Comments on: On adaptations and picking projects http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/interview-with-about-adaptions-and-picking-projects A ton of useful information about screenwriting. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:18:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Marcos http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/interview-with-about-adaptions-and-picking-projects/comment-page-1#comment-172830 Marcos Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:21:24 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/?p=3394#comment-172830 <p>I found a new interview (part 2 I believe) that Makingof has newly posted. John discusses his writing habits and process. I loved it!</p> <p>http://makingof.com/insiders/media/john/august/john-august-on-personal-writing-habits-and-process/99/283</p> 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

]]> By: Massimo http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/interview-with-about-adaptions-and-picking-projects/comment-page-1#comment-172544 Massimo Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:07:43 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/?p=3394#comment-172544 <p>Great. As always very inspiring.</p> Great. As always very inspiring.

]]> By: Greg http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/interview-with-about-adaptions-and-picking-projects/comment-page-1#comment-172508 Greg Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:55:21 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/?p=3394#comment-172508 <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> 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.

]]> By: Anka http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/interview-with-about-adaptions-and-picking-projects/comment-page-1#comment-172480 Anka Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:52:49 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/?p=3394#comment-172480 <p>Inspiring talk again!</p> <p>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?</p> <p>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?</p> <p>Tanx!</p> 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!

]]> By: trevy http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/interview-with-about-adaptions-and-picking-projects/comment-page-1#comment-172115 trevy Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:48:20 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/?p=3394#comment-172115 <p>suddenly i've got a strange craving for a nicotine.</p> suddenly i’ve got a strange craving for a nicotine.

]]> By: Mike Muse http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/interview-with-about-adaptions-and-picking-projects/comment-page-1#comment-172089 Mike Muse Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:33:58 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/?p=3394#comment-172089 <p>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.</p> <p>No need to typo check a scene that might not be in the final draft.</p> <p>Awesome clip! ~Muse</p> 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

]]> By: Synthian http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/interview-with-about-adaptions-and-picking-projects/comment-page-1#comment-172078 Synthian Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:46:10 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/?p=3394#comment-172078 <p>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? :)</p> 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? :)

]]> By: carol http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/interview-with-about-adaptions-and-picking-projects/comment-page-1#comment-172073 carol Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:42:07 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/?p=3394#comment-172073 <p>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?</p> <p>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?</p> <p>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?</p> <p>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?</p> 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?

]]> By: Racicot http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/interview-with-about-adaptions-and-picking-projects/comment-page-1#comment-172069 Racicot Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:24:11 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/?p=3394#comment-172069 <p>Oh yeah. Big fan of killing the hero off over here.</p> <p>I was choked when watching Paul Verhoeven's STARSHIP TROOPERS and [SPOILER ALERT] thought they did this... 'Awesome,' I thought. Effing brilliant.</p> <p>Alas, it was just a ruse. Pssh.</p> 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.

]]> By: Chris http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/interview-with-about-adaptions-and-picking-projects/comment-page-1#comment-172067 Chris Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:06:50 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/?p=3394#comment-172067 <p>Nice Variant plug.</p> <p>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.</p> 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.

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