lazarusInfinity: The Life and Times of a Screenwriter

?? ? While on my quest to break through the proverbial door of Hollywood, many people along the way have asked me questions not just about screenwriting, but all of writing in general. ?It's an idea for a blog that I've tried not to write simply because I do not see myself as someone qualified to teach on this subject. ?I'm still developing my voice and sharpening my skills with motifs, character arcs, etc. ?Nonetheless, what follows are some musings for those that have asked. ?Hopefully this will be of some help and I will not have let you down.
?? ? Believe it or not, writing (if you're serious about it) is no different from any relationship. ?You only get out of it what you put into it. ?It's a true labor of love that you simply have to invest time and patience into or else it's not going to work. ?Like many people out there, you have a germ of an idea in your head. ?Whether you're writing a poem, short story or a screenplay, you know how it ends-the challenge lies in the journey to get there. ?What follows next are days, weeks, months and even years molding your brainchild into existence. ?So let's get right into it and go over a few questions/misconceptions...

How much money can I make as a screenwriter?
This is the one question I always get asked the most. ?Speaking as someone who's not yet in the business, I can give you estimates but I'd rather not. ?Would you like to know why? ?If your starting motivation for becoming a screenwriter is money, FORGET IT NOW. ?While it's very true that you can make significant amounts of cash writing for film, your primary motivation for attempting what is an extremely challenging venture should be PASSION, not PROFIT. ?Did you know that there are scores of people out there who have an MFA in screenwriting yet have never sold a single script? ?Sad but true, this is not a business for the weak. ?I've put in over 10 years writing and rewriting and studying and sharpening my skills as a writer. ?It's not a 'fly by night, paint by the numbers' scheme. ?By being crazy enough to pursue screenwriting as a career, you've now joined the masses of people out there who all have the same goal in mind. ?Bottom line: focus on your craft and forget about the Ferraris and supermodels. ?You have to be in this for the long haul, and dedication is key.


How hard is it to write a screenplay?
See above. ?It's always amazed me how someone can watch a great actor in a film give a magnificent, nuanced performance and automatically understand that it's a true craft. ?They understand that this person is a trained actor, probably on stage (the best actors usually are) and has put years into their work. ?They know full well that they could never just jump in front of a camera and 'wing' the same performance. ?Yet for some strange reason, that same person will read an article about an average guy who sold a screenplay for six figures and automatically assume: 'Hey I can do that!" ?Sorry...no you can't. ?And just to be clear, here are some cold facts to digest:

• Your first screenplay is probably going to suck.
• Your second screenplay is probably going to suck.
• Your third screenplay is probably going to suck.
• Your fourth screenplay is probably going to suck...but will show signs of promise.

Please don't take that as a deterrent to writing, you just have to understand the game you're getting into. ?Writing takes time, and writing a screenplay is no different. ?Bear in mind that we're just talking about writing a screenplay.??We haven't even approached the issue of actually marketing and selling?your script. ?Starting to get the picture? ?Keep reading.

How can I get into a writing regimen?

This can vary per person. ?If you're like me, you probably have to put in 40 hours a week on a job to pay bills, so finding a 'schedule' will be an issue but possible. ?When you think of the task of sitting in front of a computer and writing a 90-120 page script, it can get scary. ?Like anything else in life, take it one step at a time. ?While there are many ways to go about this, I usually will try to set a daily goal of 10 pages. ?It's a small number that's pretty easy to manage. ?If you're thinking in terms of 10 on a daily basis, 120 pages all of a sudden doesn't seem so challenging. ?Just bear in mind that all of writing requires rewriting. ?It's the nature of the beast.

Write your first draft from your heart and your second from your head.

Don't try to focus on fancy movie trailers, soundtracks or who's going to star in your film. ?JUST WRITE IT. ?Your first draft is simply where you create your world and your characters. ?There will be tons of mistakes to correct but that's not the issue. ?Your job the first time out is to simply CREATE. ?Visualize what you want your story to be about, who your characters and their conflicts are and how the story will end. ?Once your first draft is done, be proud in the fact that you have now done something that most people will never do. ?It's not about selling the script...it's about the discipline involved in writing it. Once you've finished, take a week or two to distance yourself from what you've created. ?This will give you time to decompress, enjoy life and refresh yourself before getting back to it. ?Once that grace period is over, then you can go back to your script and focus on things like structure, character arcs, motifs, etc.

What movies would you suggest seeing?

If you're looking to pursue screenwriting, naturally you want to see any film that either won or was nominated for an Academy Award. ?It's a no brainer. ?Critical acclaim is great, but don't forget the power of the box office as well. ?Personally, I thought Transformers?sucked...but somebody wrote the script and look at how much money it made. ?That somebody could be you one day! ?Now here are some of my favorites that anyone looking to pursue a career in screenwriting simply MUST see.

• The Usual Suspects
• Chinatown
• Do The Right Thing
• Quiz Show
• Get Shorty
• Pulp Fiction
• The Great Dictator
• Inception
• The Maltese Falcon
• Im Juli

Along with these titles, also be sure to checkout movies that were either poorly rated or didn't do so well at the box office. ?Why?? ?It's always good to learn from others mistakes. ?This way you can avoid making them.

Should I move to Hollywood?

Oh how I wish I could turn back time on this one. ?I would've saved myself a considerable amount of pain, both professionally and personally. ?While you should definitely make yourself available for meetings when the opportunity presents itself, until those days start coming STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. ?Writing a screenplay is hectic enough. ?Why give up the safety and familiar surroundings of home to venture to a new place where nearly everyone is fighting for the same goal as you.

How do I write a screenplay?

While there are countless book titles, articles, workshops etc to choose from, the beginning of this article has a link to one of THE most insightful and profound books on writing. ?'The Art of Dramatic Writing' by Lajos Egri will challenge and inspire you to give structure and life to the stories in your head. ?The best thing about the book is that it works for novelists, playwrights and screenwriters. ?The concepts are so universal, drawing from tons of gems from the modern and classical theater. ?Before you begin to immerse yourself in the world of agents and query letters, this book is where your journey begins.

?? ? Well there you have it. ?I could go on forever, but there are countless others far more qualified than I to give lessons on screenwriting. ?The main point that I would stress is the discipline of writing. ?It's real easy to hang out with friends at a bar and say "I'm working on a screenplay." ?Those who are serious about it are those who sit at home during the late hours of night in front of the computer screen. ?True, it's a challenging adventure but speaking as a writer, it's more than worth it.

Writing a screenplay is like intense sex. ?Don't be in such a rush to finish...just enjoy the journey. ?You just might learn something.

Source: http://lazarusinfinity.blogspot.com/2011/07/life-and-times-of-screenwriter.html

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