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This
week's answer:
Irresponsible
Responses
Justine, thank you for writing me. I get a lot of
e-mail from disgruntled screenwriters who have worked
with script consultants and other screenwriters.
They thought they had a good script, but, after they
got
a number of rejections from producers, they started to
doubt their scripts and even themselves as
screenwriters.
Although it's true that somebody's comments can be
helpful and be exactly what you need to know in order to
improve your script, the other side of that coin is
also, unfortunately true: the comments may not be
helpful. In fact, they may be quite harmful.
Harmful to your "writer's spirit." It
seems that, just because somebody has directed,
produced, invested in, even acted in movies, that person
often considers himself an instant critic or top script
consultant. This is often not the case at
all.
Directors
and producers do not necessarily a good script
consultant or story analyst make.
It takes a skilled eye and a unique ability to
express thoughts about a screenplay. The truth is
that most do not have this ability, and these are the
ones who often thrash screenwriters, causing much
carnage along the way.
This might assist you, Justine, and other
screenwriters to not get lost in confusion and from doubting what you have:
Just look for the gems in the responses you receive
regarding your script that could help improve it, only the comments that you agree
with and that you feel are supportive (a key word
there).
Let the rest go. A big part of this business is discerning what is helpful and what is not.
DcH
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