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We now know that the following are myths: 1)You either got it or you don't; 2)You don't have to rewrite (if you nailed the first draft); 3)You're creating Art; 4)You're creating Crap; and 5)It takes one good script (to start a career.)
Now that you know how to think about your writing (and you're starting to know how to think about your screenplay out there in the world) let's step back a bit and look at your entire career. Hence, Myth #6 of Screenwriting: You can be a screenwriter from anywhere, in your spare time. This myth says that, by means of the Internet you can live in Atlanta or Anchorage, and still have an equal shot at establishing yourself in the biz. In addition, you can be totally immersed in another profession, and write that career-establishing spec in your spare time.
I realize that by claiming the above is a myth I've caused a lot of stomachs out there to drop. And I've probably made a lot of enemies. But the first thing I'll tell you is that there will be some good news in here for all of you outside of L.A., or who happen to be praciticing law, medicine, or some other mind-comsuming trade. But I'll also say that, even if you feel discouraged after reading this, it's the truth. And I believe the truth is never bad, and may even spur you on to taking a bold step (like moving to L.A.)
First, let's look at the myth. There's a whole industry out there (growing by the minute)of software companies, book publishers, seminar-givers, and yes, even internet sites, that will tell you that in today's age virtually anyone with a computer, modem and logline can compete shoulder-to-shoulder with the pros in L.A. And you can write in your spare time to boot, so that you don't have to sacrifice your safe career for Risky Hollywood, and you'll always have something to fall back on.
As to the folks that proclaim you can live anywhere, I'd first ask you to consider the source. Are these all people that will profit if you buy their software/seminar/magazine/script-reading service by telling you this? Well, I have no ulterior motive, so I'll lay it on the line: It's simply very hard, VERY VERY VERY HARD, to make it as a screenwriter if you don't live here. (Hell, it's crazy-hard to make it if you DO.) Now this is NOT to say that once you've made it you can't pick up and tele-commute to your heart's content. But as for breaking in...sorry. (I'll get to why in a moment.)
As for writing in your spare time, there's a subtle distinction here. If you haven't broken in yet, and you're trying to, then BY DEFINITION you're going to be using your free time to write. But there's a difference between people who firmly establish a career, and then write on the side and "...wait to see what happens," and those souls who simply do whatever it takes to survive, and every other waking moment their hearts, minds and fingers-tips are devoted to becoming working screenwriters; the job is the means, writing for a living is the end. Suffice it to say that you MUST have the latter attitude to succeed. I've foud that those folks who first make sure they have "something to fall back on," usually do just that: fall back.
And now to the Why's: No doubt many of you are questioning why --with e-mail, screenwriting software, Internet sites, and fax machines -- it's nearly impossible to break in from abroad. To answer, I'll just ask you to use your common sense. First, I'm sure you'll agree that the screenwriting game is one of the hardest to crack on the planet (if you don't agree, you're uninformed.) Next, I'm sure you'll agree that living far away AT LEAST makes the job somewhat more difficult (realistically, it's more than somewhat. You simply cannot take advantage of the connectedness, the L.A.- specific contacts, the organic networking possibilities that you get if you live here. ) So: Extremely, Vastly Difficult + Even More Difficult = Nearly Impossible. That's the math, and I defy you to disprove it. Same principle goes for the spare-time mindset (more about that next week.)
Am I saying that no one has EVER broken in from outside L.A., or turned from successful, consuming careers to screenwriting? Sure they have. People also win the lottery every day. But will I tell you to plan your life around winning the lottery? I think you know the answer.
Rather than continue to live in some corporate-created fantasy that you can treat screenwriting like a hobby and still succeed, I want you to be aware of the reality so you can maximize your chances and give yourself a fair shot.
Barring that, you'll at least have a more realistic view of your prospects. |
