3 - 2 - 1 Screenwriting: War of Attrition, Comic Books, and Changing The Game
3 Thoughts
Oftentimes it is not really how good you are that predicts success in this industry. It’s more so a war of attrition and who you know.
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Around the office: You may have heard the go-to way to get a first feature under your belt is to film a short that’s really a “proof of concept” - you take it to a bunch of festivals and when anyone asks, “have you considered turning this into a feature?” You go, “Hell yes I have” and whip out your completed feature screenplay on the spot. (Please don’t actually do this right on the spot, no one wants to read your screenplay while they’re at a party)
This is still a great strategy, but it seems a new one is taking root: comic books and short stories. Taking the time to publish a work in this medium lays the foundation for turning your story into a feature or a show. It also helps protect your own personal IP to a much greater extent than you might think.
Part of me definitely thinks, ‘how far do you really have to back up to make a feature? It seems silly’ - yet, this IS happening.”
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You can actually do a lot of the work your manager would do for you, yourself. It’s really not that hard. It’s just time consuming and takes the willingness and skill (because this is a skill) to reach out to people you don’t know and develop relationships. You should build and hone this skill no matter what. An agent or manager will only be able to dedicate so much time to each client. Help them help you by being an active participant in your own career.
2 Quotes
Robert McKee, STORY:
“The archetypal story unearths a universally human experience, then wraps itself inside a unique, culture-specific expression. A stereotypical story reverses this pattern: It suffers a poverty of both content and form.”
Guidara, Will. Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect - I’m nearly done with this book and guys, it has some gems. Highly recommend,
“No one who ever changed the game did so by being reasonable. Serena Williams. Walt Disney. Steve Jobs. Martin Scorsese. Prince. Look across every discipline, in every arena—sports, entertainment, design, technology, finance—you need to be unreasonable to see a world that doesn’t yet exist.”
1 Question
What would a successful screenwriter do if they were in your shoes?
Until next week,
Kate Gaulke
