My screenwriting class is skyping with a few screenwriters from LA and I can only think of painfully obvious questions 
Like:
Is it worth it to attend graduate school?
How beneficial has it been to live in LA?
Among other non-questions. Any ideas? 
What questions would you ask a screenwriter?
| Started By | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Tachiwaka13 |
What questions would you ask a screenwriter? |
Lead | |
|
Posts: 26098 (04/01/2009 11:58 AM) |
|
||
|
DarklyDreaming07 |
|||
|
Posts: 46055 (04/01/2009 12:00 PM) |
How do you come up with ideas?
When working on a movie based on a book, how do you pick and choose what to use? |
||
|
ru4serious |
|||
|
Posts: 587 (04/01/2009 12:05 PM) |
Do you know who these people are? Look up some of their work and ask questions based on that.
Ask them about their writing process. That's always interesting to hear |
||
|
Tachiwaka13 |
|||
|
Posts: 26099 (04/01/2009 12:10 PM) |
I don't know them. The teacher didn't tell us.
Those are good questions though, thanks! |
||
|
killergoalie13 |
|||
|
Posts: 10597 (04/01/2009 3:47 PM) |
Ask them if when writing, do they truly get "into" each character so they can get a more personalized/realistic dialogue/actions for each one?
Such as if one of the characters is a "street wise punk", it is highly unlikely that they would talk/act as if they were a Rhodes scholar. Ask much is it WHAT you know, and how much is it, WHO you know? (As far as actually marketing or selling your screenplay) Ask how many times on average is a "spec" script rewritten before it becomes a "shooting" script? Ask how risky is it to take chances or a risk by NOT following the "tried and true". Such as: - The good guy/underdog ALWAYS wins - The "dork" gets the "hot" girl, while the "Stud" QB is always a jerk. Ask exactly how, and to whom do you actually submit a screenplay to. (I want to know the answer to this myself, as I have written 5 screenplays, and have started 4 others. )
Anyways, that's about all the questions I can think of for now. Best of luck with your endeavors. 
Edited By: killergoalie13
04/01/2009 3:50 PM.
Edited 1 times.
|
||
|
mshinda |
|||
|
Posts: 7385 (04/01/2009 3:49 PM) |
My husband's one. Want me to ask him what he'd want to be asked?
|
||
|
MegaBabe717 |
|||
|
Posts: 7529 (04/01/2009 3:49 PM) |
I would ask who was the most influential/helpful to them getting where they are today (or what one career move they made that did the same). Might give you
some ideas on how to pursue your own career!
|
||
|
mellei |
|||
|
Posts: 2479 (04/01/2009 4:27 PM) |
I would ask...
How do you become a successful screenwriter? How did you get into the business? Do you have any tips on how to become a better screenwriter/for people who want to get into the business? Is it better to be in an agency? |
||
|
Tachiwaka13 |
|||
|
Posts: 26103 (04/01/2009 4:33 PM) |
Yeah, the chat was at 2
But these are also awesome questions. We're talking to other people in the coming weeks so I'm taking all these down.
|
||
|
ru4serious |
|||
|
Posts: 591 (04/01/2009 4:36 PM) |
Who did you talk with?
|
||
|
Tachiwaka13 |
|||
|
Posts: 26104 (04/01/2009 4:39 PM) |
Brian...I can't even spell his last name, let alone pronounce it
He isn't overwhelmingly successful, but he's trying.
|
||
|
orangepeel19 |
|||
|
Posts: 9895 (04/01/2009 4:50 PM) Friendliest JJBer '09
|
What do you need to get into "writer's mode" without blocks and distractions?
|
||
|
beklah324 |
|||
|
Posts: 22094 (04/01/2009 4:53 PM) |
As someone who'd like to break into the business someday, I'd love to know where you submit finished pieces of work. Do you send them to production
companies? I'd especially want to know in regards to someone writing who doesn't live anywhere near California/Hollywood. Plus, how do you go about
making sure that your work isn't copied or stolen?
|
||
|
MuppetGrrl |
|||
|
Posts: 74317 (04/01/2009 4:58 PM) JJB Debater '03 |
How do your scripts change from page to screen?
How do directors respect your vision, and how do they make your script their own? Do you find that films are more of a director's medium, or a writer's medium? What is it about screenwriting that attracts you more than, say, playwriting? How can you stand it when five other screenwriters are brought on to change your original vision? I think I'm showing why I'd have difficulty being a screenwriter.
|
||
|
killergoalie13 |
|||
|
Posts: 10600 (04/01/2009 5:03 PM) |
Great questions, Beklah, and Muppet.
I know one thing that quite a few writers do is to mail themselves a copy of their script/manuscript, and keep it sealed. The postmark date is one way to have a recorded copy of a date that they had finished writing it. (As long as they mail a copy to themselves soon after they finish writing it.)..It's not "perfect", but it is something.
Edited By: killergoalie13
04/01/2009 5:07 PM.
Edited 1 times.
|
||
|
MuppetGrrl |
|||
|
Posts: 74319 (04/01/2009 5:09 PM) JJB Debater '03 |
I've done that before, killergoalie!
|
||
|
killergoalie13 |
|||
|
Posts: 10602 (04/01/2009 5:28 PM) |
Likewise, Muppet!
|
||
|
ru4serious |
|||
|
Posts: 592 (04/01/2009 5:37 PM) |
You can also register your work with the WGA. It's like $20 I think. As far as mailing your work to people. A lot of companies don't take unsolicited
materials for legal reason but it's probably best to call the companies and ask them what their policy on unsolicited materials are. Getting an agent is
usually the best way to get your stuff in front of people though
Also there are alot of writing fellowships that can help you get exposure but they're also extremely competitive. Some of them if you win give you access to mentors plus a "salary" to work on your projects for a year. Some of them are ABC/Disney Fellowship (television one and feature one) (this one awards $50,000) CBS writer's fellowship Nicholl's Fellowship ($30,000) Nickelodeon writer's fellowship And Marvel just announced one I'm sure there are a lot more out but those are the biggest |
||
Quick Reply
