Screenwriting : Screenwriter goals by Langley Coleman

Langley Coleman

Screenwriter goals

POLL:

Are you as a screenwriter more interested in writing and selling your own original screenplays or getting hired to write on assignment / adapting pre-existing IP?

Comment below

Sarah Bellwood

Adapting pre-existing IP

Langley Coleman

Sarah Bellwood What do you look for when searching for material for adaption?

Craig D Griffiths

Writing and selling for now as I have other business interests. Once my time is more free, I would like to adapt.

Arthur Charpentier

To work on someone else's project, you first need to make it your own. I can't do that, so I only work on my own projects.

Sarah Bellwood

Dear Langley, To answer your question, I look for something primarily that I'm emotionally moved by -- then that I can get a shopping agreement for, or even better, that is out of copyright.

Maureen Mahon

Definitely prefer writing my own projects and getting them produced.

Hakim Kisakye

I prefer writing my work and sell it, rather than being hired, when someone hires you, he wants the script to flow in his/her way, I may end up conflicting with the way I want the story to be told. 100% prefer working on my scripts and sell them.

Kiril Maksimoski

Have a feature I re-wrote, produced and filmed (already into the journey)...then, someone might see the movie, like it and say, "hey, let's give this Kiril guy another job..."

Steve Cleary

I'm interested in being hired to write someone else's ideas. Writing for myself doesn't pay enough

Bintou Kaba

I am an aspiring screenwriter who wants to sell my own original screenplays :)

Christiane Lange

I would be happy to do either or both.

Michael Elliott

I believe if you get hired to do the latter and do a good job, you'll ultimately accomplish the former.

Alicia Vaughan

I love writing my own scripts but If I have the chance to write for others I will.

Austin Van Rensburg

I love writing original projects but adapting or given an assignment is something Im use to with my ghost writing history. I think both r great to do

Dan MaxXx

Original spec turned to a franchise, and quit after the 1st movie, collect $ from video games & merch, do seminars, "how to write a franchise movie screenplay."

Maurice Vaughan

Can I pick both, Langley Coleman? :) I'm more interested in writing and selling my own original screenplay.

Jim Boston

Langley, I've got to be honest with you: I'd rather write and sell my own screenplays...hands down. (But heck, if someone hires me to write on assignment, I'll take it...since you really never know what written idea gets your foot in the door!)

Leonardo Ramirez

My own...by a longshot. If I could raise the money to produce on my own, I would.

Victor Titimas

My dream would be to sell the screenplays I wrote..:)

Jamya Canty

Sell the screenplays

Langley Coleman

Dan MaxXx That seems like a pretty sweet gig. Would you mind sharing the name of the project that took off for you? Seems like you really struck gold.

Bill Brock

Definite sale. I'm a total scribe whore. Picture me multitasking (working drags on my cigarette while brushing my teeth) as the studio head leaves the hotel room with script in hand and muttering -- "The money's on the writing desk." Door SLAMS.

Emily J

Fantastic question! Really interesting seeing all of these different answers - personally, I just want to write, so both

Langley Coleman

@emily Best answer yet. Fall in love with process, not the destination.

William Greenberg

When George Lucas wrote what he wanted to write he came up with Star Wars When he got paid a ton of money to write with a specific target audience in mind he came up with this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eD0NCmtcSQU

Dan MaxXx

Lucas was an Oscar nominated Director before Star Wars. Ppl forget American Graffiti was a box office hit.

Craig D Griffiths

Dan MaxXx washed out your mouth. Film educated people remember American Graffiti, it launch “Happy Days” the TV show. As well as so many acting careers, Harrison Ford anyone.

Howard Sewell

I lean toward working on an original screenplay, but hey - working is working

William Greenberg

There's no call to be personal Dan and Craig. I am not film educated, and that's ok.

Kevin Oye

I am looking to learn, meet people, perfect my craft, be as creative as I know I can be, and whatever happens from that, we will see. I want to write scripts to give me a sense of doing something I love and putting me in another world and thought. Selling something would be a definite dream of course. lol

William Greenberg

Yeah Kevin I agree. I feel like if somebody is offering money then they want a certain product. A writer may find that confining. You might be overly worried about who the audience is and it could effect what you do. If somebody is paying me, I would feel like it were my job to satisfy them, as in that one person. That would change my whole approach.

Curtis D Harris

Definitely getting hired

Babatunde Ehimai

I'm a screenwriter and I honestly must say I'm more interested in developing and writing my own original screenplays. Although I wouldn't frown upon the idea of getting hired on a writing assignment or adapting a pre-existing IP, but that is just secondary.

William Schumpert

Either way is fine by me. I have some ideas already. And I can work to make a screenplay as long as it’s not butchered by producers or editors.

Anthony Murphy

Trying for both. I'm passionate about the current screenplay I'm shopping around, for its creation was a spiritual experience, so I feel a duty to get it made, but writing assignments would be wonderful too.

Langley Coleman

@wiliam Greenberg - Interestingly, GL actually didn't make his money from the Star Wars movies themselves. -- Lucas considered himself more of an avant-garde filmmaker and made his name with a scifi movie called THX-1138 (where the THX sound system's name comes from). His goal with Star wars was to do something that seemed impossible technically (much like James Cameron nowdays) - The original Star Wars production went over budget and almost got shut down by the studio. Lucas bought the rights for merchandising back from the studio in order to keep production going (back in those days, merch rights weren't thought of as very important). After he was able to deliver on a level of spectacle the public had never seen before, his merchandising rights became insanely lucrative and he made most of his money from Star Wars licensing deals.

Wamala Allan Peter

I have written four screenplays but have not sold any because I don’t have any agent to help me out and any money to access stage 32 ,they are entitled

THE MALL

DEBT

POLITICAL TRAGEDY

MY FAMILY IS AT KALANGALA

I kindly request for your help please.

William Schumpert

Langley Coleman Not to mention that George almost had severe conditions with his health. Which is why he opted out as being director for The Empire Strikes Back. When he decided to retire he wanted to give back Star Wars so other generations can continue the story. Unfortunately he gave it to big wigs. The ones who appreciated his indie work made ‘The Mandilorian’ and ‘The Book of Bobba Fett’. Not to mention other projects down the pipeline.

Maria Brogna

Of course I'd love to have my work produced. The idea of seeing my characters alive and in some cases resurrected is exciting. However, as a trained writer/editor I am more than happy to help fix and in many cases elevate a story.

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