A few years back if anyone asked “what advice would you give a new writer?”. A common answer was “don’t write a western”.
Lately I have heard people mentioning the western genre in conversation the same way zombies were a few years ago. On the scriptnotes podcast John (when talking about chasing a trend) said “if you are going to write a western because westners are popular, you’ll be too late”.
I am not seeing a lot of westerns. But I can guess there are a few coming. That buyers are starting to look at that under explored genre.
“So what” i hear you say.
The point I am sneaking up on is this. When people say a genre is dead or you are stupid for thinking a certain idea is worth pursuing, you may be better served ignoring them. If a few years ago, as a new writer, you had of been cutting your teeth on westerns, you may have professional westerns ready for what I am guessing is going to be a thing soon.
So if you want to make a cross over between “9 1/2 weeks” meets “finding Nemo” don’t let people stop you by saying it is a dumb idea, especially after “The shape of water” won an Oscar (yes, that is a poor joke).
3 people like this
Taylor Sheridan is maybe the richest writer of westerns (modern western). His tv show Yellowstone generates about $3B in advertising sales. The western idea isnt dumb now or then; it's all in the execution. Somehow Sheridan created his own niche, repeat and rinse, and he became a brand.
2 people like this
Taylor could write a soup recipe and I would be fascinated.
Whatever people think is “dead” or unpopular is will come around. It is like fashion. Everything that is old is new again.
2 people like this
Lester Moore - 4 slugs from a 44, no Les no Moore Based roughly on a true story.
2 people like this
John is always full of wisdom!
2 people like this
Don't do what??
Say, put any given cowboy replacing the Predator in Hulu's "Prey" and uve got ureself a pure western...btw the greatest streaming one in company's history...
I won't even go into Westworld, aforementioned etc...
What I believe u meant Craig is breaking a cardinal rule of filmmaking and it should state: "Don't write DULL Western/Horror/Thriller/Musical/Any given genre"...
2 people like this
What's a western?
1 person likes this
"When people say a genre is dead or you are stupid for thinking a certain idea is worth pursuing, you may be better served ignoring them." Thanks for the reminder as I start outlining a new spec script today, Craig D Griffiths. Not sure the genre, but it won't be a Western. :)
2 people like this
Musicals are dead... unless a young filmmaker with Oscars win doesnt give a fuk what his inner circle of advisors suggest to make next. Damien Chazelle is another one carving his own brand.
Basically all genres are dead because of too many average filmmakers
3 people like this
Usually, with all things like this, when people start saying don't do this genre or that genre, that is the time to look into that genre. You don't stand out doing what everyone else is doing.
1 person likes this
I only write screenplays that I believe have a chance of selling and westerns are not on my list.
1 person likes this
Uncle Phil - Wasn't Westside Story a western?
2 people like this
Thank you everyone. I personally think the Zombie thing has exhausted the available audience. But I think that will be short lived. That exhaustion comes from so many poor quality efforts attempting to cash in. Perhaps this is why some genres appear dead.
The quality many people mentioned. Is always an issue.
Most genres have a specific moral style or compass. A western has the White Hat vs Black Hat thing. Usually a hero fixing something and making it better for everyone. Perhaps that moral landscape is appealing at the moment. Rather than solving a personal problem, people crave a society healing hero.
Unlike Dan G, I write stuff that has no chance of selling now. But it goes in my library. It may serve as a blank for a rewrite to fit someone’s need. Dan G has a job as a writer, I am luck enough to do it for passion (I am a little jealous).
Dan MaXx, I can see a reimagining of a music. Don’t do the traditional big songs. But pick a music genre and it may work.
I think we are in the future game. You may not be able to sell a XYZ genre today. But since it takes ages to write a good screenplay and circulate it. Tomorrow may heralded in a passion for XYZ.
1 person likes this
Now that I think about it, Craig D Griffiths, westerns usually do have heroes fixing things and making it better for everybody.
2 people like this
I love a good western movie.
2 people like this
Doug: Yes, most of the 1960 Westside story was shot in West Hollywood. But hell, that was 62 years ago.
2 people like this
Craig: Here's a new Walter Hill (The Long Riders, 48 Hours) starring Christoph Woltz. Could it be a trend?
https://deadline.com/2021/06/christoph-waltz-willem-dafoe-walter-hill-we...
1 person likes this
Thanks Uncle. Woltz is a strange dude. I love his work, but when I see interviews…. strange dude.
2 people like this
"Dead For A Dollar" sounds interesting, Phillip. There's some big names attached to the project. Could be a trend if it's successful.
1 person likes this
That's great advice, Craig. Actually, I always thought it would be fun to write a western. I remember watching some with my dad, when I was much younger. I haven't yet come up with a good enough story for one though.
3 people like this
I believe you can literally get away with anything in westerns. And that point alone is worth a few treatments. I have some, and the crazy ideas just don't seem so crazy. Not just because it's a piece of time with tons of pages missing, or rather ripped out.
It's also because of classic westerns that pushed boundaries in writing. I mean the dialogue in Warlock is out of sight, literally, you don't get characters with that level of awareness in many places in cinema, particularly Clay Blaisdell's first talk with the towns people. And The Quick And The Dead gets away with not being cheesy or gratuitous in a certain way.
I really think the boundaries of westerns can be pushed on and on, still, just look at The Sisters Brothers, brand new and insane, but they get clean away with it.
5 people like this
Hulu just released "Prey" , sci-fi western Predator vs. Comanches. That movie was filmed 2 years ago during the height of covid, and it's winning critics and audiences. Again, it's not the genre, it's the talent behind and in front of camera, and it's rare to make a special movie.
3 people like this
Craig, I'm sure glad I didn't listen to the common advice about staying away from Westerns.
I'd always wanted to write a comedy-Western, thanks to "Blazing Saddles." I did it...and it felt great to get "Kitten on the Keys" out there.
Now, let's see...what other genre out there we're not supposed to write about needs to be revisited? (Just a thought!)
6 people like this
My second sale was a western, and I have another under option -- so far they are working for me!
3 people like this
I am so glad everyone is trusting their instincts and ignoring “common sense”.
Nothing is dead. George Clooney says he thought he killed Batman. Then we get the Dark Knight Trilogy.
I am writing a Western (bubbling in my brain the moment), I know what it is, just have to get it ready to write.
So I think we all agree. No genre is dead. Some may be budget dependent due to a smaller audience. But they are never dead.
3 people like this
I'm convinced that a lot of times when buyers tell reps that nobody wants Westerns/period they are trying to will it so. They think they're avoiding high production cost, but time and again, audiences show that we love period and we dig cool westerns.