Tue, 1 April 2008 Three years of podcasting, forty shows in the can... and finally, we listen to our audience. This episode: listener mail, and some overview on what we've learned so far. Comments[9] |
Happy birthday for the show!
I'm listening here since the beginning, and after 3 years it gets more and more depressing... because you made all these cool things and I did... nothing. Well, the settings are different: I live in Belgium (have you ever seen a Belgian movie?), I graduated last year and now I have no job, no money. I'm the geek-writing-alone-in-his-room cliché with a twist : living in a country that produce 2 movies a year.
Well, enough for mycrappylife.com, my question is: when you are really depressed (have you ever been depressed to a point you wanted to quit writing - or quit living?) what would you do? Get drunk (doesn't work, it makes things worse), pay for sex , watch "Batterfield Earth" again?
I'm listening here since the beginning, and after 3 years it gets more and more depressing... because you made all these cool things and I did... nothing. Well, the settings are different: I live in Belgium (have you ever seen a Belgian movie?), I graduated last year and now I have no job, no money. I'm the geek-writing-alone-in-his-room cliché with a twist : living in a country that produce 2 movies a year.
Well, enough for mycrappylife.com, my question is: when you are really depressed (have you ever been depressed to a point you wanted to quit writing - or quit living?) what would you do? Get drunk (doesn't work, it makes things worse), pay for sex , watch "Batterfield Earth" again?
Regarding the whining issue:
Maybe I'm just a jerk but hearing the misery you experience doing your job for me is a little like watching Indiana Jones get beat up. You feel for him and enjoy it even more when he wins.
Maybe I'm just a jerk but hearing the misery you experience doing your job for me is a little like watching Indiana Jones get beat up. You feel for him and enjoy it even more when he wins.
posted by: Michael Jacobs on Thu, 4/3 02:56 PM EDT
Hey Guys!
Good to hear from you again. Hope things are going well. Until next time!
-Jim
Good to hear from you again. Hope things are going well. Until next time!
-Jim
posted by: Jim on Fri, 4/4 11:31 AM EDT
Nicholas –
Every writer out here is depressed! OK, maybe not the few who are doing exactly what they want to do and getting paid millions to do it – though they ARE writers, so they’ll find some way to over-think it all and get depressed. The answer, I think, is hope. It’s the primary drug out here; it’s always the NEXT project that’s gonna be huge, they won’t screw you on the NEXT paycheck, they’ll make the NEXT pilot script you write. Hope is our opium. Jim’s dad once told him that the only way to really make money is to make it while you sleep. (Great, great guy – but as far as we can see, he didn’t actually manage to do that). The hollywood version is that you’re always coming up with new stuff while you’re working on the old/paying stuff. It helps take your mind off your current project that going in the toilet. The new project, the one you space out about while you’re driving home, THAT’S gonna be PERFECT.
Plus, I drink.
Michael –
Yeah, maybe that’s why Jim and I chose to do this with a partner; it’s easier to get up when there’s a hand helping you – or at least a voice saying, “get the $#$%$� up, pussy.�
Every writer out here is depressed! OK, maybe not the few who are doing exactly what they want to do and getting paid millions to do it – though they ARE writers, so they’ll find some way to over-think it all and get depressed. The answer, I think, is hope. It’s the primary drug out here; it’s always the NEXT project that’s gonna be huge, they won’t screw you on the NEXT paycheck, they’ll make the NEXT pilot script you write. Hope is our opium. Jim’s dad once told him that the only way to really make money is to make it while you sleep. (Great, great guy – but as far as we can see, he didn’t actually manage to do that). The hollywood version is that you’re always coming up with new stuff while you’re working on the old/paying stuff. It helps take your mind off your current project that going in the toilet. The new project, the one you space out about while you’re driving home, THAT’S gonna be PERFECT.
Plus, I drink.
Michael –
Yeah, maybe that’s why Jim and I chose to do this with a partner; it’s easier to get up when there’s a hand helping you – or at least a voice saying, “get the $#$%$� up, pussy.�
Another great show guys, lots of info and insights as usual! It was a great thrill to hear you address my questions on the podcast. Since part of the show was based on my submitted material, can I list this podcast on my writing credits on IMDB? :) As a struggling writer I can use all the help I can get!
Keep up the good work, I'll keep listening.
-kirby :)
Keep up the good work, I'll keep listening.
-kirby :)
Nice job, gentlemen. Great point about not writing for your audience. I've found one of the most valuable things for me is to learn what the note "really" is from execs. Because they don't know what they're talking about, and so, when they give a note you have to figure out what it is they are really saying.
Example: "The scene with the father and son in act three doesn't work, has no emotional impact."
Now, what the exec is really saying is that there is something earlier in the script, or in the character development that is causing that scene not to work for them. Many newer writers will go in and start messing with that scene, trying to "fix" it, instead of figuring out what is really bothering the exec.
You're right about THE WIRE. I'm going to miss it. Hopefully, you guys will get a show on the air that will replace it in my heart!
Example: "The scene with the father and son in act three doesn't work, has no emotional impact."
Now, what the exec is really saying is that there is something earlier in the script, or in the character development that is causing that scene not to work for them. Many newer writers will go in and start messing with that scene, trying to "fix" it, instead of figuring out what is really bothering the exec.
You're right about THE WIRE. I'm going to miss it. Hopefully, you guys will get a show on the air that will replace it in my heart!
posted by: Guyot on Mon, 4/7 11:57 AM EDT
I hope you will go back and forth between answering listener questions and updating us on your enviable Hollywood careers!
I also hope you will devote a show (or part of a show) to video game writing. You have both mentioned how much fun it is, but not said much more about the mechanics or how to break in. Do you have to know someone or have published work to become a video game writer? Is there a standard format to submit the video game version of a spec script? Does programming experience help?
Thanks for taking the time to help those of us who are still on the outside looking in!
Susan
I also hope you will devote a show (or part of a show) to video game writing. You have both mentioned how much fun it is, but not said much more about the mechanics or how to break in. Do you have to know someone or have published work to become a video game writer? Is there a standard format to submit the video game version of a spec script? Does programming experience help?
Thanks for taking the time to help those of us who are still on the outside looking in!
Susan
I am Very thank full the owner of this blog. Becouse of this blog is very imformative for me.. And I ask u some thiing You make more this type blog where we can get more knowledge.
posted by: Prosolution on Fri, 4/18 01:38 AM EDT
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