Hi guys, don’t kill me for the image! 😀 Anyway, as promised, I’m releasing the first Twitterview today. Hopefully, I will release more as time goes on. Anyway, I just wanted to give you a little background on what this is. I basically talked to the writers of an NBC show called Undateable about some questions I had about screenwriting. Ah, you got the name now? I’m glad! No, I’m kidding. I know you understood what it meant before. 😀 Anyway, I plan to ask a variety of people in these Twitterviews about their jobs or something their good at and how to get started in these industries. I’ve changed some of my words around and their responses but not the meaning of the words. I’ve done this to make the conversation seem a little more presentable and I’ve also cut questions down in certain places which may have already been widely known.
So, the following is my discussion with Adam Sztykiel, Chris Luccy, Craig Doyle, Bill Lawrence and Jon Dewalt. I’ve taken out the comedic moments of the conversation (sorry guys!) but if you guys want to see those, I’ll post images of the conversation soon as well.
Me: (To Adam) I’ve been considering going in to screenwriting and since I love your work on Undateable, I wondered if I could ask you some questions on it.
Adam: Fire away! Tagging in CraigDoyle who is a Jedi of screenwriting. (At this point, Chris Luccy also took part in the discussion of his own will. Bill came in for some humor only. :D)
Me: The best thing to happen to me is to have the attention of all of you. Anyway, I’ve heard a lot of discouraging things about screenwriting but I love the prospect of doing it so how hard was it for each of you to get to where you are? I don’t want to load you with questions so I’ll go one by one if that’s okay.
Adam: It was hard 12 years ago and it’s only gotten harder to break in. But not impossible! I wrote 10 scripts (dozens of drafts of each) before selling 1 and I was incredibly lucky. Cliche advice, but you just have to write. Recipe: HardWork+Talent+ThickSkin+Luck+Perseverance.
Craig: Write like crazy. Move to LA.
Chris: Agreed. Then try to get Assistant job for a show and learn first-hand. And apply to the writer workshops. I did the Wb one (which I can only assume means Warner Bros) and that’s how I got my first job.
Me: “Move to LA”. Hmm, can’t say that’s the first time I heard that one. The secnd thing i heard is that selling your script is the hardest thing, you have to know people to get anywhere. So, did all of you guys start off like chris said, as assistants? And did you all need connections to start?
Chris: My only “connection” was a friend from Ohio U(University). who ended up working for an agency. She heard about a job as an assistant to an EP(Executive Producer). I got that job and did it for 3 yrs. I find most people spend about 7 years in L.A. trying before getting their 1st writing gig.
Me: 7 years? Wow, for like a staff writer position? Can’t you take your script directly to networks, like if it’s really good? I’ve heard networks take a greater look at your past positions rather than your actual script in deciding to take you. To what extent is this actually true? (Jon Dewalt now enters the chat.)
Jon: If you’re a performer and super funny you can try stand up or improv. A lot of people break in that way, it’s a great way to meet with everyone. Either path you go, it takes forever and is very hard. But worth it.
Me:Â Â Just 2 more questions. 1, is it true that if you take a script to a network and they accept but after a few drafts, they can fire you and keep your idea? I’ve read online that this can happen. I just thought of another question. Would it be easier to break in as an author?
Adam: Write what you love. If movies/TV, write those. If books, write those. In movies you have a contract that guarantees you writing “steps”, but after that, it’s up to the studio to keep you writing or to hire someone else in your place. It takes a while to build up a body of quality work, meet people and make fans.
Me: (Very crucial and a common misconception) Last thing, have you throughout your lives written what you want to write or what people like at the time because I am strictly against following the market, my belief is that if your work is good then people will come to read your work and you don’t need to write what you don’t like.
Adam: Don’t chase the market. You have to write what is true to you and your voice.
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That was basically what we explored through our conversations. I hope that you found this interesting and that it gave you an insight in to the world of screenwriting and what it takes to have your name along the likes of Vince Gilligan, Chuck Lorre and of course, Adam Sztykiel and the gang at Undateable. Thank you for reading guys. I’ll post pictures of our conversation in a few days if you want those and the new tip also comes out in a couple of days! Hope to see you all again soon! 🙂
Everyday Tips For You 