Is it just me or does it seem like:
1. The industry is commiting suicide? Everyone talks about how revenues are down, movies all suck, nothing original is being produced, and yet they don't let anyone new in? I have all this great material, but it doesn't matter. I could be the greatest writer who ever lived and that still wouldn't matter. No wonder Hollywood is so far from thriving. This is so ridiculously frustrating!
2. The guild's only concern is protecting the status quo? The industry needs new blood, cause the stuff they got now is seriously disease ridden. Even the stuff the industry pro's are putting out is just shit! Wes Craven, John Carpenter, Kevin Williamson, etc... their recent stuff has just been horrible! yet they still keep cranking them out and Hollywood keeps on sucking.
Anyways, done venting. Before I go get some spagetti anyone else have some ranting they'd like to do? This place has been pretty quiet lately.
Dis,
Well, I can certainly relate to your frustration. The business is frustrating on most levels. And although it is and always will be tough to break into the business, new writers are getting in. Although it may not seem like it in some ways a new writer has a better chance than I do.
As a matter of fact, I have been the front-runner on two big projects. I lost both to new guys. I'm not saying they were talentless. I hope they were because at the end of the day I want to see good movies get made. But more and more I think the writers, whether established or brand new simply don't have the power to make the magic anymore.
But as for me losing out to new writers...well...
First off, I'm more expensive.
Second, a new writer always has the chance to become the "next big thing" and every executive/producer in the business wants to be the person who finds or found the "next big thing".
A good friend of mine who's been struggling with this business for ten years just caught his break. Based on a script he wrote, the executives and even his agency are looking at him as the possible "next big thing".
So new writers are getting in the door. But here's what's not getting in the door...or not as much as it used to. The New Idea. My friend has written a script based on 30 year old movie. A Remake. (Of course, he did the leg work. He went to the person who owned the rights and cut a deal before writing the script - FYI)
Hollywood loves the remake right now. Truth is, Hollywood loves anything that covers their bottoms in the case of a flop. A remake, A comic book, a Novel, A video game, even a ride at Disney or an Historical event. If a movie flops the exec or producer can always make a case that, "Hey, we did our part. We took an idea that was already proven with the public. Not my fault."
It won't always be this way. Hollywood runs in cycles. Very soon some company will release an original movie that shoves down 100 million in a weekend and suddenly everyone will be looking for new ideas again.
And although I won't argue that Hollywood could use some new blood, new blood won't solve the problem. The problem is very simple. The screenwriter...the guy or gal with the vision...gots no power. Sadly, even the industry pros have lost their foothold on control.
We now work in a business where the guy who controls the money and his or her "people" have the final say in how the story plays out. You can throw all the new blood you want at this situation but until Hollywood starts allowing the talent to make the products...most films will struggle in the end.
A great and concise response to his post, Todd!
You pretty much summed up the fact that the rules are there are no rules and that fads and trends go up and down, come and go, and that there's no fighting that. I've been telling people for awhile that Hollywood is too chicken to shell out a dollar over anything not proven yet in some other medium (novels, comics, etc.) and I'm glad to see you reiterate it in a understandable manner. Well done!
(It's also part of the reason I spend even more time novel writing than scriptwriting these days!)
Heh, that first post kinda makes me sound like I'm a little full of myself. Nah I was just trying to point out that the worlds greatest writers could be out there right now and due to bad luck / no support / life complications, their stories will never be told. I know I'm not meant to be GREAT, I'll never write a groundshaking
important story but I can guarantee you that there a people out there who would but just won't get the chance. And that useless pratt David Goyer will just keep cranking it out by the toilet load...
Hey Todd any chance you'd read my original Friday the 13th script? I've already recycled it into a new story with all original characters so the old script is pretty much worthless but it'd be nice to get a critique of it just to get an idea of where I am. I'm concentrating fully on the novel series now so script writing isn't a priority anymore but it'd still be nice to get some feedback from a pro.