Screenwriting : Is a Screenplay enough anymore? by Joseph F. Alexandre

This is something I've been missing (usually entering each century too late)...

Which streamers take in short films?

Filmzie, Plex, sometimes Tubi, & if it’s longer short XUMO TV. There’s some more I’ll get back to u on that!

Oh this is good info! Thanks for sharing!

thank you for sharing!(:

I haven’t read the post. But yes, a screenplay is enough, if it is the correct screenplay. All the supporting infrastructure makes life easier. But would the supporting infrastructure achieve anything without the screenplay.

Sigh… you didn’t read the post…. Obviously!!! Craig I’m not talking about the importance of the screenplay. I’m talking about getting work as a screenwriter & selling ur work to a studio (or streamer, etc.) I noticed ur not in the WGA so frankly how do u know if it’s enough or not since it’s not part of ur experience & u have 2 credits to ur name, mate:)

I've said this many times. And it's not just in the film industry either. Specialized talent today pales in comparison to being able to pay one person to wear a bunch of hats at a less talented level. Game industry, influencers, and pretty much any other form of entertainment now demands you to master multiple jobs that you can get a standalone degree for. It's fairly ridiculous and ultimately creates a vacuum that provides less jobs to more people trying to enter these fields with lower level skills and talent across the board. Sure auteurs do exist but they're meant to be an exception not the rule.

Wow, that's a really great point. That's awesome that a produced script, even 10years old, is still helping you sell current scripts. That's really good to know!

Sigh. Read it. So. I normally don’t come here to leave and go to another site.

Still. Nothing happens without a great script. You can do a million things to bring attention to crap you have. But the only thing that achieves is making sure everyone knows you have crap.

However, a great script is the corner stone of everything. Plus based on the WGA survey, I think the average writer made $25k last year. So union membership isn’t a license to print now is it.

So. Yes a great script is all important. If you doubt that I have some real shit I wrote years ago (I don’t even think of it anymore). If you sell it you can keep all the money.

Joseph F. Alexandre, you wrote "It demonstrated to the Producers that I understand the world they wanna hire me to write." They SAW your work (as opposed to reading a script). I mainly pitch my short scripts to sell them, but I'm seeing that if I partner with a director or producer to get one or two produced, I could use those films to get future writing jobs and sell scripts.

Hi Dan G, I guess I am answering his question. He has chosen to augment his efforts with a short film, and based on IMDB he seems to be making a lot of short films. This is great for him. However, I believe that a script is more than enough these days. Short films work him, good for him. But this is not general advice and just a bait post to his blog. Why do people need to leave stage 32 to engage in a conversation.

@Maurice Vaughan Speaking as someone more experience in corporate marketing productions, I've definitely gotten more marketability out of the shorts I've gotten produced over any scripts I've written. My current animated projected I've posted about in the past was hired solely on my degree and one short I made for a company. They didn't actually look at a single one of my scripts before hiring me to write the animated pilot episode.

That'll be great. Thanks Joseph F. Alexandre

That's the key, Maurice. For someone who ONLY wants to write, create a team and make films. Rising tide lifts all boats.

if you want to direct, produce or multi-hyphenate in any other way, then make the films yourself. As demonstrated by Joseph's credits, he's interested in directing, producing and editing - as well as writing and acting.

And I disagree with Terrence that the entertainment biz "demands" you master multiple jobs. My experience says just the opposite. The studios/producers we are talking with prefer that each of us (there's three on out team) stick to our own lane - writer, director, actor. Whenever we offer to do more (to save money or simplify the process), we are politely rebuffed.

Two things I always say:

Your goals determine your path.

It's a marathon, not a sprint.

This is great -- I think short form content isn't getting the respect it deserves. It's a great way to build your experience and if you can find a way to make money, that puts you ahead of the game. So many filmmakers who do shorts just spend their time paying to get it into whatever festival will take it with maybe a few laurel awards to show for the effort. But getting a short content distributor behind you will prepare you for the jump into feature film content. Thanks for sharing , Joseph!

Hey Joseph , how are things going? I'm been writing for about eight years now. My first and best project to date is a saga I've created called " Warriors of MA". It's a Fantasy / Drama which there are nine episodes The first one on this platform is Warriors of MA / The Killing of Saiva Ilwanta, episode VI. Check out my profile to read about it, thanks for you time. God Bless, stay safe. Peace.

Thanks, John Ellis.

Great article, fascinating to read the pathways and opportunities you found for each project. Thanks for sharing.

The point that Craig & a few others seem to be (willfully) missing is… Everyone & their uncle has a screenplay. EVERYONE HAS A SCREENPLAY!!! EVERYONE HAS A SCREENPLAY!! Lol in case ya missed it. EVERYONE HAS A SCREENPLAY! Ya gotta have more than just a screenplay now a days despite what Craig or anyone else had to say. Yes obviously everything starts w the screenplay but how do u get people to read ur script. How do u get work as a screenwriter in the film biz? Making stuff is one way to go above & beyond that group of folks who are just writers & ONLY HAVE A SCREENPLAY TO SHOW… Ya know what? It’s great to win a contest! It’s great to place in the Nichols, or Austin or any other number of contents. Ya know I’ll just stay the guy who can’t enter any contests because I’ve made too much $, for a long time now. And it’s not solely from short films it’s from the 3 features as well that were sparked by the shorts. But showing someone something to even get their attention to sell the script was a big part of it. Lastly what does the WGA have to do w it? Take a look at these minimums, is Craig making this on a regular basis? Maybe, maybe he is. As per usual w lotta Stage 32 I think lotta folks comment on stuff they haven’t really done.

Let's just focus on this here: the people who say 'Yes, a great screenplay is enough to get you a career as screenwriter?' Craig & Dan both work as professional screenwriter? Correct, I have that right? The people who can answer this emphatically can do so because of course they're doing it. Maybe in Australia (which is a tad diff that the biz here in LA) just a tad, even tho they have a great thing down under. I've met many guys from Oz who had great careers there & simply couldn't make a go of it here... So, wouldn't it be great if someone who answered this definitely had some experience w/ that of which they speak. Most of the working screenwriters I know are also directing stuff esp in TV & for streamers as well. The first real check a filmmaker sees after making a splash w his/her feature is a writing deal. I’m not just making that up… When a guy like Billy Ray or when Danny Gilroy tells me to my face that their writing work & fees just exploded after their Directorial debut, I’ll listen to them. The same w Joe Carnahan after BGB&O & Narc. https://www.wga.org/uploadedFiles/contracts/min20.pdf

You make a good point Craig D Griffiths. I think superior writing trumps everything.

Great article and insight. I have 2 shorts I was hoping would help me do this. Perhaps I need to post them in more places. thank you

If you want to be noticed, you have to have something more than your great script. I think Joseph is right, and while many of us don't have the means or resources to get one of our short scripts produced to get us noticed, there are other ways. For example, get some laurels from reputable, well-known and respected, film festivals. Most of them have screenplay categories. If you can get a Semi-Finalist, Finalist or Winner under your belt, your script is much more likely to be read!

That's all I do now - I write & produce shorts, I make no money at it. I only do it as a way of helping young 'uns gain some experience in, and exposure to the real world commercial film business.

I sold my very first short script to MTM Productions back in '72 for $2K and it became my intro to a job in the writer's room on a couple of series. off-n-on over the decades. So yeah, it paid off but more than that, it gave me access. During the '80s & '90s, when there were a lot fewer of us screenwriters, we could option and sell damn near anything we wrote. Life was pretty good then - I was movin' up town. I sold a FL for low 6$ against mid 6$ (it was never made) but hell, I didn't care - I got the money..

Times certainly have changed. Now the puddle is chock full of pollywog screenwriters having absolutely no idea, concept skill or talent busily churning out absolute garbage for an industry happily churning out factory movies. There are a dozen or so writers out there pleased to supply that need - they don't need/want you in the club. So there you have it.

It all started for me with a short script. One thing I've noticed in today's world is that a Producer is willing to view your short film but will not read your script - it's a time thing. Essentially I have to agree with the OP - it takes more than just a script nowadays. I wish you all the best.

Yeah I appreciate all the feedback & everybody's got their own pov, which is fine. I appreciate Doug & Donnalyn's view as it kinda coincides w mine:) They're genius! as well as Dan's, & everyone else.

What's getting lost in the shuffle is this myopic focus on short films, the short is simply an example of another way to get interest in ur work... That's all! Of course, one can always go on just listing a buncha projects in development as we all have, or get something made....

I agree that shorts are another avenue Joseph F. Alexandre . I've got a couple in the works myself with a friend directing. The purpose is to showcase my imaginative writing and my friend's skills as a director.

Interesting post, thank you. I directed a film before I ever attempted to write a script. Since then, I've made 4 shorts total, one of which is a Proof of Concept for my feature script. My challenge has been how & where & with whom to share it. Your post is encouraging. Looking forward to reading this article later today. Thanks for posting.

Just show 'em that you can get something done - life's full of lip flappers. Shorts are good starting points.

Yeah def agree Doug. Funny story, years back was at an early awards WGA screening of Clint Eastwood film Changeling from script by Joe Strasczynski (it was that or Burn After Reading at Universal.) Was w/ a DP pal & we were talking after screening & he was going to shoot my doc on birth of EDM about notorious Starck Club in Dallas, but I was waiting on paymnt from script so didn't have $ to pay him yet. He was like dude, let's start shooting some interviews & get the ball rolling. I can get camera package free & say I'm testing, etc. Then he said something I'll never forget...

"I respect you're a writer, we're here cause a your WGA thing, but bro, what's a script? It's like Air! it's just whoooshhh." He made a hand motion like it just disappears in the wind. It's like AIR! Sure, the LB Mayer quote is 100%. When asked who was most important piece of the filmmaking process, he answered definitively, "The writer! But, we have to do everything in our power to make sure he doesn't understand that!" lol

Bottom line, do whatever it takes to get eye balls to ur work!

That was common knowledge back in the olden days - I learned it from Hitch; 'Never let writers know how valuable they are; it'll go to their heads and they'll charge more.' - basically words to that order.