Writing on demand
Screenwriting is generally a career in which you set your own hours and work environment. Like a novelist, the screenwriter can choose to work in fuzzy slippers from 11 p.m. until dawn, fueled by Twizzlers and Mexican Coke (the kind with real sugar). Your employers don’t particularly care about the process as long as the script arrives on time and debatably brilliant.
As screenplays tip perilously close to production, the rules suddenly change. Producers start asking for pages the same day. Directors tell you to stay close, because they’ll have some new ideas they want to add after they talk with the stunt coordinator. You find yourself sitting in an office surrounded by people frantically performing the work of making the movie you scripted.
For Big Fish, my office was a giant classroom in an abandoned high school. For Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it was a little room at Pinewood Studios with a phone no one could operate. For Titan A.E., it was a half a cubicle at Fox. Regardless of the square footage, I was expected to write on demand. In each case, it wasn’t just small changes, but major new scenes that had to blend into the rest of what I’d written.
Novelists are never asked to do this.
This past week I’ve been in New York, working on an unannounced project that is still a long ways off from production, but facing a Very Big Meeting on Thursday. We’ve been renting studio space at a venue that couldn’t exist in Los Angeles: thirteen little rooms that alternate, hour-by-hour, between karate classes, choir rehearsals, commercial auditions and classrooms for the kids in Billy Elliot.
Number of kids in tears I’ve seen: three.
Number of adults: two.
It’s so different from my normal writing life, in which my only distractions are a snoring dog or the gardeners on Thursday. But the chaos is also kind of exhilarating, a chance to remember that writing isn’t something that only happens in hermit-mode.
Some of my favorite scenes have come out of this process. I think that’s because they tended to have very clear objectives. Meeting with Jessica Lange during her wardrobe fitting for Big Fish, I noticed that she was picking much sexier outfits than I expected. “Sandra wants to look good for her husband,” she explained. That was kind of genius, but I hadn’t given her any scenes that really supported this idea. I wrote the bathtub scene on hotel stationery and showed it to Tim Burton that same evening. That kind of insight only happens on location.
This afternoon, I walked 18 blocks to retrieve an inkjet printer, then cabbed it across town so I could print new revisions tomorrow. I’m not using any of my normal stuff — I don’t usually do “real” writing on my laptop, and hadn’t even activated Final Draft — but it’s reassuring to see that writing is the same regardless of the tools or location.
Tonight, I’m off to see West Side Story. Which is another great thing about being in New York.
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May 5th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Thanks, as always, for the insight, John. Amazing that the bathtub scene in Big Fish was written at the last minute.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Actually, novelists are often asked to make big changes to their manuscripts. While revisions have shorter turnaround times as deadlines approach, novelists just don’t have to make them while the production is in progress.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
How do you normally write, John? Not that the tools technically matter, but I much prefer using my laptop precisely because I can write anywhere, and I’m curious about your preference if that isn’t it.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Regardless of the square footage, I was expected to write on demand. In each case, it wasn’t just small changes, but major new scenes that had to blend into the rest of what I’d written.
Novelists are never asked to do this.
Uh, yes we are. Sometimes on very tight deadlines. With production staff waiting. Though it’s still done alone in a room (while the editorial emails and the phonecalls escalate…).
May 5th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
So why can’t ALL Coke be Mexican Coke?
May 5th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Cuban sugarcane. Subsidized cornfields in middle america.
May 5th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I bet I know exactly what building you’re working in … lots of auditions, classes and such there … fun place, in a way, too. If it’s the place I’m thinking of, I’ve had rehearsals of some of my plays there. Cool.
You get a window of free time, lemme know, I’d be happy to buy you lunch.
May 5th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Response to Dorkman:
Last time I saw John mention anything about his writing hardware, it was a reference to his vertical keyboard he uses at home (link below). Got it myself because of that post and I can attest that it is anything but portable, but it makes a world of difference for hours of writing comfort.
http://johnaugust.com/archives/2007/dana-fox
May 5th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
“I don’t usually do “real” writing on my laptop”
(echoing what Dorkman asked earlier) For following this site regularly, I feel like I should already know this… I’m guessing you do most of your “real” writing on a desktop mac? Do you do any of your writing by hand or is it all computer?
May 5th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
John,
Some of my favorite moments have been on set, quickly coming up with new scenes, lines, etc. or writing for re-shoots. Of course, some of the things that have prompted this have been less than ideal conditions, but I often find that because you’re so much closer to production, everyone has a better idea of what “is the story” and what “isn’t.”
May 5th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
@bryan, dorkman
The last paragraph of this article explains how John writes.
http://johnaugust.com/archives/2004/how-i-write
May 5th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
It’s disconcerting to hear that people used to write with pen and paper. Or that they used to type scripts on typewriters. How on earth, without cut and paste and spell check? Those mental skills seem to far surpass my abilities, sort of like – how did they ever build the pyramids?
May 5th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Fueled my Mexican Coke…
Or Peruvian depending on budget
May 5th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
*by, rather
May 5th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
If you have time for a good play, I recommend Moises Kaufman’s ‘33 Variations’.
May 5th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
I showed up for the free meal at the adult table with the movie stars once and was told the location for the end of the movie – which begins shooting tomorrow morning – had fallen out and they needed a whole new end that could take place at a whole new place. Wrote all night – and it was much better than the original scene. Some times great things come under the gun.
May 6th, 2009 at 2:54 am
Hey John, while you’re in NYC you should try to get to Lima’s Taste (Peruvian Ceviche bar) at the corner of Bedford and Christopher Streets. Excellent ceviche … and everything else. The best Peruvian food I’ve ever had (although, I’ve never been to Peru). Great sangria, too. And since you don’t eat mammals (last I read) there are plenty of options for ya.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:27 am
John, I just have to say that I find your enthusiasm for this craft, in all its facets, absolutely infectious. There are so many blogs that complain about last minute changes, marketing teams insisting on the late additions of wolfmen and car chases, bitching about the general state of the film industry, etc.
But it’s clear you find the whole process exhilarating, which is why your blog is so much fun to read. Thanks for the post.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I love finding out about the little cool things that happen behind my favorite movies, like that you wrote the bathtub scene after speaking with Jessica Lange. It makes me love the movie even more! Filmmaking seems like such a collaborative process, and I don’t think we always see that from the viewer end of it. You hear about the big names, but never really how they work together. Thanks for this fantastic blog!
May 6th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Off topic…new Kindle out with a bigger screen. I wonder if it is better for reading PDFs, particularly screenplays.
May 6th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Hey John,
Final Draft 8 has been released!
Have you checked it our/do you plan to update? Or are you “content” with Final Draft 7? Just curious.
Best, Andrew
May 6th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
What if I’m terrible at writing quickly, will I never be a successful screenwriter?
May 7th, 2009 at 7:01 am
This is an interesting entry: I was under the impression that screenwriters never got anywhere near the production because the directors banned them.
Does that apply only to being on-set once they film? Is that a myth?
You’re website is very informative; thanks for taking the time to “talk” to those of us who are just starting out/curious about the careers of screenwriters!
May 7th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Saw BIG FISH for the first time last night (I know, way late — it’s one that got away from me when it came out).
Cried at the end.
Well-done, sir.
May 8th, 2009 at 3:17 am
@Alex, I find that when the clock’s ticking, I can actually write things that I may be proud of. There’s something magical about just sitting down and writing, especially under pressure, instead of having lots of time, procrastinating and looking over something else when you should be writing.
May 8th, 2009 at 8:16 am
(1) I’ve long since given up all soda and bought a Sodastream to make my own seltzer at home…you can buy the syrup to make your own soda and it doesn’t include high fructose corn syrup…you can buy other syrups on the market that are much healthier, taste better, allow you to make weaker or stronger soda at 20% of the cost, and overall are exponentially better for the environment than traditional soda. I gave up soda because i suspect all the chemicals in my 6 diet coke a day habit were bad for me, but the green aspect is a bonus.
(2) John if you are in NY for a while I strongly suggest you check out August Osage County- and not just because your name is August. It’s a great, great example of high quality writing.
Enjoy the apple!
May 8th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
As most of my countrymen I am marooned via currency. It´s not likely I´ll go to NY any day soon…I would definatly stop by at Delfriscos Double Eagle steakhouse if I could. It´s on 51st street.
May 8th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
John, I could not find another way of writing to you. I am a media professional in India. Besides being a Producer I write as well. Are you in touch with Indian television? It is so flooded with reality content ‘inspired’ by one another that currently all channels look and sound the same as far as content goes. looks like the entire television industry is going to collapse soon. Do you have an opinion about this?
May 9th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
@Einar
Are people still partying until 6:00 in the morning in Reykjavik despite the financial woes? Saturday night in Reykjavik a few years ago is one of my fondest travel memories. I hope things turn around there soon.
(Sorry for hijacking and going off topic, everyone.)
May 10th, 2009 at 9:03 am
I think sometimes it’s really remarkable when you see what you’ve done at the last minute up on screen.. when it’s done well, it blends in to everything else. It’s part of the movie magic.
May 11th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Hi John,
I’m a screenwriting professor who, oddly, writes novels and has produced a couple movies. Your blog is required reading for my classes; sometimes, after reading your site, I wonder why I’m teaching at all. I should just make them read your site, then write a script in ten weeks. Anyway – as a novelist – just wanted to say that I’ve just delivered a ms for publication next spring by Penguin, which has been rewritten TO THE GILLS after extensive notes and last-minute deadlines (which makes no sense, but still happens) by my editor/publisher. All to the good, and a lot of the same crazed-inspired-writing-under-pressure moments (and very reminiscent of my producing days, working to get a script polished during pre-prod’n)… but definitely challenging and anxiety-provoking. (This is going to sound very odd, but honestly – the book cover designer came up with an idea for the cover that – slightly – changed the parameters of one of my novel’s locations!)
Maybe it’s just the kind of novelist I am. But, at least for me, it does happen, and it’s been okay.
Thanks for the site – what a tremendous resource. Kathy
May 20th, 2009 at 1:44 am
John, Great insight. I can’t tell you how small examples like this help sharpen our skills. Thanks for caring and sharing.