It always kills me when someone says, "Write what sells" while at the same time others are saying, "Nobody knows what will sell next, so just go for it". I wish people in the film industry would make up their minds.
It's frustrating. But it basically means write a relatable hero's journey. Or write an epic screenplay with a huge series of obstacles or impossible obstacles for the protagonist to overcome. They're really the same movie. If you look at all the blockbusters, they are some version of that. Independence Day, War of The Worlds, Titanic, every Marvel film. It's all formulaic but the obstacles come in different forms. If that sells, then trade off writing passion pieces and studio pieces to pay the bills and be fulfilled. Good actors, some directors and writers do it. It's easier said than done. But if you can pull it off, that's the secret so to speak. Not everyone is going to hit like Tarantino,Sorkin or Kauffman. But you can get paid to write.
If you don't have a particular lane you are trying to staying in or at least start off in then yes, it will be confusing. If you really are writing just to be writing then honestly just do your own thing or create your own lane.
yeah, “write what sells” isn’t that helpful, but i reckon “write for a specific buyer” is. mostly in regards to the genre you are writing in and knowing what specific production companies actually make that genre, or just staying true to the genre even if it’s pushing the boundaries. “don’t solicit action/adventure to A24 and don’t solicit art house to Disney” kinda thing.
Writing what sells will be the death of your authenticity. Your authenticity is where you derive your creative authority from... which is what fuels this whole process!! Don’t ever sacrifice your own ideas for “what’s going to sell”... that’s like taking a recipe and removing the special ingredient which makes it better than others.. keep your unique signature!
There is a sweet spot between different, and too different. Squid Game was different, so it became a hit. But an art film might be too different. Squid Game worked because it was built on a framework that was very familiar: the reality game show. If you want to make something weird, always couch it in the familiar.
I'm nobody compared to this guy -- so heed his advice over mine. But if you're anything like me and can't stand 90% of the movies that have come out since around 2010, there's no quicker way to kill your passion for story telling than by trying to tell stories you don't like. It will feel worse than a job. I know, I've tried it. Question why are you trying to become a story teller in the first place, whether that be screen writing, directing, novelist etc, because if your answer is to make a buck, have your name on the side of a book, then seriously there are far easier ways to make money, with far less risk. Instead of spending five years writing screenplays, chasing what's currently selling, go study the stock market. You'll be competent in less than five years if you work at it. I think this mindset is why so many modern movies lack a soul -- like sure they're going to make a profit but then they're forgotten. They'll never last the test of time. They'll never mature into a classic or have a cult-like following. Which, of course, is meaningless and sounds pretentious if it's only about the money. But I personally can't write a story unless part of me is in the writing. Look at the original Star Wars trilogy, for example, compared with the modern three. The eastern philosophy in the original three George Lucas believed in himself. He' a spiritual man and it shows in those films. But the modern three? What truth is there? What am I supposed to feel, to learn? What emotional struggle was there? You know the answers. There was none. Because they were written with the mindset that these films will sell no matter what, and that they will hire writers who will do and behave exactly how they're told to. More examples? Look at anything that REALLY sold big. Look at the stories which changed things. They were always the stories the writer/director wanted to tell because their own personal truth, struggle was part of it, and maybe even more importantly it was the sort of story they loved seeing. Think JK Rowling and Harry Potter. Think Tarantino and everything he's ever made -- they're basically mashups of the stories he really enjoys and were never anything like the market. Toy Story (seriously at the time this came out I already believed my toys came to life and I was intensely jealously of my baby sister -- I could feel Woody's want for Andy's attention) Game of Thrones. Squid Game. Hunger Games. Twilight (I still think these books/films are terrible but that doesn't matter -- the author loved what she wrote and that's what matters) Lord of the Rings A Series of Unfortunate Events Anything written by Terry Pratchett. ANYTHING written by Cormac McCarthy (NO ONE WRITES LIKE HIM AND NEVER WILL) ANY early Stephen King novel. This list could go on for pages and pages and pages... More recent stuff? A Kind of Spark (novel) by Elle Mcnicoll. It's a middle grade novel, but it has so much heart and soul that my Godson and I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. The protagonist is Autistic and imagine the mindset of "who's going to buy this?" as in only other Autistic people will be able to relate so there's no mass appeal. And yet. The book is a best seller. I can guarantee the next series/movie/game/novel that REALLY takes the world by storm won't be anything like what's currently selling.
I love and agree with basically everything you said! And I hate around %99.99999.99.999999999.9.9999.9 of movies these days! And I've always said; even from a business point of view, what sounds like a better deal, a product you can sell once or a "product" you can sell for 30 years ... And for the the so called business geniuses that want to argue against that ... Well we've been forced to do it your way... And the film industry/Hollywood is basically DEAD.. Exactly the same as the music industry, you didn't give artists a chance, and so they found a way to do it themselves... And now i don't even understand why anyone still tries in music, except for themselves. I was surfing through Netflix last night, for an hour, couldn't find anything except for Scarface that I'll watch on blueray I stead, and I had a sad, sad, sad realization that with the state of things today.... People don't even seem to care about films anymore... "So what's the point" I asked myself... And the only thing that keeps me interested.... Is the fact that I'm just highly Interested.. And I'm still in my 20's and I love DVDs and I still love going to the cinema (except I don't because I always want my money back these days) and blueray and watching films longer than 14 seconds 🙄 So maybe, maybe there's still Normal people out there... And you sir seem to be pretty normal!!
@@wrongbutnotaliar5606 You, sir, seem pretty normal yourself, though I think to be normal now is to be deemed crazy by most others. You do some great artwork by the way.
I agree with everything you've said, and I'll say it again, Star Wars target audience was kids and teens, and these days kids and teens aren't watching movies they're playing video games. If you want something written, you can make a video game with a heavy narrative, which is what many creators have turned to doing these days. When Star Wars came out, you saw teenagers LINING UP outside of the theater. Now you see these same teenagers lining up for the next video game release. If you want to follow the trends the trends are clear. But, instead, we have these 30+ somethings always finally making it in hollywood, not realizing that they started and were inspired in the first place from films they saw when they were a kid/teen, and then creating really boring bland mundane indie films and indie documentaries for other 30+ somethings. You could say, go create the next Star Wars, but the next Star Wars will be in a video game, not a film series, because the next Star Wars will inevitably be a form of narrative entertainment that appeals to a mainstream audience but is appropriate for that young age group, and is what they need on a soul level, not just what they want.
That you should bring as many ideas to fruition as you can. At least try. At the very least if you don't succeed. You attempted it and you won't regret letting fear talk you out of trying.
I think if you are someone that LOVES story, and you get all giddy just thinking about all the things you love about it, start there. See what you come up with, just for fun. Then look at how similar things are selling in the market. There is an ebb and flow to what is in, and what people are interested in changes just like the seasons change. The story you wrote for fun because you LOVE story, might not be in right now, but it could be in next year. Just keep doing what you love and find people who love it as much as you. You will find your audience eventually, because love always wins. Have a wonderful weekend, Film Courage!! ❤❤❤
Great video! As someone who has written 3 spec scripts already more or less for the mental challenge of it, I did not put a huge amount of thought into "target audience" - I will def put more time into imagining what a target audience would be in the event I write more in the future! Entertainement is a Business first and foremost, before it is an art, and most folks forget that.
When I be working my 9-5 job I be saying the same thing what if I don't try to get my script done or producer it because you never know until you try. A lot of people on my job don't have a gift to be a Screenwriter of matter of fact I don't think they have a gift at all, so they have a reason to stay at the 9-5 job, but someone like me do I really have a reason? Well maybe or maybe not. I don't want to get old and be saying I wish I could've wrote my script. How will I know if I never try.
@@tag7376 I will, thank you Tag. There's nothing wrong with working a 9-5 job but when you're only getting paid $9/hr like me being a teacher when most jobs will pay you at least $12 in up, getting bored of the job then yes I need to move up because I'm 35 and will be 36 in 5 more days at age 36 I should be making at least $13 /hr my nephew is 18 years old and he's making more money then me. Those women on my job is 63, 70, 30, and 37 years old and making $9/hr the boss is 70 and making $10/hr. They don't have to make millions, but at least they should be making $20/hr at that age because everything is going up.
Write multiple projects at the same time. 1 for you, 1 or 2 to sell and 1 or 2 you're hired for atm... that's the way i see it. Also helps writers block because you're always changing thoughts and povs. Edit: focus on what your hired for first, what you're selling second and for yourself last. These can change depending on your timelines, but if you make a contract stick to it. All we have is our word at the end of the day.
Selling a screenplay is a lottery ticket anyway, while you should try if that's your dream, if you care that much about a screenplay being produced, there are many ways and forms in where you could have your writing seen or experienced, you can make the film yourself, especially these days, and another option for example, you could make a video game even. People forget that kids these days don't even watch film anyway, they're playing video games.
I thought the Blair Witch question was interesting, because if it happened now, it would fit well with the ARG community online, especially on RUclips, something like Marble Hornets or Gemini Entertainment.
want to write a screenplay about. How I discovered my family secrets that been hidden for decades . As a child I was told that I was related to a Hollywood movie star. It wasn't until then that she did a documentary about her life story .. I put the mystery together of our father. Which was her brother that was left behind in Puerto Rico in order for her to become famous. We always felt like we was mob family-type, Like we couldn't talk about family, because of her image❤️
It's kinda obvious what he's saying. You can't tell an investor that he should give you a lot of money, and in return you give him a product that has a very low chance of seeing any profit. As soon as you go in the direction of "I want to sell my art" you have to start looking at it as a business.
Story telling in the genres that people love . picture it and tell ur story like ur there.. if u cant walk in ur story u will have a difficult time tellin ur story..
How much do scripts sell for.. say for a feature film? Just curious, I’m sure there’s a range but I know someone on here will know the answer to this 🙂
A WGA writer's contract will require 1.5% of the budget for union films ($2M+). Anything below that is the Wild West. For independent films, it can be $0! I wouldn't take anything less than $15k, but thats me
It varies a lot. If you're a newcomer with a good script produce by a great studio than maybe lucky 5 figures. If ur one of the big boys like Aaron Sorkin then 6 figures if ur consistent on hits on the box offices.
How do you write something from the heart with the intention to sell? I could see myself manufacturing something with a target audience in mind, but it's not going to have much soul and I'm not going to believe in it and fight for it.
Hi Tom, here is a list from the 70's, 80's, and 90's - www.imdb.com/list/ls091245294/ Lifetime is built off this genre, so that would be another place to visit to see these kind of movies.
It always kills me when someone says, "Write what sells" while at the same time others are saying, "Nobody knows what will sell next, so just go for it". I wish people in the film industry would make up their minds.
It's frustrating. But it basically means write a relatable hero's journey. Or write an epic screenplay with a huge series of obstacles or impossible obstacles for the protagonist to overcome. They're really the same movie. If you look at all the blockbusters, they are some version of that. Independence Day, War of The Worlds, Titanic, every Marvel film. It's all formulaic but the obstacles come in different forms. If that sells, then trade off writing passion pieces and studio pieces to pay the bills and be fulfilled. Good actors, some directors and writers do it. It's easier said than done. But if you can pull it off, that's the secret so to speak. Not everyone is going to hit like Tarantino,Sorkin or Kauffman. But you can get paid to write.
If you don't have a particular lane you are trying to staying in or at least start off in then yes, it will be confusing. If you really are writing just to be writing then honestly just do your own thing or create your own lane.
yeah, “write what sells” isn’t that helpful, but i reckon “write for a specific buyer” is. mostly in regards to the genre you are writing in and knowing what specific production companies actually make that genre, or just staying true to the genre even if it’s pushing the boundaries. “don’t solicit action/adventure to A24 and don’t solicit art house to Disney” kinda thing.
Writing what sells will be the death of your authenticity. Your authenticity is where you derive your creative authority from... which is what fuels this whole process!! Don’t ever sacrifice your own ideas for “what’s going to sell”... that’s like taking a recipe and removing the special ingredient which makes it better than others.. keep your unique signature!
I think a great successful writer once said “nobody knows anything in Hollywood “
There is a sweet spot between different, and too different. Squid Game was different, so it became a hit. But an art film might be too different. Squid Game worked because it was built on a framework that was very familiar: the reality game show. If you want to make something weird, always couch it in the familiar.
Hi I write superhero movies I’ve been writing for five years let’s work
I'm nobody compared to this guy -- so heed his advice over mine. But if you're anything like me and can't stand 90% of the movies that have come out since around 2010, there's no quicker way to kill your passion for story telling than by trying to tell stories you don't like. It will feel worse than a job. I know, I've tried it.
Question why are you trying to become a story teller in the first place, whether that be screen writing, directing, novelist etc, because if your answer is to make a buck, have your name on the side of a book, then seriously there are far easier ways to make money, with far less risk. Instead of spending five years writing screenplays, chasing what's currently selling, go study the stock market. You'll be competent in less than five years if you work at it.
I think this mindset is why so many modern movies lack a soul -- like sure they're going to make a profit but then they're forgotten. They'll never last the test of time. They'll never mature into a classic or have a cult-like following. Which, of course, is meaningless and sounds pretentious if it's only about the money.
But I personally can't write a story unless part of me is in the writing. Look at the original Star Wars trilogy, for example, compared with the modern three. The eastern philosophy in the original three George Lucas believed in himself. He' a spiritual man and it shows in those films. But the modern three? What truth is there? What am I supposed to feel, to learn? What emotional struggle was there?
You know the answers. There was none. Because they were written with the mindset that these films will sell no matter what, and that they will hire writers who will do and behave exactly how they're told to.
More examples? Look at anything that REALLY sold big. Look at the stories which changed things. They were always the stories the writer/director wanted to tell because their own personal truth, struggle was part of it, and maybe even more importantly it was the sort of story they loved seeing.
Think JK Rowling and Harry Potter.
Think Tarantino and everything he's ever made -- they're basically mashups of the stories he really enjoys and were never anything like the market.
Toy Story (seriously at the time this came out I already believed my toys came to life and I was intensely jealously of my baby sister -- I could feel Woody's want for Andy's attention)
Game of Thrones.
Squid Game.
Hunger Games.
Twilight (I still think these books/films are terrible but that doesn't matter -- the author loved what she wrote and that's what matters)
Lord of the Rings
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Anything written by Terry Pratchett.
ANYTHING written by Cormac McCarthy (NO ONE WRITES LIKE HIM AND NEVER WILL)
ANY early Stephen King novel.
This list could go on for pages and pages and pages...
More recent stuff? A Kind of Spark (novel) by Elle Mcnicoll. It's a middle grade novel, but it has so much heart and soul that my Godson and I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. The protagonist is Autistic and imagine the mindset of "who's going to buy this?" as in only other Autistic people will be able to relate so there's no mass appeal. And yet. The book is a best seller.
I can guarantee the next series/movie/game/novel that REALLY takes the world by storm won't be anything like what's currently selling.
I love and agree with basically everything you said! And I hate around %99.99999.99.999999999.9.9999.9 of movies these days!
And I've always said; even from a business point of view, what sounds like a better deal, a product you can sell once or a "product" you can sell for 30 years ...
And for the the so called business geniuses that want to argue against that ... Well we've been forced to do it your way... And the film industry/Hollywood is basically DEAD..
Exactly the same as the music industry, you didn't give artists a chance, and so they found a way to do it themselves...
And now i don't even understand why anyone still tries in music, except for themselves.
I was surfing through Netflix last night, for an hour, couldn't find anything except for Scarface that I'll watch on blueray I stead, and I had a sad, sad, sad realization that with the state of things today.... People don't even seem to care about films anymore... "So what's the point" I asked myself... And the only thing that keeps me interested.... Is the fact that I'm just highly Interested..
And I'm still in my 20's and I love DVDs and I still love going to the cinema (except I don't because I always want my money back these days) and blueray and watching films longer than 14 seconds 🙄
So maybe, maybe there's still Normal people out there... And you sir seem to be pretty normal!!
@@wrongbutnotaliar5606 You, sir, seem pretty normal yourself, though I think to be normal now is to be deemed crazy by most others.
You do some great artwork by the way.
Thank you
I agree with everything you've said, and I'll say it again, Star Wars target audience was kids and teens, and these days kids and teens aren't watching movies they're playing video games. If you want something written, you can make a video game with a heavy narrative, which is what many creators have turned to doing these days.
When Star Wars came out, you saw teenagers LINING UP outside of the theater. Now you see these same teenagers lining up for the next video game release. If you want to follow the trends the trends are clear.
But, instead, we have these 30+ somethings always finally making it in hollywood, not realizing that they started and were inspired in the first place from films they saw when they were a kid/teen, and then creating really boring bland mundane indie films and indie documentaries for other 30+ somethings.
You could say, go create the next Star Wars, but the next Star Wars will be in a video game, not a film series, because the next Star Wars will inevitably be a form of narrative entertainment that appeals to a mainstream audience but is appropriate for that young age group, and is what they need on a soul level, not just what they want.
What do you like about this video?
That you should bring as many ideas to fruition as you can. At least try. At the very least if you don't succeed. You attempted it and you won't regret letting fear talk you out of trying.
The insight definitely.
The honesty and the compassion of those who struggle. It's so appreciated.
Very quotable. Very real-life. Great video
I think if you are someone that LOVES story, and you get all giddy just thinking about all the things you love about it, start there. See what you come up with, just for fun. Then look at how similar things are selling in the market. There is an ebb and flow to what is in, and what people are interested in changes just like the seasons change. The story you wrote for fun because you LOVE story, might not be in right now, but it could be in next year. Just keep doing what you love and find people who love it as much as you. You will find your audience eventually, because love always wins. Have a wonderful weekend, Film Courage!! ❤❤❤
"before you write anything ask yourself: where is this going to sell a lot" Great tip, thanks for sharing!
Great video! As someone who has written 3 spec scripts already more or less for the mental challenge of it, I did not put a huge amount of thought into "target audience" - I will def put more time into imagining what a target audience would be in the event I write more in the future! Entertainement is a Business first and foremost, before it is an art, and most folks forget that.
When I be working my 9-5 job I be saying the same thing what if I don't try to get my script done or producer it because you never know until you try. A lot of people on my job don't have a gift to be a Screenwriter of matter of fact I don't think they have a gift at all, so they have a reason to stay at the 9-5 job, but someone like me do I really have a reason? Well maybe or maybe not. I don't want to get old and be saying I wish I could've wrote my script. How will I know if I never try.
Go for it. PLEASE. just study a few scripts, imagine, outline, and go. U got it ⭐ BRIGHT
@@tag7376
@@tag7376 I will, thank you Tag. There's nothing wrong with working a 9-5 job but when you're only getting paid $9/hr like me being a teacher when most jobs will pay you at least $12 in up, getting bored of the job then yes I need to move up because I'm 35 and will be 36 in 5 more days at age 36 I should be making at least $13 /hr my nephew is 18 years old and he's making more money then me. Those women on my job is 63, 70, 30, and 37 years old and making $9/hr the boss is 70 and making $10/hr. They don't have to make millions, but at least they should be making $20/hr at that age because everything is going up.
Everyone has a gift they just have to discover it... It's up to us to use that gift...
Write multiple projects at the same time. 1 for you, 1 or 2 to sell and 1 or 2 you're hired for atm... that's the way i see it. Also helps writers block because you're always changing thoughts and povs.
Edit: focus on what your hired for first, what you're selling second and for yourself last. These can change depending on your timelines, but if you make a contract stick to it. All we have is our word at the end of the day.
Great interview. Great advice.
Selling a screenplay is a lottery ticket anyway, while you should try if that's your dream, if you care that much about a screenplay being produced, there are many ways and forms in where you could have your writing seen or experienced, you can make the film yourself, especially these days, and another option for example, you could make a video game even. People forget that kids these days don't even watch film anyway, they're playing video games.
I thought the Blair Witch question was interesting, because if it happened now, it would fit well with the ARG community online, especially on RUclips, something like Marble Hornets or Gemini Entertainment.
want to write a screenplay about. How I discovered my family secrets that been hidden for decades . As a child I was told that I was related to a Hollywood movie star. It wasn't until then that she did a documentary about her life story .. I put the mystery together of our father. Which was her brother that was left behind in Puerto Rico in order for her to become famous. We always felt like we was mob family-type, Like we couldn't talk about family, because of her image❤️
I think this may be my favorite guest on the channel. Film Courage is releasing valuable content for free. What a great resource!
Great to hear! We had a great time with Courtney. Love to see people watching more of his videos.
It's kinda obvious what he's saying. You can't tell an investor that he should give you a lot of money, and in return you give him a product that has a very low chance of seeing any profit. As soon as you go in the direction of "I want to sell my art" you have to start looking at it as a business.
9:26 agree. I can't write a dark violent film & expect a more comedy base film studio to buy it.
Does the ides of where do you think you are going to sell it applies to Novels and other writing literature too?
Right I was told that people look at the script and say I see this as a game script or I see this as a book
Where we can find script buyer? How do we can reach team
Failure can be fun
Yes because that's when you learn.
Sounds like a good title for a production.
He's great! So true.
God bless you Courtney Miller ****
I DON’T ONLY WANNA SELL MY MOVIE BUT I WANNA BE RECOGNIZED FOR IT. NAME ATTACHED & COMPENSATED VERY, VERY WELL BECAUSE WHAT WROTE IS EPIC AS FUCC🔥🔥🔥
Story telling in the genres that people love . picture it and tell ur story like ur there.. if u cant walk in ur story u will have a difficult time tellin ur story..
I cannot agree more
Bullshyt!! I'm a writer and people are haters!!😒
How much do scripts sell for.. say for a feature film? Just curious, I’m sure there’s a range but I know someone on here will know the answer to this 🙂
Writers Guild scale is minimum of around $60,000, however companies can pay you more or less, depending on many things
A WGA writer's contract will require 1.5% of the budget for union films ($2M+). Anything below that is the Wild West. For independent films, it can be $0! I wouldn't take anything less than $15k, but thats me
You get 2.5% of the films budget if your script gets made into a movie
It varies a lot. If you're a newcomer with a good script produce by a great studio than maybe lucky 5 figures. If ur one of the big boys like Aaron Sorkin then 6 figures if ur consistent on hits on the box offices.
I'll write circles around this guy and I haven't even been discovered yet!!!😌😌😌😏
How do you write something from the heart with the intention to sell? I could see myself manufacturing something with a target audience in mind, but it's not going to have much soul and I'm not going to believe in it and fight for it.
I thought getting a good esg score is what buyers want?
What is "women in peril, women in power"?
Hi Tom, here is a list from the 70's, 80's, and 90's - www.imdb.com/list/ls091245294/
Lifetime is built off this genre, so that would be another place to visit to see these kind of movies.
@@filmcourage thank you!
Just be creative and write new stories. It's kind of as simple as that.
Pls courtney evaluate all my RUclips creations****