Loved this Tony - I have a ready to pitch pilot and bible that ticks most of these boxes so I feel inspired to be brave and try to get it read. Also very excited to see Americana! Congrats! 🥂
Thanks for taking the time to write this and share your insights! You've given me a lot of food for thought on how to move forward. I can't wait to drag my friends to see Americana this summer.
Great piece, Tony. Really. Very practical! I'm not over on Twitter anymore and I don't get your weekly wisdom posts so I guess this will have to do. I'm currently working on a grimy, propulsive, amoral noir that does take place in NYC and this gave me the juice that I needed. Thanks! Looking forward to Pokerface and the film too. Can't wait!
I'm outlining my second screenplay now. I'm having a blast, I'm inspired, and I have no idea where it will lead, but I am so, so thankful for advice like this, it's helpful and insightful. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us all!
Blood Simple with Frances McDormant came to mind. Got me to think about flipping the gender in this bottle film I got -it’s a car story set in NYC. Actually got the idea from an old 90’s Andrew McCarthy film, lol.
This was so great to read. I'm one draft into a heist / rom com with a female lead and this was just what I needed to hear. Gritty, cool, funny, lower budget production checks all the boxes for sure.
I always love your columns. And your work. But as somebody still trying to penetrate the echelon of execs and creatives that you did over a decade ago, it is bleak as hell. After Covid, strikes and industry contraction it seems like nobody wants to read anything that doesn't already have significant attachments. "Naked script" is like, why are you even bothering me? So much fun!
If only someone would write a practical screenwriting post about how to utilize the necessity of talent attachments to a screenwriter's potential advantage in generating industry interest.
I'm not mocking the sentiment. Just noting that your comment is to a post that is fairly explicitly my attempt to offer free practical actionable advice for how to turn the present moment's need for talent attachment to a possible advantage. I know it's bleak as hell. Two choices are either to give up, or to develop strategies for still finding work anyway. I'm offering my personal POV on one way of doing the latter.
Tony, it's great advice. Forgive me, I am usually impervious to adversity but today feeling rather pervious. For somebody without a rep, without credits, trying to get anybody attached to anything is met with a wall of ghosting, lying or, occasionally, honesty (as in "I don't want to read it because you have no money"). And to paraphrase/rip-off Hunter Thompson, there's also a negative side.
Tony, this is great advice. I bristle at the constant advice to just write 'something great' - that a 'good script will break through.' Having done that, and having that script not really move the needle, this is a great way to think about it. Using a script as currency for people at various stages of their careers. The good news is, I'm already writing something in the vein of what you've described! So I'm just a few months ahead of you. Thanks
Loved this Tony - I have a ready to pitch pilot and bible that ticks most of these boxes so I feel inspired to be brave and try to get it read. Also very excited to see Americana! Congrats! 🥂
Really great dive into the industry. I appreciate the depth
Thanks for taking the time to write this and share your insights! You've given me a lot of food for thought on how to move forward. I can't wait to drag my friends to see Americana this summer.
Don’t want to be a screenwriter , but as a debut novelist this was helpful
Great piece, Tony. Really. Very practical! I'm not over on Twitter anymore and I don't get your weekly wisdom posts so I guess this will have to do. I'm currently working on a grimy, propulsive, amoral noir that does take place in NYC and this gave me the juice that I needed. Thanks! Looking forward to Pokerface and the film too. Can't wait!
I'm outlining my second screenplay now. I'm having a blast, I'm inspired, and I have no idea where it will lead, but I am so, so thankful for advice like this, it's helpful and insightful. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us all!
Congratulations for the theatrical release date! Exciting! Thanks for sharing your insights. Very much appreciated.
Blood Simple with Frances McDormant came to mind. Got me to think about flipping the gender in this bottle film I got -it’s a car story set in NYC. Actually got the idea from an old 90’s Andrew McCarthy film, lol.
The most practical screenwriting advice out there
Thanks Tony! I really appreciate your posts. Demystifying this industry is a saintly endeavor, really.
Great stuff. A good argument for just titling your script ROCKET FUEL.
Two practical screenwriting posts in 3 weeks?! Is it 2022 again?!
This was so great to read. I'm one draft into a heist / rom com with a female lead and this was just what I needed to hear. Gritty, cool, funny, lower budget production checks all the boxes for sure.
So glad to hear!
I always love your columns. And your work. But as somebody still trying to penetrate the echelon of execs and creatives that you did over a decade ago, it is bleak as hell. After Covid, strikes and industry contraction it seems like nobody wants to read anything that doesn't already have significant attachments. "Naked script" is like, why are you even bothering me? So much fun!
If only someone would write a practical screenwriting post about how to utilize the necessity of talent attachments to a screenwriter's potential advantage in generating industry interest.
um if this is mocking me I'm sure I deserve it...and I'd gladly follow the link?
I'm not mocking the sentiment. Just noting that your comment is to a post that is fairly explicitly my attempt to offer free practical actionable advice for how to turn the present moment's need for talent attachment to a possible advantage. I know it's bleak as hell. Two choices are either to give up, or to develop strategies for still finding work anyway. I'm offering my personal POV on one way of doing the latter.
Tony, it's great advice. Forgive me, I am usually impervious to adversity but today feeling rather pervious. For somebody without a rep, without credits, trying to get anybody attached to anything is met with a wall of ghosting, lying or, occasionally, honesty (as in "I don't want to read it because you have no money"). And to paraphrase/rip-off Hunter Thompson, there's also a negative side.
Sorry to hear about the struggles, Lukas.
Yup, there's certainly a lack of girlboss movies In Hollywood.
Tony, this is great advice. I bristle at the constant advice to just write 'something great' - that a 'good script will break through.' Having done that, and having that script not really move the needle, this is a great way to think about it. Using a script as currency for people at various stages of their careers. The good news is, I'm already writing something in the vein of what you've described! So I'm just a few months ahead of you. Thanks