tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690524959564942156.post2819693286490093601..comments2023-04-30T11:46:46.725+01:00Comments on Screenwriting On The Blog: LSF 6 : Meet the GatekeepersYehudah Jez Freedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620570721319183069noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690524959564942156.post-16644883906651888672010-12-02T09:34:55.802+00:002010-12-02T09:34:55.802+00:00Hear, hear!Hear, hear!Sarah Olleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02458181598172330498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690524959564942156.post-15611317439971197042010-12-01T23:29:38.337+00:002010-12-01T23:29:38.337+00:00Hi Sarah
Thanks very much for that and you're...Hi Sarah<br /><br />Thanks very much for that and you're absolutely right of course. That was exactly what you and Jamie said and my over simplification of it to get it all into one manageable blog post has certainly not done justice to a very interesting session that lasted over an hour. (Maybe you guys can come back and do a part one and part two next year?)<br /><br />And whilst I totally agree with you - the crux of the issue for writers remains. All you have is your script. And whilst working on the next one you want to be sending the one you just finished to as many contacts as you have. And that might range from people looking for new talent, or people assessing potential projects. You might not even know which is which. So just don't risk it. <br /><br />Get it as good as you possibly can, in every single department, by rewriting and getting feedback - first from friends and peers, then people like Sarah, Lucy and me :-) It's never gonna be the final draft anyway. Rewrites will still be needed. And some areas will naturally be stronger than others because like everyone else different writers have different strengths and weaknesses. <br /><br />But give yourselves the best shot of getting the meeting no matter what desk your script lands on by putting in the work before you even send it out.Yehudah Jez Freedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01620570721319183069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690524959564942156.post-40439889750618878602010-12-01T22:54:52.460+00:002010-12-01T22:54:52.460+00:00Hi Jez,
Just a thought on the structure, charact...Hi Jez, <br /><br />Just a thought on the structure, character etc. debate – I was saying that if I’m assessing a writer’s work as a development producer/script editor looking for someone I can work with right away on a low budget drama series, then in that case it’s important that they’ve mastered structure. Otherwise they won’t be able to deliver work on a fast enough turnaround. They need to have written enough scripts to have absorbed that basic skill of following one central, escalating conflict throughout, with a clear beginning, middle and end. There will always be drafts to get the structure better, but a writer who hasn’t mastered the basics would just need toooo many.<br /><br />Jamie, (who’s been working with Paul Abbott assessing new writers), was coming at it from the perspective of someone who has a bit more time to work with writers developing things, rather than needing them to hit the ground running. If you’re assessing scripts in terms of raw talent or someone with a voice who might be worked with longer term then I’d agree with Jamie that structure wouldn’t necessarily be the main thing. (Unfortunately too few companies have the luxury to work with new writers on a particularly long term).<br /><br />Rather than a reader’s personal preferences I’d say it’s really more to do with who you’re assessing scripts for and for what purpose. For example, if I was assessing a script for a big company in terms of something camera ready they could invest in - the script would have to be working on every level, including having a sufficient original hook.<br /><br />As freelancers most of the panel will have worn quite a few different hats and I felt the conversation was perhaps only scratching the surface of the detail we could have gone into in terms of the different ‘Gatekeeper’ roles out there and ways to approach them and build relationships. Something for another day perhaps!Sarah Olleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02458181598172330498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690524959564942156.post-516566843097126812010-11-29T23:00:28.147+00:002010-11-29T23:00:28.147+00:00you're very welcome. one more to go!you're very welcome. one more to go!Yehudah Jez Freedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01620570721319183069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690524959564942156.post-60541344606573744502010-11-29T22:36:20.930+00:002010-11-29T22:36:20.930+00:00Great, great write-up. Cheers, Jez.Great, great write-up. Cheers, Jez.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com