So I have personally collaborated several projects over these last couple of years since I started writing and continuing to do so with the focus of tapping into the transmedia scene so of course the more the merrier. Now, obviously there are concerns with writers worried about content rights, creative rights and all the other things associated with,” if the partnership goes sideways”. These are valid concerns and things that exist to put into place to protect all that are involved. However outside of not generally writing with anyone else just because you are a,”lone wolf” or ,”one person show”. What would be the reason(s) you would avoid collaborating with industry professionals encouraging people to collaborate? Have you collaborated in the past and how have the results varied for you compared to your individual projects. If you have never collaborated but desired to what has kept you from doing so? Has it been fear, pride, life not giving you the time to involve others? I’m curious to hear from the Community. I’ve personally enjoyed it but I’ve also developed real friendships with these couple of people and we have learned from one another and openly share our strengths/weaknesses with one another. How does Collaborated work make you feel? Let’s here it Stage32!
Screenwriting : Collaboration... by Ryan Mogensen
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I collaborate with people that don’t have my skill set. I work with people that can put holes, not duplicate the issues I already have. Sounds vague I know.
Yes, obviously you want to see where you are creatively and if you can mesh. One way that we work out the process before we even start with the story itself is an A to Z which I know is basic and I’m not sure how many people use this method still but it always helps us to figure out how we want to see this plot to go. We can workout the beginning/ending and a reference and guide for the in between. Obviously it helps as an individual writer but if we can’t get this right together then we’re going to struggle when we put pen to paper and begin actual writing. For example we typically know through discussion if all three of us will work on a project outside of our individual projects through a discussion and it’s solidified once we start with the A to Z if that makes sense. It requires plenty of discussion prior to actual writing and the communication between us has been great so far. It’s foundational like an relationship.
I agree!
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filmmaking is collaboration.
If you want to be lone wolf writer, then write books. And that field, pro authors/novelists work with editors.
The endgame is a finished movie or tv show. It's not the pages.
100% Ryan! That's why I'd joined this platform. The only thing that makes it a bit difficult, in my case, is the time difference.
Similar to Nick, when you're carrying the lion's share of the work because the other person might not be great at dealing with adversity, it becomes a real problem for the project. I work in comics and often stumble across this with excited artists that are mega motivated to start a project but realize less than 50% in that they've lost their spark. It can be based on a bad day at work, relationship drama or any semblance of challenge but some shut down when the going gets even remotely uncomfortable. That is what makes it the largest challenge to me; I know if I just handle it there will be no major setbacks but anytime I'm reliant on someone else, I end up subscribing to excuses because they have issues going on I might not have been aware of.
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Gary. The end game for a screenwriter is when they finish telling the story. That is all the screenwriter is responsible for. They don't have to collaborate with anyone if they don't want to.
Nick. If their name is on all four screenplays so is yours. If one of the screenplays sell you still get half the money which is better than not getting anything which is the way it stands now. Half a pie is better than on pie.
Dan, lots of screenwriters do one-step assignments, as well as pass on the project to multiple writers after. As a person who’s been replaced/fired multiple times, when bosses say “we've decided to go another direction”, you wish them good luck and pray selfishly the next writer gets the project to physical production, so the remaining writing fee$$ is paid in full.
I’m going to be honest I hate seeing you guys have had such bad experiences this far. I write independently but work well with the current crew. But we’ve been clear on goals and match drive and vision and compromise only on angle of approach with that vision. I know how strong my voice is independently but I’ve also seen how strong it is collaborating with someone who matches my creativity and drive. I seems like the common denominator in previous failures is that the partners taken on were unequally yoked in a manner of speaking. I’m sure it’s left an undesirable taste in ones mouth. I also say regardless of one’s experience and opinion networking and collaboration is necessary. Make sure you are working with those you know first and foremost and establish an actual working relationship/friendship if you have established a real relationship up front hopefully you will never be in a undesirable situation as a creative. There’s no guarantees with us speaking on living in the real world but hopefully you won’t.
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Dan M. You are right but a screenwriter has a choice unless the contract states otherwise. My contracts state I have first option to do the first or the first two rewrites.
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Over the years I've been hired, fired and rehired by the same production company, often on the same project, multiple times. I just assumed that was normal.