Hello Everyone!
Im curious on where and how is it possible to find what Hollywood or people are buying? Is this only through an agent? Im looking to write something up my alley of course but that can also be sellable in todays market. I am 27 years old and I just want to start getting my name/stories out there. Im focused on building an online audience in the meanwhile with my daily content and short films. I'm so hungry for guidance and ready to make a plan of attack. Thank you to everyone who chimes in to outsiders like me, we all appreciate you!
Ahi Black
Writer & Director
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In descending order of importance:
1. Great writing. World class, Oscar winning, writing.
2. New and interesting. Not crazy or stupid disguised as new and interesting, but new and interesting.
3. An audience. There has to be an audience for this well written, new and interesting story.
4. It must be capable of being made. If it is impossible to make, it will never sell.
If 4 doesn’t happen 1-3 may get you hired.
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Craig D Griffiths Thank you for taking the time to guide me. How does one become a world class writer? Also what determines if a film can be made or not?
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Hollywood buys and sells genres. More specifically they buy mixed genre scripts. So you must master storytelling / structures / genres, and then write it.
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Lindbergh E Hollingsworth Thank you for the advice my friend!
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If your idea is uniquely special, and you can actually execute, money ppl will find you. It is that simple. You have to create a thing ppl want and in some cases, corporations will buy your ideas.
Last week a 17-year old teenager got a movie deal from A24 & James Wan (SAW) is producing. The teen created a successful youtube channel about scary rooms.
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Hey, Ahi Black. You can read the trades.
Hollywood Reporter: www.hollywoodreporter.com
Variety: https://variety.com
Deadline Hollywood: https://deadline.com
You can also check the Tracking Board (www.tracking-board.com).
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"How does one become a world class writer?" Ahi Black Read scripts, write scripts, watch screenwriting webinars (www.stage32.com/webinars/tag/screenwriting), study movies and shows, and take screenwriting classes (www.stage32.com/classes/tag/screenwriting).
Also check out the Screenwriting Blogs (www.stage32.com/blog/tags/screenwriting-25) and get script feedback/coverage (www.stage32.com/scriptservices/coverage).
And hang around screenwriters>>>>>>> the Screenwriting Lounge, the Browse Section (www.stage32.com/people), and the Writers' Room (www.stage32.com/writers-room).
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In some of our conversations with streamers we have heard "we'll know it when we see it". This isn't to be unhelpful, but what people are looking for are stories that are engaging and will draw audiences in through colling character journeys.
Maurice Vaughan Thank you my friend your help is much appreciated!
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Ahi, what I hear pretty consistently is that if you try to write what you think "Hollywood" wants, you won't do your best work. Write something that is interesting to you, or personal to you, and if it's good it will be exactly what someone is looking for. Some of the biggest hits are hits because they're so different from everything else that's out there. Just write.
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Also, what studios are looking for is cyclical. For a while erotic thrillers were in demand, sometimes vampires are the thing. If you try to write what's in demand at that moment, you'll miss the boat by the time your script is out there. So, again, just write what's interesting to you.
To be a world class writer - practice and read world class screenplays. NOT how to books. SCREENPLAYS.
Once you have read a shit tonne of screenplays you will know what can be made. Look at a film with the sound off. (pick up your remote and hit mute). Look at ways you could have made that scene cheaper. Less makeup, less wardrobe or less effects. This is what makes a film “malleable”.
Craig D Griffiths Thank you very much I will take your advice like nutrients to my work. Starting today. Any good places or a good list of screenplays to start with?
Craig D Griffiths Also is it good to read older screenplays or screenplays that apply to todays market?