From our masters, we've known that as a screenwriter, your major goal is to combine all elements to hook the audience, to create something fascinating so your reader would wish to read your script even under a shower.
But there's something that I've found as an obstacle which hinders in the long run ( when a script has been produced). CRITIC REVIEWS; I think almost all movies, all blockbusters have been criticised. Some have got better reviews and some very bad.
So how do you care about these people?
Do you twist your story and some elements within for their sake, or you just ignore them for the sake of your story or your audience?
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I was in studio when a movie critic said " No one wants to watch a movie about a shark?"
That movie was Jaws. Many millions later I am sure the writers/producers/actors still did not care what a critic said.
Write for yourself or for a specific market.
Really. so you shouldn't give a f*ck about what they say? But there are some historical movies which the writer chose to twist a fact to enhance the power of the story. Like 300 ( rise of an empire), they criticised about the armada which the Spartan Queen sent to help the Greeks; they said, she sent a few ships instead that great armada.
In this fact, you still need not to care about Criticism?
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Film Critics come after the writing - way after. Their opinions matter not one whit to your writing.
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I wouldn't say not give a hoot what they say, it happens in life... everyone has an opinion. You gonna let it bring you down?
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I met the writer of Radio, which got hammered by critics, and asked about his experience. He said you just have to muscle through it and get on with your next project. And besides, box office receipts speak louder than critic response. That’s why people like Tyler Perry have such a prolific career. The critics aren’t always wild about his work, but his fans keep buying tickets.
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Screw em :) Just write, and get your story out. If you find yourself sitting, picking your mind over their views and opinions, your creative process will be a mess, and that in turn affects your script. Focus on you, and the story you're passionate about.
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Good to hear this... Thanks much everyone..
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Imo, I'm glad you said that!
I still think about the first comment I received after posting "Pixie Dust." The comment was actually a question; the person with the comment asked me why the screenplay was set at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
And then, after I stated the reason "Pixie Dust" was set there, I was told: "BUT if I were you, I'd have a 'Generic U' copy ready."
Initially, I said I'd give it a thought.
The way I currently see it: All the commenter and I can do is agree to disagree. (After all, no two universities and colleges in the world are exactly alike. That's just the way it is.)
Over the last 48 hours, in fact, I came to find the question insulting...given the fact that "Pixie Dust" is a script about twelve college-age women so sick and tired of the marginalization and invalidation TOO MANY PEOPLE in this world in general, and here in the United States in particular, are forced to put up with!
I know. That's my tough luck.
After all, look at what Rod Serling and Reginald Rose and Paddy Chayefsky were forced to deal with back in the 1950s when it came to writing plays for TV.
I'M GOING TO STICK TO MY GUNS.
And Felix, I hope you will, too.
Felix and Imo, all the VERY BEST to you!
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The main problem if you start to listen to what critics think, you'll end up with a script or a movie you don't even like, you won't recognize yourself in the material which is the worst for a creative. Besides, there'll always be someone criticize your work, you just can't satisfied everybody, that's just the way it is.
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As James Cameron once said, "My financial success is more important than my critical success. One allows you to keep making movies."
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YH Jim Boston, we stick to our guns. But, in our current position, we need to give a little percentage of attention to critics. You are aiming at a studio, Kay Luke and Doug Nelson has stated that it's the film which is criticized not the writing, and a film is the most marketable product of a studio. So do you think studios will go in for an idea which will clearly attract critics?
Though we all pay less attention to criticisms but remember that we aren't all the same, some pay much attention to critics. They fear to lose credibilities.
All I can suggest is, make your writing believable. Let your audience believe that your story is possible to be real. Don't give the critics much space to criticise, though it's a fiction but let your story be little genuine in your readers' minds. ( that's from BLAKE SNYDER'S save the cat)
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I think that since studios have a finite number of properties they can put out and the portion of those that have the inside track, readers are just exercising their nit-picking skills.
I went to Brad Pitt's "Ad Astra" with its multiple talking headshots and poor plot explanations and James Gray (writer and director) and just cannot fathom why this movie scores with critics. They use a different set of critique points. Everyone that was at the theater with me was echoing the same. (Big yawner with too many head scratches).
Have fun while you do it and take feedback "in general" but not to detail.
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Meh...everyone has an opinion. I have an opinion on Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and it's not great. But what would I know?
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Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was GREAT to the tune of $139, 045, 239.00, which if you want to be a screenwriter is the ONLY opinion that matters. While I personally LOVED the film, that doesn't matter. All that matters is that it performed at The Box Office and to worry about critics or others is just plain silly. While Quentin, according to him, may only do one more film, he can easily get that funded. Someone criticizing it on the boards can not. That is NOT meant as an insult to anyone. It's meant to say, you can't please all the people all the time. But, garnering that much money at The Box Office - especially for a nearly three-hour film - shows just HOW MANY PEOPLE went to see it and loved it. Again, you can't write to please critics. You never know what they will like. BUT, you can write to please a certain audience that likes a certain genre of film, I believe ... GOD BLESS and * STAY FRESH! *