For me it would be Shonda Rhimes and Issa Rae. The way Shonda started and just became a show runner without even being in a writers room before is inspiring. The way both of them are so humble. The way Shonda tried her best to make her shows so diverse and the way that Issa is trying to change TV for black people, and the representation of black people, especially black men, in her show 'Insecure', is so inspiring to me.
The show that really got me into wanting to be a screenwriter is 'The Crown' on Netflix. Well it was 'American Horror Story' when I was about 11 or 12 years old, but 'The Crown' is what really wanted to make me write the drama series that I’ve had in my head for over a year.
So, I'm an amateur screenwriter from Finland and I've been working on a script for a couple of weeks now. It's about a poor criminal from L.A who is sent to Alabama to do a gig.
I think I need experience from locals and some general information about small towns in Alabama. I also wanna know the reactions of the local Alabamians who meet the L.A guy there. Thank you so much!
Dear screenwriters, if you want to create your own story, create something new or make separate series (like you did with Blood Origin). As Lauren said herself, the Witcher books are already great and have all the material for a great adaptation. Remember that GoT was best when there were still unadapted books and showrunners followed them.
Please stop deviating so much from the books. We understand you want your creative freedom and it's impossible to adapt every detail from the books. It is ok to make changes as long as they are subtle and fit the tone/theme of the original. E.g. I liked that you added Ciri to Nivellen's story, it allowed for more scenes with her and Geralt, somewhat making up for the first season.
But almost always all of your major changes are significantly worse and make no sense. Just some examples which first come to mind: (after both seasons)
- >!You removed all scenes with Geralt and Ciri in the Brokilon forest and instead introduced Dara - a boring and useless character who replaced Geralt there!!<
- >!Orgy and whores in Kaer Morhen (open for everyone apparently), Vesemir agreeing to poison Ciri, irritating Eskel being killed in the same episode. He was not a major character in the books but his description was opposite to the one you portrayed, why couldn't you create someone else then... Feels like somebody either didn't care and wasn't familiar with the books or specifically wanted to anger fans.!<
- >!The whole Voleth Meir subplot was the worst part of the season, it constantly interrupted the main Geralt-Ciri interactions and felt artificially filled to give Yennefer and Fringilla(god knows why) more time (introducing real children eating 'Baba Yaga' for a short horror story where Geralt takes an order to kill it would be a great idea though). [Something I'd like to add: I agree about the potential of the voleth meir subplot but it had too much runtime and was underwhelming at best. They'd better spend that time with Geralt-Ciri-Yennefer/Dijkstra-Philippa/Vilgefortz&mages... In the books Philippa had way more impact on the story (contrary to the Fringilla) and here she basically appears only at the end.] !<
- >!Why did you have to take Yennefer's powers for the entire season? There could have been a cool magical duel with Rience, bonding with Ciri and Yennefer training her. Instead, she tries to sell Ciri influenced by voleth meir...!<
- >!The wh
I’ve written a few “scripts”, short stories, and (short) chapter books that were 100% from daydreams. Now I sit and wonder if some famous books and movies were created from a daydream.
I am looking to connect with a few over mail or any other platform so as to create a symbiotic network where we can hold virtual writing clubs to help each other out. Where I live, I haven’t been able to find kindred workers so I am trying here. If interested, drop me a mail at anantlamba22@gmail.com
Screenwriter’s News
for Monday, January 17, 2022
I skim the trades, so you don’t have to.
◊Going on vacay. Aubrey Plaza has been tapped to star in the upcoming second season of White Lotus, the dark comedy from creator Mike White. Season two of the HBO show will say farewell to Hawaii and be set at a different White Lotus property as the social satire follows a new group of vacationers.
My two-cent takeaway: Mike White did an excellent job with season one. I like that he’s mixing it up and choosing a new location for the next season. This allows for more world-building to help develop the story. Smart! Will Forte took a similar route in The Last Man on Earth (unceremoniously canceled too early) with a new location each season keeping the story fresh.
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◊It's happening. Hulu has given a series order to Reboot, a star-studded comedy from Modern Family co-creator Steve Levitan. The project stars Keegan-Michael Key and Johnny Knoxville. Judy Greer has also joined the cast, taking over a role that Leslie Bibb played in the pilot episode.
My two-cent takeaway: it's like a reboot without actually being one. I'm sure it will be full of call-backs to aughts humor, but more PC.
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◊Joyce Eliason, an Emmy-nominated television writer, and producer whose works include The Last Don, Titanic, and The Jacksons: An American Dream miniseries, has died. She was 87.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/joyce-eliason-tv-writer-dead-at-87-1235072828/
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◊‘Zorro’ Drama With Female Lead From Robert & Rebecca Rodriguez, Sean Tretta & Propagate In Works At The CW
—————————————————
◊I
... keep reading on reddit ➡Interesting article about what a writer's (pandemic) year looks like, by Colby Day:
>I’ve been lucky enough to consider myself a working screenwriter since 2016, and it’s been a heck of a learning curve to see how the business of film works (or doesn’t work). I thought doing a Colby Day Year in Review might be helpful for other writers to read, if only as insight into how this career even works. What are we writers doing with ourselves most of the time?
>
>Well… here’s a month by month breakdown of what I was doing in 2021.
https://medium.com/@colbyday/my-2021-as-a-working-screenwriter-4c4c7252b4af
So I'll say this, while the producer guy is often the voice of reason and he points out just out how stupid so many of the screenwriter's ideas are...he still comes across as a bit of a greedy asshole. He's just obsessed with money. The screenwriter guy as absurd as he can be seems pretty well intentioned. So him.
My question is for people who have found success in their writing career. I have never been able to balance writing time, research, learning and networking.What are some things writers can do to best use their time while pursuing their career?
The problem with him is he's inconsistent. He's clearly talented and knows what he's doing, but for some reason he never I don't wanna say try but he puts more effort into Rocky or First Blood then Cobra. Maybe it comes from passion. If he feels passion about a script it shows otherwise it's just another pay check.
I just came across this gem:
>Produced writer in West Hollywood looking for an intern to help with a story about a rock 'n' roll musician. This is an internship. There is no pay. If the project has legs you may (unless otherwise stipulated in writing) receive financial remuneration but not screen credit.
>
>THE JOB PROS: Some of my interns, have gone on to become successful writers, editors, and literary agents.
>
>THE CONS: Some of my interns only lasted a couple of days. Please be a pretty good writer, or at least, one willing to learn.
>
>Here are the last few little stipulations:
>
>You must be a musician. (Yep! You read it right.)
>
>Work will be at my home.
>
>You must be proficient in MS Word for PCs and a decent typist.
>
>You must be available at least 3 days per week for a minimum of 5 hours a day
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/wrg/d/los-angeles-screenwriter-intern-wanted/7416606421.html
Scriptnotes did a recent episode about a screenwriter exploiting other writers:
https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-520-you-cant-even-imagine-transcript
>John: I want to point to this Twitter thread by Ariel Rutherford about this white male writer with credits who puts out a call for a diverse female writer to help him on a project and then he tries to swing this kind of Svengali mentor situation where he’s like I’m creating a writer’s room and stuff. I’m not going to go in depth on the Twitter thread, but there’s a link in the show notes, so click through this link. Be warned that this kind of behavior exists out there. Especially because it turns out another writer had the exact same situation with the exact same writer. So it’s a guy who is just doing this repeatedly.
>
>This is just shitty behavior. And I don’t know who this writer is, but this writer should not be doing this. And it was just a new spin on sort of like a person with some credits taking advantage of writers with no credits. And so it drove me crazy. I just wanted to shine a little spotlight on it here.
Here's the Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/ArielRelaford/status/1444557790039605248
Unpaid internships are often illegal, btw
... keep reading on reddit ➡
I will be watching this case closely.
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/bohemian-rhapsody-loss-accounting-1235115211
Been working in Eastern Europe. So tired of reminding the producers to pay me what my contracts state that I should be paid. Never got anywhere close to the kind of money that at stake here with mister Anthony McCarten, but I keep my fingers crossed for him.
Once I got my money through court for a theater play that was premiered a few years ago. After this experience I thought that I'm cautious enough but, lo and behold, a month ago I wasn't paid for a consulting work. Hopefully this can be settled amicably, but I'm getting tired.
Do you have stories like this, or is it just me?
Then the worst actors who auditioned are cast in the most cliché, terrible TV show written by the worst writers, and every season, they hire a new cast and writers.
Then you’d have weekly installments of The Room quality filmmaking.
Caitlyn will give to Vi a nickname.
https://mobile.twitter.com/leeloo104/status/1474938847989358593
What nickname do you think that's will be?
I think it's will be "sweetheart".
Just like the title says, I want to start learning about and making content. I have a Bachelor's in Screenwriting but like oh so many art students I let my art degree gather dust while life slips right by me. Started trying to work with some friends but they're dragging their feet and I'm tired of waiting. I'm looking for fellow amateurs who want to start building their portfolios and developing their respective skills. I live 40 minutes away from Chicago in the northern suburbs, have a car, and I'm deadly serious about creating.
What I can offer you:
- Writing - I can write material based on whatever our limitations/objectives are. Do you want comedy? Drama? Thriller? Only two actors? One? Six? Got it.
- Logistics - I feel like I'm good with people and problem solving. I can take on a producer role to organize/develop projects. I would like to consider myself charismatic and good under pressure.
- Acting - Don't have much practice in front of a camera but I've done alright every time. It's one less actor we have to worry about casting.
Type of content I'd like to make:
I want to get some good practice in various genres so I think sticking to a skit, 3-5 minute format would be great (think Key and Peele). It would be less resource intensive as well as allow us to make more diversified content. I feel like my strong-suit is comedy but I would love to jump around and hone my skills in other genres.
Anybody that's serious about putting your name out there, let me know!
So the "Flying Dutchmen Deathstar" that has been rogue around the universe for 700 years coincidentally appears in an abandoned asteroid field near Terminus/Anacreon two weeks before this episode, and the Ancreoneans happen to stumble on it. Good thing the universe is not a fucking huge place that makes convenient coincidences rather unlikely.
Then within this time frame, the Anacreonians are able to concoct a plan to travel to and invade Terminus to capture the necessary crew to man the ship. In the process, they also manage to bait and destroy an imperial warship and capture its commanding officer unharmed, which they also need in order to open the airlock (I guess once you are in, there are no more identity checks required to man the ship, and obviously the Anacreoneans know that somehow).
Then they manage to board the "Flying dutchmen deathstar" just four hours before it jumps again and it is lost forever in the midst of infinite space. And there is a new sense of urgency as they need to secure the ship before it jumps again, because this time it might end up inside a star or on the edge of a blackhole, something that it did not do in the past 700 years of random jumps. And anyone who knows how barriers work can disarm them with ease, apparently. No need for imperial nanobots. That is just for the airlock.
Did I miss anything?
BTW: Obviously the boyfriend is dead and not in the abandoned asteroid calling for help.
I’d read the posts in the community and thought that I could have a try to find someone to work on the big project.
My name is Olexander and I am studying at university in Ukraine and love making movies
At this moment in time, I've already made my first short film (can send you it if you wish) and I am looking forward to working with young screenwriters to make their dreams come true on the screen
I thought that you could try making a script for shooting a short film. Unfortunately, I can’t offer you any money, but the future film will be sent to the film festivals both in Ukraine and other countries, so you have big chances of getting seen if you make really nice script. And, of course, if we win any money, we divide them by all the crew members and you have a chance to earn some money. If you are interested in the offer, I hope to hear from you soon.
I am interested in local conflicts between the reality and characters, like in Wong Karwai’s movies that I love (if you didn’t see any of them, I highly recommend you to watch In the Mood for Love — the greatest thing in the cinematography). I don’t really think that I am looking for a specific genre, but of a story that can be interesting to me
Thank you for your time.
Best regards,
Olexander Ch
Talking about professional screenwriters who have been in the industry for too long and have made some great movie/series. Screenwriters barely get credit most of the time. It would be nice to know about l sser known professional screenwriters.
