My first intro into the working of Hollywood came in 88 when after playing around with writing industrial videos. I had put an ad in the Desert Sun looking for scripts.
I received a few, none good enough, but I met a screenwriter to be who became my writing partner for a few of years. Together we were introduced to a producer who had a 'deal' with Paramount. He had an office on the lot. We wrote a couple of scripts that were that good - not that good, but I got a taste of what the industry was all about. It's not for the weak of heart.
The partnership broke up.
Still I would pump one out every few years.
About 15 years later I met another writer/producer of short films and over three years we wrote a couple and scripts and even got one optioned.
All the time I continued to read scripts and books about screenwriting. I would drop it for a few months, but always developed story ideas.
The thing is I kept immersed in the learning. I met a wonderful mentor, Blake Snyder, and was fortunate enough to take a couple of his seminars on the craft of storytelling/screenwriting.
I kept writing, developing and in contact with my last writing partner. I would read his scripts and give coverage notes.
A couple of months ago I contacted him and asked if his project was moving forward. He said that he was in another rewrite. He sent me his script to read and I mentioned it was a vast improvement. Writing scripts is all about rewriting and rewriting and rewriting.....
He told me that he had a project that had been offered to him, but he was too busy to work on it and asked if I wanted to take a look.
Well today I received word that the adaptation that I have been beating out, outlining, sample scripting is going forward. The author has a letter of intent from a production company to make the film when he presents a quality script.
Next week I will be signing an Intellectual Property Agreement with the author to adapt his book to a screenplay. This is fun.
What I wanted to point out is I never gave up. I continued to learn the craft of storytelling and screenwriting so that when this project landed at my feet I was ready.
I never gave up.
Here's the optimistic quote from a screenwriter/author that we all should read every morning...
“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark.
In the hopeless swamps of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all , do not let the gero in your soul perish and leave only frustration for the life you deserved, but never have been able to reach. The world ou desire can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible…. It is yours!” Ayn Rand….b. St. Petersburg Russia
Your Life - Your Movie
Namaste Speedo
