Screenwriting : A rant by a screenwriter who's actually writing... by Shelly Paino

I don't fully agree with the OP. First, they may have had dozens of scripts optioned, yet never produced. I'd still consider that a success. Second, by your logic, there should be no occupation called "critic." That is nobody who's writing critical reviews of films should be allowed to do so without having first made and sold a film (or art, or cuisine, or literature, etc). I believe one can have a thorough understanding of screenwriting, without having sold a script. Of course, you have a point and many gurus are full of hot air, but I don't completely discount all the advice and guidance out there.

Right on Shelly. There's a saying along the lines of, 'those who can't - teach' I suspect that in screenwriting that saying is very true because most successful screenwriters are too busy doing it to teach it. Succeeding in getting your work produced takes hard work, deternination, patience and a very large dollop of luck. At least that's what I've experienced thus far.

Richard Walters is an excellent screenplay teacher - Look him up as well as Syd Fields.

@Bix, good old Woody :-)

All joking aside. Obviously there are teachers of every given trade or art who do practice the art/trade in question and then there are those who don't. There are good teachers and bad, there are those who over charge for their services and those who under charge, what students choose to do with what they learn is what counts. Take those lessons and teach to others, or implement them as best they can and practice? Personally, I know I'm a rubbish teacher, so I'm sticking to practicing as much as I can until I get it right, because I'm pretty sure the adage, 'practice makes perfect' is accurate and true :-)

Evan mentioned cuisine as being comparable. Can you imagine signing up for a course to learn to cook a souffle and finding out the teacher had never actually baked a souffle, but had tasted hundreds and thereby knew how they were supposed to taste? I think there is a difference between critics and teachers. And what is a guru but a teacher who has professed themselves to be an expert.

So it isn't just social media and publishing? I love the social media 'experts' who don't ever play in the platform. The world is filled with these kinds of experts, who make their money solely on seminars and workshops, rather than participation or actually backing up what they preach -- which means they are preaching it wrong. But you made the point as to their cred by vetting them. I am learning stuff every day and as this industry and every industry ebbs and flows, none of us can really claim to be an expert.

For over 25 years I was a classical guitar guru. People worshiped the feet (or is it ground?) I walked on...lol... kidding. Alas, diabetes kicked my ass and fingers! Anyway, I taught and discovered that if I peddled the 'teach' product that only the few that had innate musical ability would be the ones that could be VERY special in the field. I am totally convinced that music and many arts CAN NOT be taught beyond the mediocre levels. Out of the ordinary sucess is a confluence of innate ability, circumstance and courage ( courage to perform under all and any conditions) that breeds genius... a.k.a. successssssss! Screenplay struggler... most art/films are mediocre or worse these days. Stop worrying and get your ass in gear! http://www.thenextbigwriter.com Go there, join and you'll probably discover you novel needs more more, and you'll meet other hard working novelists. AND, remember it ain't about the money.

There are some alt gurus who teach screenwriting & directing (videos online), many before they get famous/successful, and those are rockin'. But you don't need a guru -- you need the pages!

I have studied the work of most of those screenwriting "gurus" and I don't remember any of them saying screenwriting is easy. Some of them say it is easy to avoid certain pitfalls, but all acknowledge that the business is tough. The screenplay format is assumed by amateurs to be easy because it's easy to read. To tell a great visual story with that economy of words is very difficult. Christopher Vogler wrote a terrific book, "The Writer's Journey" This is a guy with gold-plated Hollywood credentials, but his name is not a household word. Resources like this help the writer to develop the craft, you just have to become savvy about who's selling snake oil. I beat my head against the wall for fifteen years because I had had some screenwriting classes at USC and I thought I knew what I was doing. I finally decided to take studying the craft seriously, and the learning offered by some of those "gurus" is priceless, some others not so much. Is there some bad advice out there? Yes, but it is probably coming from someone you know. It's like anything in life - "Caveat Emptor."

Just wanted to add that ranting is one of the fifteen steps to successful screenwriting. To learn about the other 14 send me $299.99 and I'll send you my 4 page booklet (postage included and this book is personally stapled together by me), HOW THE RANTING, WANKING, WRANGLER WRITERS OF LA-LA LAND ROPE IN THE BIG HOLLYWOOD BUCKS IN 30 DAYS AND NIGHTS Hey, have fun writing and you'll go places that give you satisfaction.

@ Max... Where do I send my check?

Aloha Martine, I made $100-130/hr as a musician. Usually played 3 hour gigs, 4 nights a week for about 20 years. My hands wore out from disease.

Having the skill, imagination and longevity to have screenplays that get made into films we know and love is a very difficult thing. That all the gurus don't have those credits does not necessarily discredit them. I think a lot of people can know the ins and outs of what makes a good screenplay, and how to do it--- it's just that, well, they CAN'T do it. But they can teach it. That being said, there are a lot of 'gurus' out there raking in the cash without giving you much in return. Just choose wisely!

good rant ...er "good point!"

I understand what you're saying. That's why I began to write my screenplays into books. It's a way I can ensure my stories will have an audience. In the meantime, I can build a platform and create a buzz and use that to pitch my work. I'll then offer to write a screenplay version if someone is interested. I find that this method gives me more control of my writing future.

To add to Eleni (I hope I can use your first name) if you write books you can control and option them.

Of course you can use my first name:) The optioning aspect is another reason I'm writing books now. You get the best of both worlds. Then if you find yourself in a situation where someone else is hired to write your story, you at least have the satisfaction of knowing you got it out your way first!

By the Ms Paino, are you screenwriting from published works or this is totally new. If this is completely yours don't forget to get it registered with the writer's guild BEFORE you share too much. Talking from experience sad to say.

@Kenneth: My work is all registered and additionally copyrighted when I make them novels. @Dan: I wouldn't say no to writing an adaptation of someone else's book if the project is right.

There are those who need guidance in whatever it is they are pursuing. I have always wondered why people spend a small fortune on film school when they could take that money and a group of friends and make several films, learning along the way. The "professional" connections one makes in film school are tenuous at best. The same can be said for spending money to have your script "read" and analyzed. While I am sure there are legitimate readers out there who can offer advice, I am not convinced that is the best way forward. It seems to me that these gurus are analogous to divorce lawyers; it is in their best interest financially if your script (divorce) is never finished. "Make these changes and send it over again, I'll give it another read and give you a 10% discount."

The art of consulting is different than the art of other things. This is a conversation that comes up repeatedly. Top consultants are brought in by Hollywood for a reason - they are fix it men. They are not the best original idea men. It is much like a mechanic who is not the best designer of a car. If you look for the best directors, they are often not the best actors, but they can help bring out quality work. The best consultants are not necessarily the best writers or cowriters. They are great structure people. They get the basics of structure and can communicate it effectively. If they were great writers they would be too busy writing. Teachers of just about any profession are often good at teaching the core skills, but if you notice, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were not computer teachers. Your best art teachers are typically not the top artists of the field, although certainly they are artists in their field, but art is a different thing. The best writing teachers of just about any genre are not the best writers. I love some of the books by the screenwriting gurus, they have helped me see structure. I personally love structure, I have consulted on scripts and have been respected for the consults I have given (I don't give many)> I have consulted in a variety of fields because I am good with helping people organize their ideas. There is an old adage 'the shoemaker with no shoes' which refers to a pattern which happens in many professions, people who are good at something are often not good at it for themselves for some reason. A lot of great fashion designers dress in jeans and a black t shirt. They are so overstimulated by the creative process. People who love to stand in rooms and talk theory are not people who are driven/compelled to write and write and write and rework things. People compelled to consult are often people who like really working deeply with structure and thinking about things most writers do not want to think about so deeply. Some good scripts start out needing work, but there is a spark to it. A good writer wants to work on their own ideas. A good consultant likes to sift through the passion of someone else and really bring it to a core structure and maybe add a few notes. Good fashion stylists are those who do not design, but who take what others have designed and combine it in a certain configuration that is interesting. One of the best world choreographers Mia Michaels is not one of the best dancers and doesn't even have much of the build of a dancer, yet has choreographed for many celebrities and has done world renowned work. The best film critics have never been the best directors or actors. What are the films Siskell and Ebert were in? Education on writing is partly a skill of critique. If you have not seen the film 'Adaptation' you may find it interesting since it features Robert McKee and a writer critical of him and there is a fun element there about his work. The best management consultants are often not the top managers, but rather the best at helping people be managers. They are good 'facilitators'. Few writers want to stand in front of large groups of people. Many are more hermit prone by nature. They want to be buried in their own heads, not trying to help someone get things out of their head.

Those who can't do, teach !! There are a lot of parasites out there who are all experts though have never achieved anything themselves.

You're damned right!

Dan's right. And here's the theme music for that reality. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js3z-eBkbnk

ツ

I'm with you Shelly. The only rule is there is no rule.

Talking about screenwriting guru that have actually written AND sold screenplays, there's also William C. Martell. More in the action genre but he did understood a thing or two about the forces in action to write commercially viable screenplays having sold a dozen of them... His books are now in a revised edition for Kindle and they've been endorsed by quite a bunch of names (like Roger Avary). But in defense of those who didn't, being new to the craft, I find McKee's Story to be an invaluable source of help that could potentially save me a lot of trials and errors by giving me some clear sign posts along the way. Great screenwriters may not be able to be great teachers in screenwriting and vice versa. Teaching is a different art altogether, and probably not a lesser one. Different strokes for different folks I guess.