and yet, some of the most interesting projects might typically be viewed as non-actionable at first until someone finds a home for it - and then begins the trend of that previously non-actionable project being the new sought after.
This video was so needed! I got back the feedback from the Blacklist, and while there are some elements of my script that need work in the last part this was said Conceptually, CONNECTION is familiar but approachable, having the tone and conceits of a weekend film that many audiences will come out to and enjoy. It’s more of a mainstream horror movie, one that’s produced by Blumhouse or Atomic Monster, rife with violence and jump scares, and with a simple narrative.” I thought of you, and wondered if this is what you meant by actionable.
@@leejessup5299Thank you for clarifying. Because the other thought I had was that actionable meant perfect execution of every element of the screenplay (plot, dialogue, technicalities, etc.)
The truth is, something isn't "Actionable" except in hindsight! There've been tons of screenplays down through the years which seemed super "Actionable" , which generated BIDDING WARS they were viewed as so "Actionable" and sold for high 6 figures and even that coveted $1M and guess what? They were Never made. I remember reading "The Ticking Man" which in 2003 made the front page of Variety. I read it and it was a great Action script with a comedic edge and was viewed at that time as being a slam dunk for any number of male stars. One was was deemed as perfect for the main character was Bruce Willis. Who subsequently read it and passed on it for whatever reason. Then, once Willis passed on it the next couple of widely circulated male stars reportedly didn't want to be known as accepting sloppy seconds, taking a role that Willis passed on, and so they passed on the script also. It quickly because a not-so-secret issue of one ups-manship. There was another male star mentioned who said "Sure, I'll do it" BUT, only AFTER the script was re-written. And it was re-written but who would rewrite a script unless there were problems with it? And so on and so forth. Point being: nobody can ever say ahead of time what script is supposedly "Actionable" or not. If an agent or manager passes on a script, because it's not "Actionable" that may be more of a reflection that the agent or manager simply isn't high up enough in the food chain to be able to send it to a strong producer. They may not have the connections and network they claim. So I would be wary on this one. Nobody was making Westerns anymore until John Fusco wrote "Young Guns" in the late 80s. It was picked up, was indeed produced and even spawned a sequel. NOBODY who was making Sports movies at all the last several years. But then Justin Kuritzkes wrote "CHALLENGERS" and got it to Amy Pascal and then Zendaya read it and wanted to play the lead and Voila! Suddenly someone wanted to make a Sports movie. In fact, the very OPPOSITE of the advice given here has often been proven to be true; Often a producer will WANT to make a movie simply because no one has made anything in the "X" genre (Sports, Westerns, whatever) in the last several years. Producers and Studios make ALL KINDS OF MOVIES every year. And just because Dramas aren't currently "Actionable", doesn't mean that if someone comes around and writes the next "In The Bedroom" or "Ordinary People" that there aren't millions of movie goers who wouldn't make a Drama a hit. Write something good and it will get noticed, should be your first and primary concern! NOT what some Joe Blow decrees is "actionable" or not. That's utter nonsense!
I appreciate all of those thoughts and insights! This video spoke specifically towards what reps consider to be an actionable script. I would never encourage anyone to write to trends as those shift and change all the time. My advice to writers is to always aim for the most market-friendly version of the story you are passionate to tell.
Actionable may be in the eye of the beholder. A high-powered agent might see a script as actionable that a lower-level agent may not be able to do anything with. I don't think Lee represented that actionable is a guarantee something will get made, rather that actionable has the elements (at least in the eyes of the person the writer is talking to) to make an attempt to go forward. My takeaway from this video is to be informed on the business aspect of who is doing what and what is getting made. Yes, write what you know, write something good but being informed can help direct who, when and how you pitch. Thinking like the agent, manager or producer you want to pitch to, seeing things from their perspective can be asset. Might help you anticipate and overcome objections.
@@jeffschubert217 EVERYTHING in Hollywood is "in the eye of the beholder". In addition to being a working writer, I worked as a Reader some years back at an agency and also for a film fest. I came across an incredible script by a young writer and I was impressed enough to get it to a contact at WME, after which the agent replied that she hated it, found it offensive!, etc. Undeterred, a short while later the script got to a well known, powerhouse producer in LA who had a string of hits and he LOVED IT! They flew the writer out to LA and housed them there on their own dime for a week, as he interviewed with various people in the business. Ultimately he moved and I lost touch with the writer, but It all only goes to prove that William Goldman was right, "Nobody knows anything". Everyone claims to have their finger on the pulse of the Industry but that's really bunk. The best you can ever do is write your best story you can. From my own experience I wrote a script about midway in my writing career, a drama that I'd been itching to write for years so i went ahead and did it. It opened doors for me, won at a festival but in the end, was never made. In hindsight, there was less than a handful of actors who were the right age and that ultimately worked against the story. Now when I write or advise others, I strongly suggest to writers, (and yes, that includes myself as I'm still writing years later though I luckily don't have to do it for a living anymore) that they at least have parts of the Young, Old, Male, Female paradigm, in their work. That they write something that will HOPEFULLY, appeal to those for markets. Lastly, I read an article several years ago which interviewed over a dozen produced screenwriters and asked "How did you sale your first screenplay?" And the results were surprising, but not to me; Virtually ever sale was NOT through an agent, but by a 'friend of a friend' or 'friend of a relative', a co-worker, a colleague, etc. Once you've made the contact, or won the screenwriting contest, agents will be 100x more receptive to ' your scripts. And just know that while there are dozens of agents and agencies in LA, there's only less than a dozen that have the muscle aka the connections reputation and clout to get your script to the right people. At least that's been my experience down through the years.
and yet, some of the most interesting projects might typically be viewed as non-actionable at first until someone finds a home for it - and then begins the trend of that previously non-actionable project being the new sought after.
Trying to write more grounded sci-fi. My imagination is too big. Thanks for all the gems, Lee.
This video was so needed! I got back the feedback from the Blacklist, and while there are some elements of my script that need work in the last part this was said Conceptually, CONNECTION is familiar but approachable, having the tone and conceits of a weekend film that many audiences will come out to and enjoy. It’s more of a mainstream horror movie, one that’s produced by Blumhouse or Atomic Monster, rife with violence and jump scares, and with a simple narrative.” I thought of you, and wondered if this is what you meant by actionable.
That's exactly it!
@@leejessup5299Thank you for clarifying. Because the other thought I had was that actionable meant perfect execution of every element of the screenplay (plot, dialogue, technicalities, etc.)
The truth is, something isn't "Actionable" except in hindsight!
There've been tons of screenplays down through the years which seemed super "Actionable" , which generated BIDDING WARS they were viewed as so "Actionable" and sold for high 6 figures and even that coveted $1M and guess what?
They were Never made.
I remember reading "The Ticking Man" which in 2003 made the front page of Variety. I read it and it was a great Action script with a comedic edge and was viewed at that time as being a slam dunk for any number of male stars.
One was was deemed as perfect for the main character was Bruce Willis. Who subsequently read it and passed on it for whatever reason.
Then, once Willis passed on it the next couple of widely circulated male stars reportedly didn't want to be known as accepting sloppy seconds, taking a role that Willis passed on, and so they passed on the script also.
It quickly because a not-so-secret issue of one ups-manship. There was another male star mentioned who said "Sure, I'll do it" BUT, only AFTER the script was re-written. And it was re-written but who would rewrite a script unless there were problems with it?
And so on and so forth.
Point being: nobody can ever say ahead of time what script is supposedly "Actionable" or not.
If an agent or manager passes on a script, because it's not "Actionable" that may be more of a reflection that the agent or manager simply isn't high up enough in the food chain to be able to send it to a strong producer. They may not have the connections and network they claim. So I would be wary on this one.
Nobody was making Westerns anymore until John Fusco wrote "Young Guns" in the late 80s. It was picked up, was indeed produced and even spawned a sequel.
NOBODY who was making Sports movies at all the last several years. But then Justin Kuritzkes wrote "CHALLENGERS" and got it to Amy Pascal and then Zendaya read it and wanted to play the lead and Voila! Suddenly someone wanted to make a Sports movie.
In fact, the very OPPOSITE of the advice given here has often been proven to be true; Often a producer will WANT to make a movie simply because no one has made anything in the "X" genre (Sports, Westerns, whatever) in the last several years. Producers and Studios make ALL KINDS OF MOVIES every year. And just because Dramas aren't currently "Actionable", doesn't mean that if someone comes around and writes the next "In The Bedroom" or "Ordinary People" that there aren't millions of movie goers who wouldn't make a Drama a hit.
Write something good and it will get noticed, should be your first and primary concern! NOT what some Joe Blow decrees is "actionable" or not.
That's utter nonsense!
I appreciate all of those thoughts and insights! This video spoke specifically towards what reps consider to be an actionable script. I would never encourage anyone to write to trends as those shift and change all the time. My advice to writers is to always aim for the most market-friendly version of the story you are passionate to tell.
Actionable may be in the eye of the beholder. A high-powered agent might see a script as actionable that a lower-level agent may not be able to do anything with.
I don't think Lee represented that actionable is a guarantee something will get made, rather that actionable has the elements (at least in the eyes of the person the writer is talking to) to make an attempt to go forward.
My takeaway from this video is to be informed on the business aspect of who is doing what and what is getting made.
Yes, write what you know, write something good but being informed can help direct who, when and how you pitch. Thinking like the agent, manager or producer you want to pitch to, seeing things from their perspective can be asset. Might help you anticipate and overcome objections.
@@jeffschubert217 EVERYTHING in Hollywood is "in the eye of the beholder".
In addition to being a working writer, I worked as a Reader some years back
at an agency and also for a film fest. I came across an incredible script by a
young writer and I was impressed enough to get it to a contact at WME,
after which the agent replied that she hated it, found it offensive!, etc.
Undeterred, a short while later the script got to a well known, powerhouse
producer in LA who had a string of hits and he LOVED IT! They flew the
writer out to LA and housed them there on their own dime for a week,
as he interviewed with various people in the business. Ultimately he
moved and I lost touch with the writer, but It all only goes to prove that
William Goldman was right, "Nobody knows anything". Everyone claims
to have their finger on the pulse of the Industry but that's really bunk.
The best you can ever do is write your best story you can.
From my own experience I wrote a script about midway in my writing
career, a drama that I'd been itching to write for years so i went ahead
and did it. It opened doors for me, won at a festival but in the end, was
never made. In hindsight, there was less than a handful of actors who
were the right age and that ultimately worked against the story. Now
when I write or advise others, I strongly suggest to writers,
(and yes, that includes myself as I'm still writing years later though
I luckily don't have to do it for a living anymore)
that they at least have parts of the Young, Old, Male, Female paradigm,
in their work. That they write something that will HOPEFULLY,
appeal to those for markets.
Lastly, I read an article several years ago which interviewed over a dozen
produced screenwriters and asked "How did you sale your first screenplay?"
And the results were surprising, but not to me; Virtually ever sale was NOT
through an agent, but by a 'friend of a friend' or 'friend of a
relative', a co-worker, a colleague, etc.
Once you've made the contact, or
won the screenwriting contest, agents will be 100x more receptive to
' your scripts. And just know that while there are dozens of agents and
agencies in LA, there's only less than a dozen that have the muscle aka
the connections reputation and clout to get your script to the right people.
At least that's been my experience down through the years.
@@jeffschubert217 well said!