This past week, I got to do one of my favorite things, which was Zoom with a class of people in film school who had a lot of questions about screenwriting and Hollywood. One of the main things they wanted to talk to me about was their ideas. And it was impressive, they had a ton of ideas for stories that reinvigorated me for the future of our industry. But then I had to play buzzkill. See, ideas are great. But if I had a nickel for every time I heard someone's idea or every time I had an idea...I wouldn't be writing for No Film School. I'd be on my private island. The way to have a long career as a writer in Hollywood is not endless ideas. It's the ability to take those ideas and turn them into finished drafts of screenplays. Let me explain. 'John Wick' CREDIT: Lionsgate Bad Finished Scripts > Great Ideas You've heard the adage many times before, but all writing is rewriting. And even if you have a bad first draft done, that's way better than just having a great idea. Great ideas can get you a meeting or start a conversation. But at some point, someone is going to ask for the finished screenplay to read. I've sold pitches in the room; it feels great, but it was also so long ago. Right now, it feels like most writers are taking their great ideas and producing spec screenplays and selling those, because...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Yesterday