Because there are so many of us and the barrier to entry is non-existent.
We can get free screenwriting software. We can get free email (so we can send our work). Copyright protection is even free (there is a fee for registration, but this is not copyright).
So nothing stops us from pumping out screenplays and sending them out. In the old days you had to print and mail, that slowed things down. Then there is all the supporting infrastructure. Books, templates, courses, these keep us writing when we would have normally quit.
So we are like 1,000,000 pushy door to door sales people flooding towards them. So they protect themselves from us with gatekeepers.
But this isn’t new. Did you know Steve McQueen wouldn’t read a screenplay unless he was paid millions of dollars to just read it. He may still pass. But to have him just read it, the studio would have to pay him. Then he would get his wife to read it (smart man). Steve created a barrier to entry to act as his gatekeeper.
So let’s not talk about gatekeepers. Let’s consider them quality control. Yes, some times things slip through quality control and we get crap film. But it mostly works.
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Makes sense. I thought my first script was the greatest thing ever until I got some notes and then let it sit for a month to reread. Had there not been gatekeepers I would have ruined my reputation before my career started.
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Aiden Barr thanks for the comment. So glad you are kicking on. Thanks again.
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We will have to find out a key.
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Craig, gatekeepers are everywhere....just we, common people refer to them as "job interviews"...
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Lol Steve Mcqueen? Cmon Craig, you're talking about ppl at top of their occupations that can charge upfront money because they got track records.
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Finding a gatekeeper who resonates with ones screenplay/story and passes it on is like finding a needle in a haystack. What keeps most of us going is the idea that there is a needle out there, somewhere, waiting for our submission.
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Gatekeepers are the wall between aspiring screenwriters and producers and studios that don’t want screenwriters sending them screenplays. Some screenwriters say you don’t need an agent but they can really help if you want to submit to a studio or a bigger production company that makes studio-size movies. So if you write screenplays for the lower to middle size budget you probably don’t need one. A simple solution would be to write screenplays that would cost less than $5M below the line. Anyway, that is what I would do if I had to start over again.
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Thanks everyone.
Dan G, as you know. That is my wheel house. I am writing something with a larger budget at the moment, feels strange.
Dan MaXx, the point is he put a mechanism in place to stop the flow of screenplays coming to him. When someone is in demand, like McQueen was for a studio or producers are for us, they need to protect their time. It was a good example I thought.
The one thing which lets us find needles and unlock gates is quality. Or something more importantly represents value to the buyer. Now that is a big conversation to be had.
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There are a few crucial elements that can break you past the gatekeepers in Hollywood. The first is a skill for negotiation – the ability to navigate not only financial aspects but also tricky situations. Skillful negotiation can open doors and help you find your footing in the industry. Secondly, networking is a cornerstone of success. Asking a simple yet powerful question, "Is there anyone important you think I should meet in the industry?" has proven to me to be remarkably effective. This inquiry has the potential to connect you with influential figures who can further your career. I also like linking up with actors you encounter and involving them in your project can be a fantastic way to gain momentum. Lastly, consistent questioning is key. To uncover and overcome objections and rejections, inquire, adapt, and persist. Hollywood rewards those who keep asking, keep learning, and keep pushing forward. When you connect to her Actor, you never know they could start in low budget movies, and wind up getting the big role. Relationships are superior to everything else. Relationships speak volumes. Rutger Oosterhoff Alexa Bisrat Geoff Hall Mike Boas Jack Binder