On adaptations and picking projects
MakingOf has an interview up with me in which I talk a bit about my writing process, the challenge of adaptations, and why one’s career is often as much about the scripts you didn’t write.
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This site is run by screenwriter John August. Mostly, he answers reader-submitted questions about the craft, but occasionally he goes on tangents that run far afield of writing and filmmaking. You'll also find info on past, present and future projects.
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July 2nd, 2009 at 2:06 am
Nice Variant plug.
Of those 40-odd unmade screenplays, how many will eventually make it to your library on here? I’m assuming its an issue of ownership, but they might be fun to read.
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:24 am
Oh yeah. Big fan of killing the hero off over here.
I was choked when watching Paul Verhoeven’s STARSHIP TROOPERS and [SPOILER ALERT] thought they did this… ‘Awesome,’ I thought. Effing brilliant.
Alas, it was just a ruse. Pssh.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:42 am
When you are talking about a “project coming across your desk” are you referring to an idea a studio exec has in the works and they are looking for a screenwriter to write it?
Or, are you referring to an idea you have for a spec script, but you don’t know off hand if a producer, director or studio would be open to it?
Or, are you referring to doing a rewrite of someone else’s script that may or may not get made but you’ll be paid regardless?
What percentage of the fify scripts you’ve written (was if fifty, I’m fainting right now at fifty, I’ve got to say) are generated by your own ideas you pitch to a studio and they give you the go-ahead, as opposed to a studio contacting you for a movie they want to see made/have acquired rights for?
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:46 am
I don’t know about reading all 40 scripts, but I imagine there’s at least one at the top of the mental pyramid which is clearly an unrealized Narnian Child of Coolness that would be incredible to add to the readables… (I vote for the most Sci-Fi-Other-World one if one if one gets released). Or one that is seemingly pulseless & dead, which could be produced amongst Aftereffects cut-outs & Henson Puppets? :)
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I loved it. Great definition of what a re-write truly is. I try to remind my writer friends that (a) it’s not beneficial to re-write before the script is done and (b) re-writing isn’t just editing.
No need to typo check a scene that might not be in the final draft.
Awesome clip! ~Muse
July 4th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
suddenly i’ve got a strange craving for a nicotine.
July 24th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Inspiring talk again!
I liked your answer on „how do you pick your projects“. I was wondering how your realty check works: When you like a story, what makes you decide that a script is not gonna be shot? Because of the people involved? Because you know: that’s something you like, but anyone else does? Because of trends and figures?
Is there something you can recommend to a less experienced writer or story editor to develop the skill, to evaluate a scripts chances of realization?
Tanx!
July 24th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Great video. My attention was drawn specifically to the part about rewriting before you’ve finished the first draft. I’m guilty as charged. I’m working on my first feature-length, and it’s an adaptation. I’m only on page 25 and I’ve already started looking at page numbers and thinking “Ok, that only leaves me 100 pages to write such and such”. I’ve already cut three scenes, and yup, I keep looking at where I “put that comma”. Now that I think about it, I’m wasting time by going back and editing scenes that I might cut anyway.
I reckon it’s just tough to ignore something (even temporarily) that stands out as bad. It’s like the pothole repair crew being made to look at ALL the potholes first before they can fix ANY. I mean, they were RIGHT THERE, and they had to keep going. At least they got a good look at the whole road first.
July 28th, 2009 at 4:07 am
Great. As always very inspiring.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I found a new interview (part 2 I believe) that Makingof has newly posted. John discusses his writing habits and process. I loved it!
http://makingof.com/insiders/media/john/august/john-august-on-personal-writing-habits-and-process/99/283