is 'good' and 'i have numerous people read it, and have had good reviews' only to post the script and find out that it gets ... well ... no good reviews.

          I wish I had your self-confidence.

          Good luck,

          Mac
          Last edited by Mac H.; 10-15-2007, 07:41 PM.
          New blogposts:
          *Followup - Seeking Investors in all the wrong places
          *Preselling your film - Learning from the Experts
          *Getting your indie film onto iTunes
          *Case Study - Estimating Film profits

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          • #20
            Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

            Because I drive to a job I don't like, yet I do it everyday.

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            • #21
              Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

              Because I'm good enough. I'm smart enough, and, doggone it, people like me.
              Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams telling myself it's not as hard, hard, hard as it seems.

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              • #22
                Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

                After getting close with one script I see how hard it is to move beyond a 'consider.' Perhaps harder now for unsold writers than ever before due to the economics of the industry.

                I stopped thinking about making it. I've chosen to focus on improving, experimenting, digging deep to get to an emotional core that will affect people who read my work.

                Although many will pile on saying a script does not have to be great to sell, my experience so far tells me a newbie's spec script has to really stand out in every way to be more than a one-sale-wonder.

                Managers and producers will blow smoke at you and allow you to believe you're better than you are. They'll send out scripts that aren't fully there yet and then drop a writer for the next best new thing.

                I'm now happy my script did not sell. I can honestly say it was adequate not great and definitley not as good as I can be.

                I can also say if it had sold it would have been a fluke and a one-sale wonder. Failing was a blessing in disguise.

                I can remain in the shadows and work on my craft until I feel I have -- not just "good, not just "good enough" -- but a great script to send out. That's my only goal right now. It'll take me another year, I estimate.
                Advice from writer, Kelly Sue DeConnick. "Try this: if you can replace your female character with a sexy lamp and the story still basically works, maybe you need another draft.-

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                • #23
                  Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

                  I'm also more lucky than unlucky.
                  Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams telling myself it's not as hard, hard, hard as it seems.

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                  • #24
                    Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

                    I have pictures of Jerry Bruckheimer with a sheep.



                    In an airport men's room.



                    Roofies. He gave the sheep roofies.



                    And called the sheep the N word, because it was a black sheep.



                    After a hard night of clubbing, he shot the sheep dead. He said to the chauffer, "I think I just made lambchops."



                    If you really like it you can have the rights
                    It could make a million for you overnight

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

                      Originally posted by odocoileus View Post
                      Anything more than a mouthful is a waste.
                      Hefner?
                      "you have to write right, right?" -- Todd Gordon

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

                        Did Hefner say that? I don't know. Seems like he held the opposite opinion, based on his work and his personal life. My college roommate used the expression alot, and I naturally adopted it.



                        Anyway, I'm not sure if I'm going to make it. I will have to be a relentless m*therf*cker. The script writing and all things related to it must be relentless. The networking and salesmanship must also be relentless.

                        If I am in fact a relentless m*therf*cker, I will make it.
                        If you really like it you can have the rights
                        It could make a million for you overnight

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Sing Along With Mr. X

                          First open this music by Gustav Luders in another window, then join in the Chorus to sing along with me.


                          I am the eminent Mr. X.

                          It's that Done Deal Fortean guy.

                          And, you can bet, I'm the best there is.

                          The very best, says he?

                          With my answers and posts,
                          And stories about ghosts,
                          I'll raise the hairs on your neck.
                          And if you'll forgive me all my boasts,
                          There're few myths I cannot wreck.

                          I am the eminent Mr. X,
                          Fortean, with a Canuck twist,
                          And, if there's ever a doubt,
                          As to what I'm about,
                          Well...you really don't know what you've missed.

                          You have? You have. You have!
                          For shame! For shame! For shame!

                          We have, kind sir. Please forgive us. And, tell us, that again.

                          I am the eminent Mr. X,
                          Fortean, with a Canuck twist,
                          And, if there's ever a doubt,
                          As to what I'm about,
                          Well...you really don't know what you've missed.

                          He says he's really named Mister X,
                          A twisted Canuck, and perfectly plain,
                          A mouse-wheel is squeaking in his too little brain.
                          Oh no, he's going to sing that old refrain!

                          I am the eminent Mr. X.

                          Must we suffer these ravings, again?

                          And, you can bet, I'm the best there is.

                          The very pest, say we!

                          If Hollywood is too rough,
                          I'll produce my own stuff,
                          Film it myself, splice the clips together,
                          Chat with Done Deal birds of a feather,
                          And, score songs about stormy weather.

                          I am the eminent Mister X,
                          I'm the very best there is,
                          Who'll make you and your friends so ill-at-ease,
                          When you see my film on the marquees.

                          You'll see. You'll see! You'll see!
                          It's me! It's me! It's me!

                          No, please! We wish you the best of luck, but you're like a disease!

                          I am the eminent Mr. X,
                          Fortean, with a Canuck twist,
                          And, if there's ever a doubt,
                          As to what I'm about,
                          Well...you really don't know what you've missed.

                          With every species of ache and pain,
                          Our heads are sore with a pronounced migraine.
                          We've suffered much too long,
                          With your supercilious song.
                          And you're to blame,
                          Damn you, Mr. X.
                          Last edited by Fortean; 10-14-2007, 05:53 PM.
                          JEKYLL & CANADA (free .mp4 download @ Vimeo.com)

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                          • #28
                            Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

                            Originally posted by Jamesfox View Post
                            Why do you think you are gonna make it?
                            Is this a trick question?

                            Did you mean to say, "What makes you think you, of all those struggling writers out there, can make it?"

                            Or did you mean: Are you crazy enough to think you're going to make it?

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

                              By getting lucky.

                              You're just kidding yourself if you think there is any other way.

                              Sure, some talent and creativity and all that is great, but at the end of the day it's about being at the right place in the right time with the right people, etc.

                              It's all about luck. Then you have to NETWORK as well. Really, it's not terribly hard to get the door to crack open, but you need to open that heavy-ass door yourself. It's not easy and it'll involve some luck, but I personally don't believe it's all about writing and true talent. There is so many more variables... and to get everything working... well, like I said, you gotta be lucky.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Re: Why do you think you are gonna make it?

                                Originally posted by JayKid View Post
                                By getting lucky.

                                You're just kidding yourself if you think there is any other way.

                                Sure, some talent and creativity and all that is great, but at the end of the day it's about being at the right place in the right time with the right people, etc.

                                It's all about luck. Then you have to NETWORK as well. Really, it's not terribly hard to get the door to crack open, but you need to open that heavy-ass door yourself. It's not easy and it'll involve some luck, but I personally don't believe it's all about writing and true talent. There is so many more variables... and to get everything working... well, like I said, you gotta be lucky.
                                JK,

                                "Luck" is when persistence meets opportunity. You make your own luck. And it's easier to make "good luck" when you're talented.

                                I've used the following analogy before, but it works, so here it is again:
                                • Building a creative career is like building a fire. Your "product" (scripts, demo reel, etc.) is your stack of logs. The better you use the different elements (kindling, paper, dry wood), the less matches you'll need to get the fire going.
                                • Your connections are matches. They can start the whole thing going, but they only work once. And they can't do sh!t with a poorly constructed "stack".
                                • Oh, and even if you stack the logs perfectly, and spend a decade collecting countless matches, it can still be a rainy or windy day (see: wga strike). So timing is an issue.


                                Back to the original poster's question. I personally will make it because I've created a "good stack" of viable projects (a 35mm short film, and three contest-placing feature scripts - one specifically that can be made for a modest budget). I've also made many valuable connections over the last decade. And, most recently - after directing and producing the short film - I've found I can even roll with the politicking neccessary to get a story from script to screen - and even maintain some semblance of flexible control! (sometimes)

                                Anyway, that's my 02. I think you really do yourself a disservice to write off success to "luck" and not give yourself an active role in making it happen.

                                Cheers,

                                Adam
                                "I've got vision up the butt, so just go with it!" - Dewey Finn, School of Rock

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