The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screen Writers by Karl Iglesias

Author:Karl Iglesias [Iglesias, Karl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781440528569
Publisher: Adams Media
Published: 2011-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

56. Get Feedback

Ask advice from everyone, but act with your own mind.

—Y IDDISH PROVERB

There’s a popular joke among Hollywood executives: “How many screenwriters does it take to change a light bulb?”

“Oh, no! Not the light bulb!”

All writers can relate. They don’t like changing anything because it’s their sweat, blood, and soul on the page. But you have to be objective about your work to improve it. If you’re serious about becoming a successful screenwriter, you have to see the story from a reader’s perspective before it’s read by someone important. This requires unbiased feedback, preferably from experienced writers or story analysts.

Michael Brandt: [Derek and I] get feedback from each other, and then our manager reads every draft of everything we write. He gives excellent notes and really is a creative partner on our drafts.

Steven de Souza: I’d definitely recommend writers get good feedback on their material. I get a lot of writers who give me their script and say, “Here’s my movie. I know you’ll like it and I’d really like your notes because you’re the best at doing action movies. The first act is a little long and the plot needs some work and I’m not sure if the hero’s buddy should be a guy or a girl, but here, read it.” Now, if you know these things are wrong with this draft, don’t give it to me now.

And half the time they say, “No, no, I really want your notes so I can incorporate them into my next version,” and I say, “I’m only going to read this once. You only get one shot. You have to make this as good as you can get it before you give it to me. Now go away.”

Gerald DiPego: When I’m writing something, whether it’s a script or a novel, my wife enjoys it when I read the day’s work to her in the evening after dinner. It really helps me because I can hear it out loud, look at it again, and observe her reaction. She’s the perfect audience because she loves film but she’s not a student of it.

Once I get a first draft, I give it to my two sons, who are also screenwriters, and who give me valuable feedback. Not only do they know the craft but they also represent the younger generation. So between my wife and my two sons, I feel very lucky to get valuable feedback.

Leslie Dixon: I don’t have that many dead-ass, reliable sources for feedback except for my husband, and occasionally my agent. I also have a couple of writer friends with whom I occasionally trade scripts. But I go more by my own gut than anything. I just try to please myself. Do I like this script? Would I pay eleven dollars to see this? These are pretty big questions if you’re honest with yourself.

Akiva Goldsman: I usually let a couple of trusted readers read it. Usually, they should not be friends or family, but they can be if you trust

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