Screenwriting. Finally tried my hand, persevered and finished a spec pilot. I thought it was passable. More crucially, that feeling of writing "Fade Out" at the close of my first draft was indescribably joyous. Triumphal. "I can do this" was my mantra. And with full confidence I submitted it to a review process by industry professionals. Believing they would instantly go gaga over it and I'd have an agent shopping it around Hollywood within days.
They massacred it. I don't think anyone got past page 9. The feeling was worse than being told "Sorry, but I just don't love you in that way," after putting all your heart and soul on the line.
But the remorse lasted only an instant. I put that piece of refuse in a drawer for later re-working. Then immediately finished another longer pilot. Incorporating a very obvious yet fundamental change in attitude from "they just will never understand my genius" to "how can I effectively tell this story in the most economical yet artful way so that anyone can relate to it?" The response this time around was much more positive. "Awesome." "Would watch this." The spark had started a flame.
And so in just over four weeks I committed myself without reservation and finished my first full length feature (100pg). The result: through a small cohort of fellow writers I met via stage32 I will now be collaborating on a paid gig for a webseries that starts shooting soon!
What I learned: respect for the process and the craft. Telling a story well (and especially visually) is so much harder than it appears. Heed the advice of your elders and those with experience. And write. Every. Single. Day. Without excuses ;)
I'd wager a sizeable portion of HN possess the desire or idea for a screenplay. We need more accurate portrayals of the hacker ethos in media. As well as sci-fi with some actual science in it. So I highly recommend facing your fear of the blank page because if nothing else, the effort will make you a better writer, and perhaps a better person.
They massacred it. I don't think anyone got past page 9. The feeling was worse than being told "Sorry, but I just don't love you in that way," after putting all your heart and soul on the line.
But the remorse lasted only an instant. I put that piece of refuse in a drawer for later re-working. Then immediately finished another longer pilot. Incorporating a very obvious yet fundamental change in attitude from "they just will never understand my genius" to "how can I effectively tell this story in the most economical yet artful way so that anyone can relate to it?" The response this time around was much more positive. "Awesome." "Would watch this." The spark had started a flame.
And so in just over four weeks I committed myself without reservation and finished my first full length feature (100pg). The result: through a small cohort of fellow writers I met via stage32 I will now be collaborating on a paid gig for a webseries that starts shooting soon!
What I learned: respect for the process and the craft. Telling a story well (and especially visually) is so much harder than it appears. Heed the advice of your elders and those with experience. And write. Every. Single. Day. Without excuses ;)
I'd wager a sizeable portion of HN possess the desire or idea for a screenplay. We need more accurate portrayals of the hacker ethos in media. As well as sci-fi with some actual science in it. So I highly recommend facing your fear of the blank page because if nothing else, the effort will make you a better writer, and perhaps a better person.
To get inspired start by reading great scripts:
https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/