Now there's gatekeepers. And if you're like me, you're willing to ram through those. For the rest of you reading, you'll need to realize the reality of the situation and the options that aren't so brash.
Firstly, the reality: Everyone is busy trying to make their dreams come true. Some dreams are one movie before they die so they feel accomplished. Some need to take down every corporation and entity in their path to the top. Some just want to tell their stories. Once in a while, some hope to have a regular career as a writer.
Wonderful dreams, mostly.
Options are not singular. There are many options and many paths. I'm going to go over a few with you now. Ready? Let's do this.
1st Option: Give up. Why even try? The world's gonna end soon anyway. Super easy way to go back to your boring life you had before even really trying anything. Good for you.
2nd Option: Sell and option a few screenplays, very occasionally getting one produced, and it's nothing like your actual writing. Hack directors, producers that slap their name on it and then give a singular repost about it, thus constituting their agreement for the finished film. The Dream, right?! You made it. Congrats.
3rd Option: Start realizing your gift of writing is infinite. Write a script? No one bought it? Fuck them! Make it yourself.
4th Option: Start realizing your gift of writing is infinite. Write a script? No one bought it? Fuck them! Give it to a friend and have them make it. Win yourself some nice awards, and make an invitation to create the next one with them.
5th Option: Start realizing your gift of writing is infinite. You are special. Realize what success actually is. And if you think it's a Lamborghini, you're probably too stupid to be a good writer. No offense, though. Have fun driving around trying to have other people validate you.
Very early in my career, I sold and optioned a few scripts. Best payday I ever had! Many years went by and the projects didn't get made. I found out the hard way that I was bought because the producers liked me. They still do!
But they no intention of making the movie because they were too busy getting their own movies to production. It's a never-ending battle for all of us!
Since that time I have not even tried to get studio cooperation. It happens, I won't lie to you. I'll gladly take studio money for 6 weeks, again and again but I'm in no position to bleed myself dry for them. The studio head can't read 110 pages everyday. They don't know what's different from today's draft. Just do a good job and enjoy your gourmet coffee while on campus. As they do, hope for the best and play the numbers. Be positive about being there. Enjoy the process.
These days, I do almost everything on my own, as if I, myself, am a Golden Age studio. Think big, but face reality. There's only a few people in my world. And that's okay. I don't need to have 30 delegates.
I humbly ask all screenwriters to become film producers if they want to complete something to get it done. Most of the time no budget or some budget; very occasionally a big budget. Just complete it. It doesn't have to be perfect, as art is never perfect.
Time does not stop and neither do my writing skills as long as I'm alive. It must be read and it must be seen, because I'm that kind of Director and Producer and Writer.
If you're reading this, I have one silly but true ideal for you: Stop keeping scripts locked away in your failing hard drives or forgotten password-protected cloud drives. Give it to yourself or give it to someone else to get it made. Get rid of the gatekeeper that you are to yourself. Give the gift because you can always write another one.
Writing is hard for many, but not for us. The ones that have infinite stories to tell.
