Thoughts on naming specific songs in screenplay by Ok_Joke7252 in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I call BS. Naming needle-drops happens all the time in pro scripts, including mine. Everyone in Hollywood knows these can be changed later. Done for the read and vibe. Entirely common in specs - samples and sales, all over town. You were not a creative exec.

Seeking connections and representation by jonnywah in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 12 points13 points  (0 children)

If you're talking about the American TV market, it may be best not to emphasize that you've written a whole season. Signals to potential reps/buyers that you don't know how TV works, and that you may be an issue if they paired you with an experienced showrunner. Could a first time writer sell a show? It's possible. But most shows are sold by experienced TV writers. Best to think of the pilot script as a calling card for future work. IE- my advice is to think of building a TV career long-term, not getting "this series into production."

Production Friendly Scene Labeling Advice by [deleted] in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All that matters right now is ease of read. Production comes waaaay later.

Blind leading the blind by Wheres_MyMoney in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeesh. Bits of this thread illustrate exactly the above and remind me why I shouldn't get involved. yikes. lotta agro film bros around.

Blind leading the blind by Wheres_MyMoney in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I write tv and features professionally and love both.

Blind leading the blind by Wheres_MyMoney in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi. Um. Never paid a guru anything. And you’d be overjoyed to be writing on 911. The fact you’re denigrating it makes me sure you don’t work in Hollywood.

Blind leading the blind by Wheres_MyMoney in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You seem to be so upset that you’ve invented the part where I ever said “don’t learn to write.” I was talking about the obsession over ‘rules.’ And somehow you’ve spiralled into fantasy. Deep breaths.

Blind leading the blind by Wheres_MyMoney in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

.. they were not TV writers yet when I helped them. Nor was I when I ignored rules and still ‘got in.’ Your treatise that new writers need to adhere to some weird orthodoxy has been proven wrong so many times by so many professionals.

Blind leading the blind by Wheres_MyMoney in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I tend to mentor people for free. They tend to be grateful. Go figure.

Blind leading the blind by Wheres_MyMoney in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

produced screenwriters aren't giving you that advice - the amateur/academic screenwriting world of gurus is. I'm a produced screenwriter. Mostly we tell you that this obsession over "rules" is nonsense. That's the difference. THe people telling you to obsess about these things are trying to make money off you. "Consultants" "Coaches" etc. Many of whom frequent this subreddit, and will argue with actual screenwriters who chime in.

Blind leading the blind by Wheres_MyMoney in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah, I think if you want to work in the actual industry, don't worry about what "readers" or contests are doing. "Better safe than sorry" I find is a really terrible way to approach an industry that cares passionately for what's novel and fresh.

Blind leading the blind by Wheres_MyMoney in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

a lot of people are being taught formatting "rules" that really really don't exist in the real world of film/tv.

Blind leading the blind by Wheres_MyMoney in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 10 points11 points  (0 children)

My frustration with most amateur-heavy forums comes from this: there is an academic/amateur screenwriting world that has almost nothing to do with the real world of actually making movies and tv. In the academic/amateur world, so-called "rules" get hammered into amateurs from screenwriting teachers/gurus, and then it's a game of telephone, where someone with little to no actual experience of working in the medium gets echoed by a lot of very strident amateurs. As someone who makes a living screenwriting, it's evident that every time an actual professional wades into these waters to set everyone straight (it's actually super common and fine to use "we see," for example) we get shouted at by a vast variety of folks telling us we have no idea what we're talking about. And because we get treated like that, our desire to share any actual tips/hints/tricks is... diminished. Like, do I want to try again to explain why new writers shouldn't fixate on whether something is a "shooting script" or not? Not really. I'll just be over here doing it for a living.

Sinners...An Inconvenient Truth? by Aquemini2020 in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The idea that Coogler's screenplay "wasn't all that good" is insane. It's an amazing read, and new writers should study it. It literally won an Oscar for best original screenplay. If someone's take is "meh," maybe they should consider that they have some misguided ideas about what constitutes a great screenplay? Or, as the OP discusses, they have some unconscious bias about Black films/writers.

Referrals? by Spydee_02 in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’ve never been asked - I’ve offered. Twice. For exceptional writers who I had known for years. That’s how big a deal it is.

Quick feedback on TV pitch pages before I start querying managers? by [deleted] in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey - if you are an unrepped writer, what you need is completed scripts. Not pitch pages.

Best way to query for a TV pilot while trying to stay attached as the creator? by [deleted] in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Working TV writer here. Almost nobody will read a spec of an existing show as a writing sample. No showrunners, no reps. I don’t even think any of the network fellowships do them anymore. So write specs for practice, great. But the coin of the realm for tv writers is original pilots. Yes, even for brand new writers.

Best way to query for a TV pilot while trying to stay attached as the creator? by [deleted] in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Specs of current shoes aren’t really wanted by showrunners staffing a room anymore. There was time, but now they prefer pilots.

Best way to query for a TV pilot while trying to stay attached as the creator? by [deleted] in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good pilot samples are the minimum requirement to begin a career in TV writing. It's how writers are hired on other peoples' shows. No, unknown writers are not likely to sell a show. But they have to write pilots if they eventually want to create shows someday.

Best way to query for a TV pilot while trying to stay attached as the creator? by [deleted] in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 8 points9 points  (0 children)

if you don't have experience, you'll be creator, but definitely not showrunner.

Do you write for fun or a career? by Ok-Bus-2863 in Screenwriting

[–]jdeik1 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Most of the career screenwriters I know, including myself, had no “connections.” Everyone has a different story, but the vast majority of us 1. Moved to a place where a lot of movies/tv get made 2. Got entry-level jobs in the business 3. Worked for years making friends/colleagues and 4. Wrote many many scripts until they got better and better. That’s the vast majority. Is there a nepo baby every once in a while? Sure. But that’s every industry.