How do I make it as a Career Screenwriter?
I just finished my first screenplay, and I know it is really good. I just need a chance to get in front of someone to prove it. I’ve tried to contact agencies, but got no response. I don’t want to give up my dream of a Hollywood career!
Any advice?
–Jim S., New York
The stock answers to the career question tend to be variations on “you have to pay your dues” or “you have to know someone.” I’m not a fan of either piece of advice, so let’s start by reframing those two old bromides into solid pieces of career advice:
Instead of “paying your dues”, which implies years of suffering and sucking up, master the craft of screenwriting by building a strong portfolio.
New writers fall in love with their first finished scripts. Don’t, because unless you are the genius of the century, it’s not very good. And even if you ARE the genius of the century, your next screenplay will be better still. Screenwriting is like writing poetry– it needs to be elegant, expressive and written in a particular (and very odd) style. Your learning curve is HUGE. Plan on finishing 5 or 6 scripts before you start looking for work.
Even when you have one great script, you’ll want a couple more in your back pocket for when the agent or producer asks the inevitable question “What else have you got?” The correct answer to that question? Pull out your next great script.
To help with getting all that writing done, consider taking a class or two or six. I’m a fan of UCLA Extension, but there are other schools with good screenwriting teachers, and everything is on line these days. In class you’ll meet peers at your level. Trade scripts with them. Stay in touch. Share experiences. Learn and grow together.
You should also stop worrying about who you know, and instead learn how the business side of show business actually works.
Hollywood is desperate for great talent and great stories– that’s why big-time screenwriters get paid a fortune. At the same time, we are desperate to defend ourselves from people who think they have “something big” but have not done the work to prove it. For whatever reason, screenwriting seems easy to people, but think about what the NFL would say to you if you showed up at the Cowboys’ front office and said “I caught a pass in High School. I’m ready to play offense.” The ratio of inquiries established companies get is something like 95% wannabe to 5% actual talent. Naturally, their defenses are built up high. If they weren’t we’d waste 95% of every day on total crap– and trust me, there’s A LOT of it.
The answer to getting through the screeners is to learn more about the business so you know what the professional expectations are. That way when you take your 5 great scripts to an agency or management company, you’ll know enough about their business to have an intelligent conversation about yours. Learn by listening to screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin on August’s podcast “Scriptnotes”, a great source of both business and creative advice. Read the trades (Deadline.com, Variety.com, etc.) Read screenplays (free all over the net) and books about screenwriting.
In real life, you show up at the NFL in perfect shape. With your game films from a whole bunch of games. With a coach that knows your work. Then you STILL have to prove yourself. But if you do all the hard work and have the chops, you’re in that top 5%. Same in entertainment. Everyone wants to work with professionals who know their stuff and can reliably tell a great story.
If you’re that person, you will have a career.
