What's the worst you ever got? What terrible things have people, or even friends, who aren't in the industry tell you? A few months back a guy I'd been friends with for decades suddenly told me that no one would ever be interested in my writing. He said since I was way to old, 56, they were never going to invest in my work. I felt terrible about it. Luckily some people pointed out to me how foolish my friend was and gave me a lot of encouragement. RB even talked about in a Webinar how none of the agents or producers he 's talked to ever asked how old the author was. What about you?
Screenwriting : Gimmie your worst by Bill Albert
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That friend needs some lessons on how to be a real friend smh. I was about to tell you about that said webinar. As RB and Jason stated, if you've got quality and passion in your writing, then to hell with age. You go for it and keep networking and working towards your goals! And 56? come on bro...that's like 30 years old you're still young ^_^
Me, I haven't had horrible things said to me, I'm new to the industry so most I get right now is that people don't believe in my goal to become an established writer. They think it's too big a dream, but I've got enough motivation, inspiration and guidance here coupled with my passion for my craft, to blank those non-believers out. I try to channel negativity into motivation. "Oh, you don't believe in me huh. Okay just watch as I achieve this."
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Back in November I sent a writing sample to a producer and his response was that he couldn't send that to the arts council for production grant as its not up to standard and I need to work on my craft. I wasn't to downcast though as I said when sending it that it was still been edited and revised but it was close to the project he was looking to write so I figured it could also be an idea for him as well as a sample.
Anyway, one opinion is just one. Someone else will see the value of your work and regardless of age you'll get there in the end. Keep at it. A hundred no's will be pushed away if you get one yes from the right person. Tell that friend of yours they ain't invited to your party when you make it lol.
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About a year after I started writing screenplays, I met a person online at Trigger Street Labs and we were briefly exchanging correspondence. Eventually, we exchanged screenplays. My script was a first draft I'd just written. The other person gave me a script that had placed at a few contests and that the writer claimed had been rewritten around forty times. The writer told me my script was terrible and that I was a horrible writer. After we exchanged several heated emails, I never spoke with this person again.
A few months this Trigger Street writer read my first draft, the script placed at two contests including Screencraft Action contest, along with two of my other horribly written screenplays. I've since placed at more than 120 screenplay contests and film festivals including BlueCat, Screencraft (where I've placed 7 times and been interviewed), Page International Award, Austin Film Festival and many others.
My conclusion: Everyone's entitled to their opinion.
That was you, Phil!? Kidding.
I had a similar experiences at Trigger Street. It was a Roman wilderness of pain. Too bad. The idea behind the site was terrific. Many Streeters migrated to Talentville then disappeared.
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Trigger Street -> Talentville -> Jameson First Shot -> retired.
I'm coming up on 68 and my franchise of romantic screenplays (6 scripts in all) is moving forward. I started learning how to write scripts when I was 62. I am determined to be the "Grandma Moses" of the film industry--my life experience has been invaluable in going after my goals.
How old was William Goldman when he wrote Maverick? That’s right, it doesn’t matter. The WGA wants everyone to stop using the term “baby writer” as it implies age and is demeaning.
Worst feedback on a script. “This was a waste of time”.
Best feedback “finally someone that understands independent film”.
For many reasons, I'm not much for peer reviews. However, I decided to give it a try when I landed here. First, most who promised did not read. Then one came back with a first line of "I didn't like this script" and line by line utterly trashed it with nary one positive word. (A note the script has received Considers and Recommends from industry pros, one of them right here.)
Liking or not liking are irrelevant. When taking on the responsibility of reading, the task is based in using best judgement and experience to neutrally highlight strengths and weaknesses, offer suggestions. If a read is begun and an unpaid reader doesn't vibe with the story, a polite 'thanks I can't get my head around this story or genre' is in order. Or not accepting the script for a read after the logline is digested.
I've seen similar venomous notes others have received . Any reader who does this should realize that, after a few paragraphs, their entire effort will be discarded. All that work for nothing.
I'm not much for peer reviews.
Dan - I get bad feedback even when I never ask for feedback (but I got a flak jacket).
A friend gripping my script and referring to one scene: I hate this. I hate this. I haaaaaaaate this.
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I get the age thing to at 46 I’m not hip enough, but the worst for me wasn’t feedback. I sold a script to two budding filmmakers straight out of college. Sold is strong word was actually a contingent deal for back end money. They loved my script and the plan was to make one of theirs, use the profits for another one of theirs then make mine a little bigger budget. The plans of mice and men as they say, anyway they went bankrupt on the first one and you can guess the rest.
I think the prospect of dealing with the negativity and purposely rude comments are the main reason I am still waffling about trying to write screenplays for my novels. At 67, I have little patience for people who seem to revel in being, to borrow a word from my granddaughter, mean. I know the stories would make good film projects, but I wonder if I'm the one to write the screenplays and deal with all the nay-sayers.
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I'm having the time of my life writing scripts and I'm 67. I wrote and sold one in my early 60s and it was made into a movie now on sale on Amazon. As a senior citizen I have many more life experiences to draw from. I don't write scripts pretending to be something I'm not. I target audiences I'm comfortable with, but there's plenty to write about at any age.
Writing scripts at 67 and learning how to write scripts from scratch at 67 seem to be two different things. I have lots of experiences and characters to use, and I did in my novels. Developing a new skill set at this age and dealing with the seemingly widespread glee some take in trashing other's work is making me lean toward focusing my efforts toward finding someone who thinks the project is viable. Then they can find a screenwriter they trust to turn the story into a film.