His name is my name too
I am interested in screenwriting and would love to break into the business. My problem is that John August is my real name. Will I have to use a different name?
I have many scripts I’m working on. Any advice on the name situation would be great!
— John August
Oakland, CA
A quick Google search will reveal there are a bunch of us John Augusts. One guy wants to abolish the Australian state governments, and has been active on the internet since Usenet days. John August Swanson is a painter, while another John August does guitar instruction books. And one specializes in interlocking pavers.
My favorite non-me John August has a site dedicated to diabetic foot problems. And here I am just answering questions about bad catering.
Unlike the Screen Actor’s Guild, which forces actors to use a unique name, there’s no prohibition in Hollywood for multiple writers having identical names. As a practical matter, though, it’s quite inconvenient. But there are a few good solutions.
Use your middle name or initial. On IMDb, there are at least eight David Steinbergs. But the one I know, a screenwriter, is David H. Steinberg, and he’s doing very well. He writes “David H. Steinberg” on his scripts, and no one gets confused.
Use your first and middle initials. Tom Smith is a pretty common name, so my friend’s scripts are marked T. C. Smith. He got the Nicholl Fellowship, so something worked. Initials are also a good way of concealing your gender.
Do you like any of the variations on “John?” Jonathan, Jack, Juan, Johann? I was a week into pre-production on Go when I realized that the familiar-looking gaffer was actually a college acquaintance, John Lampassi. He was now going by Giovani Lampassi — “Gio.” People are much more likely to remember his name because, frankly, how many Gios do you know?
How do you feel about your mother’s maiden name?
And remember, despite what you read on this site, there are other rewarding careers out there beyond screenwriting.
Any other ego-surfing John Augusts out there, please leave a comment so we can get a headcount.
Articles
November 12th, 2004 at 6:43 am
What an interesting topic I must say! On the IMDB you always see (I) or (II) after a names which indicates that many people in Hollywood/Film, have that same problem. If you were a lets say Steven Spielberg, well you will most likely have no luck at all getting into it.
As for me, the only notable person I share my name with, is a composer who has been dead for over 100 years. So if I want to take writing one step further when I’m little older, I should be in the blue.
November 12th, 2004 at 7:36 am
I would seem to be in the same situation. A quick search of IMDB reveals a glut of Matt Chapmans in Hollywood from actors to special effects to film crew to animators to the screenwriter who did some revisions on Runaway Jury…With initials it just sounds boring - M.P.Chapman. I guess I am going to have to re-invent myself as a character out of one of my own scripts.
Matt, London.
November 12th, 2004 at 8:13 am
I don’t really have that problem, though there is a Caz Gorham out there directing fly on the wall documentaries about lesbians in Ibiza… My grandmother squinted at the Radiotimes and watched one thinking I had finally made it to the little screen.
A friend of mine, Matt Wilkinson has just signed with an agency that represents another writer with the same name so he’s had to rebrand all his screenplays Matthew James Wilkinson…
Kas
November 13th, 2004 at 7:29 am
As To Matt Chapman’s response, apparently there is someone on this planet that fits you identity. Looks exactly like you in every way. By this I mean that 2 people if the same name is no big deal. But when it comes to a certain career (writing) it might be a little bit harder if they person with your name is working in the field you are hoping to work in and that person is a very prominent people.
John August has written a couple major motion pictures and is well known. If someone with your name is also a writer but of a smaller category, writes a small T.V show or wrote a film 20 years ago.
November 15th, 2004 at 6:06 pm
This is a very interesting topic. I know a lot of people who have already known names, such as a Jack Kennedy. I sort of feel good that my name is pretty rare and that only one other person on IMDb even has my last name (Szyszka).
November 16th, 2004 at 4:42 am
Why are there so few writers and directors who use only one name? I can only think of two right now - Tarsem (whatever happened to him?!) and Pitof…
It’s common practice in the music world where they grow a whole industry around the creative person’s image - would it be too pretentious for a writer to adopt a singular nom?
Can anyone think of a writer with no spaces in their name?
March 1st, 2005 at 4:26 am
No, I can’t. That’s pretty weird. I guess we writer’s just aren’t as crazy as we think we are!
August 20th, 2005 at 9:51 pm
They really are crazy.
April 28th, 2006 at 11:52 pm
Heh, I came on this board a little late. Seeing as the last comment was in August. But anyhow, I have a little bit of a problem with my name also. I was named after a country singer. It’s a good thing my last name is rare. I think I’ll use my initials also.
February 8th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I have been visiting this site a lot lately, so i thought it is a good idea to show my appreciation with a comment.
Thanks,
Jim Mirkalami
PS: I am a single dad
February 18th, 2008 at 3:18 am
Why do u guys have all the fun no one has my name
kaylee markiualyy
haha