Comments on: Workshops: An invitiation to idea theft? http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft A ton of useful information about screenwriting. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:28:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Johnny http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft/comment-page-1#comment-29944 Johnny Thu, 07 Dec 2006 08:14:57 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft#comment-29944 <p>...ChrisTopher, sorry.</p> …ChrisTopher, sorry.

]]> By: Johnny http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft/comment-page-1#comment-29943 Johnny Thu, 07 Dec 2006 08:13:27 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft#comment-29943 <p>J. Chrisopher: Absolutely do beginning screenwriters turn into good writers, otherwise, well, it be quite a conundrum. I also agree that feedback is important, at any point by the way, not just for beginners. I just don't believe in a group of dyslexics helping each other how to read. Bad analogy, but you get my point.</p> J. Chrisopher: Absolutely do beginning screenwriters turn into good writers, otherwise, well, it be quite a conundrum. I also agree that feedback is important, at any point by the way, not just for beginners. I just don’t believe in a group of dyslexics helping each other how to read. Bad analogy, but you get my point.

]]> By: martin lazzarini http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft/comment-page-1#comment-29851 martin lazzarini Wed, 06 Dec 2006 23:15:08 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft#comment-29851 <p>John made a good point, one that is not heard often enough. I have always thought ideas are cheap as dirt, that what differenciates writers from the boys is having the damn thing written and, yes, distributed to fellow writers, i.e. the enemy, to the point that everyone who reads it, like it or not, can admit it is a riveting tale. To me, it is style that counts. And I understand the jitters and jealousy that can drive writers to think of themselves as enemies. I have a great friend who is a working D.P. and I found that cinematographers are so much nicer and collegial to one another, and I often wondered why this is not the case among writers, or most writers - as I've often heard.</p> John made a good point, one that is not heard often enough. I have always thought ideas are cheap as dirt, that what differenciates writers from the boys is having the damn thing written and, yes, distributed to fellow writers, i.e. the enemy, to the point that everyone who reads it, like it or not, can admit it is a riveting tale. To me, it is style that counts. And I understand the jitters and jealousy that can drive writers to think of themselves as enemies. I have a great friend who is a working D.P. and I found that cinematographers are so much nicer and collegial to one another, and I often wondered why this is not the case among writers, or most writers – as I’ve often heard.

]]> By: Matt Hader http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft/comment-page-1#comment-29800 Matt Hader Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:09:46 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft#comment-29800 <p>Lars - thanks, I've never realized that before...(cough-cough) </p> <p>...My parents are actually pretty comical folks.</p> Lars – thanks, I’ve never realized that before…(cough-cough)

…My parents are actually pretty comical folks.

]]> By: Lars http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft/comment-page-1#comment-29764 Lars Wed, 06 Dec 2006 11:13:10 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft#comment-29764 <p>Matt Hader... I really like your name! ;)</p> <p>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Hatter</p> Matt Hader… I really like your name! ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Hatter

]]> By: david O'Hara http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft/comment-page-1#comment-29691 david O'Hara Wed, 06 Dec 2006 03:05:24 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft#comment-29691 <p>This came up in a workshop I was attending. I told them to do what I do: only write stuff that nobody wants. Best protection in the world.</p> This came up in a workshop I was attending. I told them to do what I do: only write stuff that nobody wants. Best protection in the world.

]]> By: J.Christopher http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft/comment-page-1#comment-29634 J.Christopher Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:27:00 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft#comment-29634 <p>Long time listener, first time poster.....</p> <p>Johnny h.</p> <p>I've never been to a workshop, so I may be speaking out of my hind end here, but there are beginning screenwriters who do turn into passable or even (dare I say it) good screenwriters.</p> <p>There is that early time when feedback and support can be crucial. We don't learn to tell stories by instinct. There is a reason it is called a craft.</p> <p>Because writing is almost by definition a solitary activity, the support of a writers workshop can be fundamental for some. For others, it is completely unnecessary, but the interaction, the critique, and the ability to focus on plot, characters, story, etc. can make the difference.</p> <p>Other than your pocket a bit lighter, what can it hurt?</p> <p>Concerning the theft of ideas:</p> <p>For the novice it is inexperience combined with insecurity. We (I consider myself novice) are in love with our ideas. We just don't realize that everyone else is in love with theirs. There is also the fear that we've developed something great, but a producer will hand it off to someone else they know and/or trust.</p> Long time listener, first time poster…..

Johnny h.

I’ve never been to a workshop, so I may be speaking out of my hind end here, but there are beginning screenwriters who do turn into passable or even (dare I say it) good screenwriters.

There is that early time when feedback and support can be crucial. We don’t learn to tell stories by instinct. There is a reason it is called a craft.

Because writing is almost by definition a solitary activity, the support of a writers workshop can be fundamental for some. For others, it is completely unnecessary, but the interaction, the critique, and the ability to focus on plot, characters, story, etc. can make the difference.

Other than your pocket a bit lighter, what can it hurt?

Concerning the theft of ideas:

For the novice it is inexperience combined with insecurity. We (I consider myself novice) are in love with our ideas. We just don’t realize that everyone else is in love with theirs. There is also the fear that we’ve developed something great, but a producer will hand it off to someone else they know and/or trust.

]]> By: Matt Hader http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft/comment-page-1#comment-29626 Matt Hader Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:30:50 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft#comment-29626 <p>HA!</p> <p>John, while at Sundance were you able to assist Dito Montiel with his "Saints" film? I met Dito at the San Diego Film Festival..Have you seen his "Saints" film? Pretty intense first effort.</p> HA!

John, while at Sundance were you able to assist Dito Montiel with his “Saints” film? I met Dito at the San Diego Film Festival..Have you seen his “Saints” film? Pretty intense first effort.

]]> By: Brian http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft/comment-page-1#comment-29625 Brian Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:19:27 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft#comment-29625 <p>I agree that peolpe should not worry about other writers stealing your ideas. As John said a workshop will only be as good as its members, but I do think that there there are many valid reasons for joining such a writing group.</p> <p>I am a member of a scriptwriting workshop (comprising of both stage and screen writers) and find it an invaluable resourse. As we all know, writing can be a solitary and lonely pursuit, and the sense of community such a worksop provides really helps on a purely psychological level. It is also a particularly apt place to look for informative, honest feedback and constructive critisicm. It doesn't hurt to read and analyse scripts (both good and bad) and I find that doing so keeps that side of my brain exercised.</p> I agree that peolpe should not worry about other writers stealing your ideas. As John said a workshop will only be as good as its members, but I do think that there there are many valid reasons for joining such a writing group.

I am a member of a scriptwriting workshop (comprising of both stage and screen writers) and find it an invaluable resourse. As we all know, writing can be a solitary and lonely pursuit, and the sense of community such a worksop provides really helps on a purely psychological level. It is also a particularly apt place to look for informative, honest feedback and constructive critisicm. It doesn’t hurt to read and analyse scripts (both good and bad) and I find that doing so keeps that side of my brain exercised.

]]> By: Dara http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft/comment-page-1#comment-29614 Dara Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:12:24 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft#comment-29614 <p>oh lord. please excuse my multiple typos.</p> oh lord. please excuse my multiple typos.

]]> By: Theron http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft/comment-page-1#comment-29609 Theron Tue, 05 Dec 2006 21:58:55 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/workshops-an-invitiation-to-idea-theft#comment-29609 <p>I suppose they're like anything else. If they're good, they're worthwhile. If they're bad, they're a waste of time. Life can be a puzzle, eh?</p> I suppose they’re like anything else. If they’re good, they’re worthwhile. If they’re bad, they’re a waste of time. Life can be a puzzle, eh?

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