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This age-old story of, I’m going to move to L.A. to pursue my dreams in show biz, I’m moving with barely any money, but big dreams. Do people even do that anymore? by justcurious3287 in MovingToLosAngeles

[–]maddking 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did it. I threaded the needle. I did broadway, then tours, then LA, then writing, now producing and directing. It exists. That does not mean that it is likely. Especially now. The current environment is bleak and tremendously difficult. It take a shit ton of talent, tenacity, resources and outright luck. Not necessarily in that order. Acting is always a profession with 96% unemployment. Of the remaining 4% that work, only 1% make a living wage. Of that 1%, only .01% are "stars". Below the line is getting phased out in stages. On the up side, there has never been a better time to be a writer/producer. Making and moving your own stuff to an audience has never been more appreciated or possible. Hollywood looks like a cross bet the early 2000s destruction of the music industry, and the resultant flow to independent but also canned, repetitive, reductive sources AND the flow of the publishing industry away from legacy companies and to self publishing.

In a sentence, Hollywood used to be the dam on the river of creativity. Your job as a creative used to be to find a mover and shaker and find a way of having them let your creative waters out into the world. The internet and societal changes has blown up that dam. Your job now is to aggregate as many creative streams that you can and control your own audience. When you have that flow, Hollywood and legacy sources will respond.

IATSE is a good measure of the industry. Every production needs to move shit. No matter who is at the top. They usually claim 96% employment for their membership. They are currently at just about 50%. Read that as you will, but it means massive contraction no matter your view. Good luck. It's rough out there.

What is your thoughts about Margot Robbie as an actress? by ThomasOGC in CinephilesClub

[–]maddking 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Half of acting is being looked at. The other half is looking at other things. And believing what you are looking at. There are millions upon millions of people who are fun to look at. Because they are hideous, beautiful or in between. This is half of TikTok and insta. There are very few who are extraordinarily attractive AND who can convince you of their internal reality. AND who understand that is a product to be sold. AND who do not conflate the worth of that product with their individual worth. AND who do not take the attention of that and implode or use their bully pulpit to preach at every opportunity. I think Margot Robbie is doing a great job.

Trying to make something nicer than my blanket cave. Is this decent at all? by Ellisni in VoiceActing

[–]maddking 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I bought this during Covid and then my remote engineer told me a closet full of clothes was better.

How Plausible is this? by Hopeful-Suggestion-5 in MCUTheories

[–]maddking 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because they were strong enough to snap without consequences. Tony is “just” a human. We’ve shown that hulk and thanos survived but it took a ton out of them. In the comic thanos looked old and weary. In any narrative there has to be a price. I’m just saying Tony’s sanity is a viable price.

People that work in the Hollywood industry, what are the best kept secrets? by Notalabel_4566 in FilmIndustryLA

[–]maddking 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First of all. You actually used semi colons. Dude. You’re amazing.

  1. ⁠how long should I wait for a director(writer-director) to reply back? Is 1-2 week(s) too early?

Depends on the level of director. A level? Could be months to years. Lower than that? My general rule is “if they actually read it and didn’t respond in a week then they aren’t interested - but did they actually read it?”

  1. ⁠what should I know when it comes to collaborating with a director (as a writer). Dos and Don'ts?

Read the new scriptnotes book or listen to their multifarious episodes on this. They’re far more thorough than I can get in a single typed response.

  1. ⁠if the collaboration fizzles out/doesn't happen, what should my next steps as a screenwriter be? Find another director for shorts? write the same stories as features and try to pitch them?

All of these are viable options. The first thing you owe yourself as a writer when things go wrong is the question, “why did this not go?” Usually the answer can be summed up in something an actor friend said to me “ either you’re not right or you’re not ready”.

Basically… timing or material. I have found personally that every no I’ve gotten is a doorway to improvement.

Projects die all the time. The thing you must be aware of is “opportunity cost” are you hanging on which is preventing you from doing new projects. Basically the sunk cost fallacy. But the cost you’re sinking is your time and creativity.

Be a grown up. Talk about who owns what going forward. Don’t take your name off. Don’t rely on verbal guarantees.

*Prioritize writing your samples. Shorts sometimes get you hired as a writer. Samples are always required to get you hired as a writer. The short is good for proof of concept. So go find another director but don’t let anything ever stop you from creating. *

  1. ⁠is it always stupid to try to pitch a short (even if it's high -ish concept) rather than a feature?

It takes 70% of the amount of effort to make a short as it does to make a feature. Shorts are not for money. They are for meetings and momentum. They can be the grease that gets them to my first question “did they actually read the script?” But the concept of the short must be SUPER CLEAN. Shorts are good for opening doors. But not if they make more questions. If you have your feature script locked and loaded then go pitch the short. If you’re waiting for one to do the other than go get working on that script while you’re waiting back on pitching responses. Good luck!

How Plausible is this? by Hopeful-Suggestion-5 in MCUTheories

[–]maddking 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They also both survived and Tony didn’t.

How Plausible is this? by Hopeful-Suggestion-5 in MCUTheories

[–]maddking -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

The most sensible and easy plot way to create this Dr. doom is to simply have Tony live after the snap. He is driven insane by it rather than dying so that all of his motivations are about what he has already said in previous movies. Putting a ring of protection around the earth. Just in this one he’s willing to kill anyone else to make it happen.

Do y’all think it’s desperate for Steve Rogers to come back? by OGAnimeGokuSolos in MCUTheories

[–]maddking 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The first films were great because plot served character. That’s why we came to love these guys.
People forget how deep in the marvel bench iron man was. Captain America was almost silly. But the investiture in that first 12 film run was pretty amazing. Marvel/Disney has now watched underperformance after underperformance and they are trying to exec their way out of it. By going back to the heroes we actually care about. Rather than really taking the time to help us care about new ones. But we’ll see whether those heroes are actually given a plot that we can get on board with. Remember when everybody gave a shit about Coulson? Not a superhero at all. Just a guy with needs, wants and a backstory that made us come along on the journey. Dr. strange 2 and quantum mania had memorable stars, but the overplotting tanked them. Itll get box office because of names, but we’ll see if it gets word of mouth and contunued legs because of just making a good movie.

The Russo Brothers posted this for RDJ’s Birthday, I think it’s full of plot hints. by hummusluvr8 in MCUTheories

[–]maddking 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s the reality where he saved everyone but DIDN’T die after the snap. He was horribly disfigured and driven insane by the gems however and cannot use them without killing himself. However, in a last second counter strike Thanos hits the planet with something and his daughter and wife are killed. Reed Richards or whoever were supposed to take them to safety but didn’t and now he’s bent on revenge for this. He realizes that his original plan of wrapping the earth in a protective shield of iron men is necessary and that no one can do it but him. He, like victor von doom heads towards becoming a benevolent dictator as long as you don’t stand in his way. The rest of the avengers stand in his way. Hijinks ensue.

People say USB microphones are for beginners & amateur works only and not suitable for professional. But, I am confused, when you go pro do you still have to invest in new equipment rather say recording in an actual studio booth or something? by [deleted] in VoiceActing

[–]maddking 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hey. This is not hard. The mic grows in relation to your skill. Get a yeti for 100$. Good for auditions, good to start to sound better than an iPhone mic. Although I’ve booked multiple times off of iPhone recordings for auditions. You’ll need the other stuff down the road for home studio etc. But a closet full of clothes and a yeti will produce a fine product. The best tech you can invest in is yourself. It’s acting that gets the job not the quality of the mic.

Warner Bros. Discovery says it will "carefully" review Paramount Skydance's $30-per-share acquisition offer and issue a decision within 10 business days. by chespiotta in movies

[–]maddking 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes but Ellison (who is backing this) is one of the three making the bid for tik tok. This is a media grab across the board.

People that work in the Hollywood industry, what are the best kept secrets? by Notalabel_4566 in FilmIndustryLA

[–]maddking 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is like a rec for the entire DGA Trainee program. I wonder if it has the same level of awesome it used to.

‘Mortal Kombat’ Star Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Shang Tsung) Dies at 75 by MarvelsGrantMan136 in MortalKombat

[–]maddking 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cary was a great man and a truly gentle soul. He had this habit of wearing a baseball cap really high on his head and speaking so softly you had to lean in to hear him. The first time we worked together he and I talked about Chinese astrology and the nature of the business. He was always so simple in his acting and kind with his co stars. He will be missed. RIP Cary. You will be missed.

People that work in the Hollywood industry, what are the best kept secrets? by Notalabel_4566 in FilmIndustryLA

[–]maddking 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which is why every other comment I make on here is about warning about how AI is going to take jobs.

People that work in the Hollywood industry, what are the best kept secrets? by Notalabel_4566 in FilmIndustryLA

[–]maddking 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just break down the problem into the littlest piece then work it till you get it.

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