ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

11 years, 7 months ago - Dan Selakovich

If your scripts are written anything like this post, you're in trouble already. Not trying to be a dick, but it's just the reality. Make sure your scripts are free from typos, misspellings, and your sentences meet basic grammar requirements. If you do get a shot, sloppy writing will kill any chance with a producer or agent.

As a toe in the water move, you might try "script pitch" here on Shooting People.

11 years, 7 months ago - John David Clay

Paddy,

Thanks for the book ref I'll read it soonish.

Many new year regards!

John

11 years, 7 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

I have to say ISBN 978-1-4391-8676-3 'Writing movies for [fun and] profit' is a great and probably useful read. It's quite colloquial in style and downright irritating at times, but the bulk of the content is actually good and quite specific. And the guys that wrote the book - their scripts have grossed over $1.5 BILLION (Billion, not Million - people often underestimate how big a Billion is so to give you a feel - a million seconds is 11 days, a billion seconds is 31 years!). Over a billion and a half dollars gross. If they turn up at your office pitching a script, you'll pay attention just in case you get another 'Night at the Museum'. Read their book.

11 years, 7 months ago - John David Clay

Thanks Dan, consentration problems leads to the typos, I tend to spend a lot of time removing mistakes from other people's as much as my own. but thanks for the sugestion and best regards

John

11 years, 7 months ago - Vasco de Sousa

John,
Happy New Year. I think you need to focus. I'm focusing on writing at the moment, because I've always been interested in poetry and I finally admit that I'm pretty slow at 3D and driving.

However, if I could drive, I'd be a runner and then do stunt work. Not because I like it better than writing, but because there are more jobs in it.

People on SP disrespect writers. The highest pay I've seen on this website for a writer has been about the equivalent of minimum wage (and that required the writer to have full IMDb feature credits.)

One thing to notice is that people don't tend to commission you to write your own idea. There are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of good completed screenplays out there. They commission you to write theirs, because they have terrible spelling or they can't communicate from being too tired. Or, they have trouble communicating in another way.

Some of these pay well, most don't.

The problem is, in the UK, more people want to be writers than footballers. That's right, there are hundreds of thousands of would be writers willing to work for peanuts or nothing. So, it's probably the most competitive field there is. (It is on SP.)

And, don't make excuses, get sleep. Get a spell check on your browser (Chrome and Firefox have them, Apple has them.)

Best wishes and prosperity in the New Year.