Screenwriting : Ask Me Anything (AMA) Wednesday 11/6 to Thursday 11/7- Advice For Aspiring Screenwriters, Producers, & Directors in Celebration of Stage 32's November Write Club! by Michael Clarkson

Thank you Mr. Clarkson. I look forward to your AMA this week.

Welcome to the community, Michael Clarkson. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions! What's one of the biggest mistakes you see screenwriters make nowadays?

thanks sir.

Hello Michael Clarkson - thanks for spending your day with us in this AMA. Question: On average, how many rewrites do you go through before you feel the work is "mostly" done? Thanks in advance.

What would you tell parents of young ppl who want to attend USC, pay $320,000+ (tutition & housing) for a film degree?

Hi sir, how are you? I am a screenwriter and I have a lot of scripts, won awards. All I need is a connection with any company or any producer. Can you help me with that? I can write a lot of genres and I am brilliant on that!

Hello and thank you for your time today. As a new writer, what difficulties did you face when starting your journey into film/TV? What was the biggest hump to get over?

Hey Maurice Vaughan - I'd have to say it's letting other people that aren't creative or know what story it is writers are trying to tell get in your head. I think it's seeing a screenwriter loose the sense of why and how they want to tell the story they're telling. Stick to your gut instincts and what excited you about it in the first place. Of course - sense check that it's good and doing what it should be doing with people you know and trust - but don't let idiots who have no idea what they're talking about (creatively and narratively speaking of course) talk you out of what you want to do. :D x

Hey Leonardo Ramirez! How long is a piece of string lol? At some point, you have to walk away from it, or it will consume you. Mr rule of thumb for me is imagining being that teenage version of myself sat watching a movie or tv show on Friday night - the ones that got my creative spirits flowing and excited - and imagining if I'd be feeling the same way about what I'm writing. As soon as I feel that energy around my script, I know i'm in the home stretch. Then it's about sharing it with others, incorporating notes and standing your ground on what the final polish will be. I've re-written scripts 8-11 times, or once. It really depends. But again - come back to gut instincts. Is it making your soul sing? If the answer is yes, you've done your job I'd say.

Hey Dan MaxXx - I'm from a working class background and in order to get to USC (grad programme) I had to crowdfund to get my fees covered or else I wouldn't have been able to do it. That being said, I had 5 star theatre productions I'd done in London to back up that I had the talent to ask for such funding. But a grad programme is so much cheaper. If you can afford that for your kid - amazing. If you can't and they can't - I'd say life experience and a potential cheaper option degree (then maybe applying for a masters which would be cheaper) might be a good route - but I'm really not sure how to best advise on this as every path is different. I know I wouldn't pay that to go to film school.

Michael Clarkson, thank you for sharing your time with us today! You had mentioned during yesterday’s Instagram Live that you’re currently writing a feature-length film that you intend to make this next year. When you’re writing something new, what do you feel are the most important stages of your writing process? For instance- do you fully outline before you start writing?

Also, for anyone who missed yesterday’s fantastic LIVE Q&A with Michael, you can find the full video here and ask any follow up questions that you may have for him on this post: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCAPSSsyxkO/?igsh=d2QxaTRxNGZscno0

Hey Premton Kryeziu - I'd find some filmmakers looking for scripts and partner with up and coming people and producers you can create something from nothing with. Then take that to agents. Get repped. But you need to make it happen for you. I can't really help on something like this. My path on getting in was making theatre, then doing a film masters - so that's my angle. Go make stuff happen with people who are looking to direct their first script or produce their first movie! x

Jeremy Freeman - the humps never go away lol. It's all the self-doubt you've got to over come. And then it's the psycho personalities you have to navigate. And then it's worrying about selling or making anything. The only thing that I've learned is to stay present - make sure what I'm writing or trying to achieve is actually good (sense check with people you trust) and then go out in whatever way you can to make something happen. Finding that 'in' is HARD. Which is why you have to go and meet people and strangers and TALK to them. Listen first - be really interested in what people have to say and then see if your stories vibe with them. xx

Ashley Renee Smith - it really depends on the project I'm working on. Right now - the film I'm writing I've carried in my head for like 10 years and been adding to it over that time. I'm just jumping in with what feels right. When I get stuck, I might look at outlining, but right now I'm going with a flow-state and just letting whatever is in my head out. It's very finding and building the path as I go - but I think that's what I need for this current project! I think whatever excites you most in excavating that story - just do it! :D x

Excellent advice, Michael Clarkson! Thanks for the answer! I made that mistake before. Probably a few times. Lesson learned.

Michael Clarkson Thank you for taking time to answer our questions. I'm new to screenwriting and have taken the time to sit down to write a script and nothing comes... Not a single word... What would you recommend for someone who has NEVER written a script and is struggling on starting? Thank you again!

Hi and thank you for taking the time to answer the questions we all have.

I’m Sarah Dayane, a music composer and film score creator.

What advice can you offer for someone looking to break into the film industry and compose music for upcoming hit movies? Right now, I compose for artists, and I have a deep passion for cinema. I would love to get more involved in the industry.

I’m excited to hear your advice!

Here are some examples of my cinematic compositions

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https://sarahhalfon.vercel.app/

https://youtu.be/okGJPxyVyVw?si=tEAR6ahbOvxCMFiu

Your string comment reminded me of "Mouse Hunt" Michael Clarkson - great (and funny) movie. Of course, I have to watch it alone because no one else in my household likes it but that's OK. And yes, I agree and love the way you put that - if it makes my soul sing, it's a go. Thanks so much Michael. All the best in all you do.

Sarah Dayane - hello! I wish I had actual advice for this - but I did go to one of my friend's composed concerts in a church. He assembled a group of friends who could play instruments - orchestrated his scores to scenes from films he'd have done - or just visuals he'd project attached to it - and invited industry people to it. I'd say - find a unique way to stand out and showcase your talent in a visceral way. xx

Michael Clarkson Thank you for your response! I frequently perform concerts where I’m asked to showcase my compositions. In fact, I’m preparing an exciting concert next week. However, I’m wondering how to truly distinguish myself, as I compose specifically to match films I’m provided with. This is something that is difficult to demonstrate or replicate in live performances, especially when they primarily involve solo piano. I also heavily focus on cinematic effects in my compositions, and an orchestra could never fully replicate the unique sounds I create. If you happen to know anyone working on upcoming films who might be interested in an exclusive, tailor-made composition for their project, I’d greatly appreciate any connections.

Michael Clarkson Thank you for taking this time. I'm sure like most of us, you have a closet (brain/notepad/drawer/computer file/post it notes, etc. of story ideas and characters. How does your process of writing begin? Do you take from one, add another, come up with a completely new idea, or all the above?

Also, to follow up on another conversation here, when it comes time to pitch a story, does anyone really care what your academic background is? Or do they just care about a good story?

Sarah Dayane I am so sorry, but I am flummoxed in this area when it comes to music. I wish I could be of more help but all the filmmakers I know making right now already have their composers they work with x

Debbie Elicksen - all of the above lol. I think when you get that gestation idea - and it doesn't vanish from your head - then you need to walk it down the garden path and ask what all the details around it look like.

If you're confident about your story and pitch it with the passion that burns in you - it really doesn't matter about anything else. School comes into play when you meet others who went. I rarely drop my USC studying unless someone else says it first coz who gives a shit lol. Anyone who throws around their schooling is likely insecure and needs that accolade to back up what they're saying. I like to know what kind of person I'm dealing with and if they like my story first and foremost. x

Michael Clarkson Hi Michael! Thanks for being online to answer our questions.

For newer writers in the, "I have this script-- now what?" phase, what sort of protections should we add to our script prior to submitting to festivals/ competitions/ the Black List? Copyright and submitting it to WGA? Is there anything else we should consider in terms of protecting our work? Asking due to having heard unfortunate stories over the years about stolen work. What do you recommend?

Additionally, when you start getting feedback on your work, how do you know which advice to take verses what to throw out?

Hello Michael Clarkson.

Like some others, I'm in a phase where I'm looking for people interested in my work. My question to you would be what recommendations you would give to get fresh work to the right people.

(I have already entered a few competitions).

I would also be interested to know what you think are the key points for a successful logline and query letter, Michael Clarkson.

K. S Unfortunately you're going to have to be open to sharing it and if someone sees the premise and decides to do their own version, there's very little you can do. What I will say is that many writers can have the same idea BUT THE EXECUTION is the pivotal part. No one can write your story the way you would, so it's all about whether you want to take that risk.

You know what works - put ego aside, ask does it enhance the story or make it more interesting or excite you to re-write that - get in tune with your instincts and you'll know what to do. x

Noah Konan - I'm a big believer in sending PASSIONATE emails (cold) to producers you admire and explaining why you think it would be a good pairing of you and them. Or why you'd like to be on X writers room. Try sleuthing and finding their details online - and if you can't - find their agents details and send an email to them to forward on! That's worked for me in the past!

I hate loglines lol - I hate that we have to write something pithy to grab attention in that way. I hate writing loglines. That said, I try to keep it in a: CHARACTER doing X is confronted with Y - what will happen? kind of formula. This is my logline for my short debut UPHOLSTERGEIST

'When a furniture repairer on a restoration tv show is tasked with fixing a chair for a strange brother and sister, the job may cost more than just her time'

xx

Thank you very much Michael Clarkson.

Michael Clarkson So good to see you on the platform, my friend! It was so great meeting you at AFF and getting to record you for a little IG promo!

But since you're here for questions - I've got one for you. As a fellow writer/producer who is gearing up for her feature film directorial debut, I'd love to know - how do you put the producer hat away and assume the director hat? How to do you prepare your team for the switch as well? Is it compartmentalized or messy? Or do you only take on projects when there is a clear delineation with the only crossover allowed being writing?

Inquiring directors are grateful for your insights! ;-)

Karen "Kay" Ross - hello! It was so lovely meeting you too.

I think calling them all 'hats' makes the situation feel more complex than it is. Your producer role creates the sandpit the director role then gets to play in. If possible, set up your parameters for producing - then find a time and space for just you to go over in your head and with your DP what your objective is for the visual directing side of the story. Everything in filmmaking is part of a flow - just try and keep in mind that producing is directing is writing is producing. You can do this! :D xx

Love that Michael Clarkson clearly I'm just overthinking it again LOL Thank you for the encouragement!

Thanks again for taking the time to answer our questions, Michael Clarkson!

Thank you for such an incredible Ask Me Anything event, Michael Clarkson!