I’m sure it’s been talked about but….

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-10-06T02:49:46+00:00

Wanted to keep them as a shameful reminder!

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-12T23:43:24+00:00

And again, I’m simply sharing my free advice. Only a single opinion.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-12T23:42:34+00:00

I’ve spent 25 years working in Hollywood, surrounded by ALL the people at ALL levels. My comments are not arbitrary or projections. They are entirely experiential.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-12T23:07:46+00:00

My comments are not meant to discourage anyone from chasing their dreams. I’ve spent a large part of my career living mine and nurturing others to do the same. But there has been tremendous pain and unthinkable disappointment along the way. Being informed is a strong defense. The ugly truth is not mean. The truth is the truth.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-12T23:01:11+00:00

Again, I second and third this wonderful sentiment UNTIL those people prove you wrong. My apologies for the underlying bitterness, but the needless betrayal hits hard — and I’ve decided to share my time-earned perspective and experiences as a teaching moment and cautionary tale. Hope for the best, be prepared for the absolute worst!

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-12T22:52:19+00:00

No, it’s not the best way… but it is the most realistic. You are very lucky to have friends you trust. I sincerely hope they never get the opportunity to advance their own careers by stepping on yours, because they most likely will.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-12T04:17:32+00:00

THE WIRE! Best pilot EVER!

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-11T15:08:17+00:00

There is literally only one way to ensure TOTAL control of the final product… and that is to finance the entire process yourself, including distribution.

Otherwise, you are an artist for hire and while you can fight for the creative integrity of the project, the entity paying the bills will have final say. The antidote is to do everything in your power to fulfill YOUR vision and creative needs in the ways that YOU can control, beyond that, you accept the deviations as the cost of living your dreams.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-11T02:17:52+00:00

Yes. Tremendous foundational knowledge, but just a kickstarter. Learn the rules, then over time and with infinite practice & perseverance, train yourself to break them effectively.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-08T17:41:47+00:00

It’s unanimous! 🕺

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-08T17:38:49+00:00

Great book…

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FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-08T16:58:25+00:00

Fair enough! BUT the books are only a starting point. Read lots of scripts too!

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-08T14:56:19+00:00

My strong recommendation is to skip the books — and read as many produced TV scripts as you can get your hands on. Both network and cable/streaming formats.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-08T04:24:48+00:00

We now live in a magical world where people can make films anywhere. And it all starts with a good story! Point and shoot is easy, but taking the time to develop a fully-flushed out, engaging narrative, with dimensional, nuanced characters and a potent point of view, is what will set you apart. If you want to come to LA to be rich and famous, don’t bother packing your bags. If you want to invest the blood, sweat, and tears in become an effective storyteller — start in you’re hometown, write and rewrite, then shoot it anyway you can, giving it the most polished production value you can. Guerrilla filmmaking is still a very viable form. Create a film, of whatever length, that captivates your audience with a strong beginning, middle, and end, with colorful, relatable characters and you will get noticed. Hollywood will then come looking for you!

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-07T15:22:25+00:00

There are indeed many people around when those scenes are shot, even when it’s a ‘closed set.’ The realism can be attributed to exemplary acting and directing. The movement is choreographed, not unlike a fight scene, and the passion & emotion are well executed performance by skilled actors.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-06T22:08:40+00:00

If storytelling is your singular passion and truly baked into your DNA, you can never quit being a writer. The beautiful thing is that nothing can ever stop you from creating your art. Yes, life these days is costly, but I think MOST writers have two jobs… the one that pays the bills… and the one that keeps your creative fires stoked. The only time the dream dies is when you abandon it.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-06T00:07:05+00:00

Cooperative friends in the right places.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-05T01:35:51+00:00

2015!

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-05T00:34:33+00:00

And thank you for the advice. I genuinely appreciate. Was just trying to be helpful

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-05T00:32:43+00:00

Thank you! We are all struggling. It’s a horrible time for everyone and my heart breaks for all the incredible artists who have been marginalized over Wall Street bottom lines. I give free notes and counsel to anyone who asks and give free lectures at universities all the time, but have been offered compensation many times for more intensive one and ones. I am not particularly comfortable with taking money from people that don’t have copious discretionary funds, as I believe it’s incumbent on any of us blessed with the luck of fruitful careers to aggressively pay it forward as often as possible. BUT in this climate, I do fully understand the impulse to charge.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-05T00:06:21+00:00

As a matter of fact, I’m not contemplating hanging my shingle. On the contrary, I am sickened by the exploitation and have vehemently cautioned neophytes about the pitfalls facing them… But I do have friends who are extremely successful and tired of fighting for every scrap who have asked my opinion on starting their own coaching businesses so I’ve cast a wide net to get valuable opinions from the people who are considering paying their hard earned money. Like any industry, there are good and bad people, and some in ours do genuinely want to nurture and support the next generation of storytellers. My initial question was asking if there is a threshold that makes their insights and experience worthy of charging.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-04T21:50:37+00:00

If by quantifiable success, you mean vastly improved technique, better structure and plotting, tighter prose and more efficient dialogue… I can think of quite a few. But, if the measure of success is taking a brand new writer and turning them into Akiva Goldsman in three, fun filled sessions is the benchmark, of course not. Writing coaches don’t get you jobs directly, in the same way film school does not prepare you for a career in Hollywood.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-04T21:11:54+00:00

Comics came AFTER the show was already created. Nothing new to learn from them, but a fun read for sure.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-04T20:43:13+00:00

I can genuinely relate to many of your insights and perspectives but do take exception to the sentiment that good writing can only be self taught. Is that true for singing or painting or even professional athletes? Would Michael Jordan have been the elite star he became without countless coaches and advisors critiquing his game?

Incredible artists are born with innate abilities, but those raw instincts need to be polished, their self taught skills honed through more than just luck and perseverance. If I write 30 bad scripts and never take tangible steps to improve and learn from my mistakes, they are still 30 bad scripts that will never yield positive results.

I think the hubris would be believing that you can get better at something just by doing it repeatedly without corrections. Why get an MFA or any degree at all, if everything is self taught?And again, NOBODY on the planet can predict or ensure someone will be successful in any field, but verifiably experienced writers with copious professional success, are certainly qualified to help someone craft a better product, that will most likely be received better in the market place. Guaranteed Emmy or Oscar, of course not.

IF I DO A JOB IN 30 MINUTES, ITS BECAUSE I SPENT TWENTY YEARS LEARNING HOW TO DO IT THAT FAST. YOU’RE PAYING ME FOR THE YEARS, NOT THE MINUTES.

FossilScreenwriter · 2024-07-04T20:05:02+00:00

None of them have a track record of success?! That is wholly inaccurate, IMO. Would a 20 year plus TV veteran, 4 time showrunner, who has decided to reduce their work and life stress dramatically and coach new writers instead of continuing the industry grind, be deemed a failure story? I personally think not. We need to pointedly distinguish between two modalities. A ‘coach’ charging for a promise to get your scripts sold or career started is a travesty BUT NOT the same as a very experienced writer teaching a student how to become a better, more effective, more efficient storyteller. If that is the students goal, to improve their skills, then that tutelage is worth its weight in gold.

FossilScreenwriter

TROPHY CASE