by Kelly Jo Brick
The Austin Film Festival and Screenwriting Conference, an event dedicated to focusing on writers’ contributions to television and film, celebrated its 22nd year by bringing together aspiring and established writers, producers, filmmakers, development executives, agents, managers and directors.
Attendees to the screenwriting conference had the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of panels on writing for television and film. TVWriter.com was there to bring you some of the top takeaways from the event.
ABOUT BREAKING IN –
- “To me, a good script is a good script, is a good script.” It takes writing 12 scripts to finally hit your groove as a writer. Write pilots and features to find your voice, then write a spec or two of a current show just so you know you can write in another’s voice and, “Don’t submit a script unless it’s good. You only get one shot.” – Matthew Gross, Producer, BODY OF PROOF, DIRTY SEXY MONEY
- “Don’t just write one pilot. Write ten of them. Don’t ever stop.” The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh are going to be better. Keep writing. — Mark Goffman, LIMITLESS, SLEEPY HOLLOW
- Write plays. Many showrunners expressed their interest in reading and considering plays as a writing sample for staffing.
- Writers tend to isolate themselves. Surround yourself with other writers and supporters. If you’re part of a herd, you’re protected. You might get jostled around, a little banged up, but when you’re in the group, a cheetah isn’t going to be able to grab you like it would if you were on your own. – Shane Black, LETHAL WEAPON
- “If you can possibly give it up, give it up. The only reason you should do this is because you have no choice.” – Wes Brown, GOLIATH
- “Don’t give out your script until it’s absolutely ready.” You only get one chance. First impressions are important. – Lindsay Goffman, Head of Development 3AD.
- Always have something else, another script, ideas you could pitch. As a writer, keep cranking out content. – Matthew McDuffie, ODD GIRL OUT, BURNING BODHI
- Your first script to get in will often never get made, but it helps you develop your voice and get in. – Mark Swift, FREDDY VS. JASON, FRIDAY THE 13TH
TAKING MEETINGS
- “It all starts with the material and the talent.” Never undercut the value that you represent, so when you go into a meeting, own the space. You are worthy and deserve to be there. – Shane Black
- Be confident. Breathe and remember, “This is my time. This is my space. This is the chair they’re paying me to be in.” — Pamela Ribon, SAMANTHA WHO?, HOT PROPERTIES
- When you go into a meeting own it. If they ask if you’ve thought of changing something, don’t immediately say yes. Own what you created, so your passion shows. – Erika Weinstein, Director of Scripted Programming at AMC
- Have questions. – Amy Berg, COUNTERPART, DA VINCI’S DEMONS
WHEN YOU GET ON A STAFF
- The process of finding your place in the room can be interesting, “Figure out how you serve the showrunner and make his/her life easier.” — Chris Provenzano, JUSTIFIED, MAD MEN
- “Working in a writers’ room is about serving the showrunner.” Every showrunner is different so take time to learn what he or she needs and wants. – Stu Zicherman, THE AMERICANS
CHOOSING WHAT TO WRITE
- “Write what excites you.” – Lindsay Goffman
- “If you chase anything in the marketplace, it’s gone by the time you get there. So make something as unique as possible.” — Chris Provenzano
- When you’re starting out, “Write your best stuff and forget about the budget. Get it down. Today that’s not your problem. Today your problem is to tell the story,” Jeb Stuart, DIE HARD.
- An idea has no value. Write, write, write. – Nancy Pimental, SHAMELESS, SOUTH PARK
- “There’s a channel for pretty much whatever you want to create.” Write to your strength and passion. Let the cards fall from there and with so many outlets out there, it will find the right home. – Mark Goffman
- The next script can rebrand you. Only you can write yourself into a corner. – Amy Berg
- “Starting is the hardest part.” You just have to start, period. – Shane Black
STORYTELLING
- Action should always further story or character. “If you imbed the story in the action, they can’t cut it.” – Jeb Stuart
- Stories are like making coffee, they occur in drips and drops. You have to let it percolate, after a while, it be will become thick and rich. – Shane Black
DEALING WITH YOUR NEGATIVE INNER VOICE
- Reason with it, then go watch TV. The people who wrote those shows got through it, you can too. – Issa Rae, THE MISADVENTURES OF AWKWARD BLACK GIRL
- Keep writing. Your mind gets distracted by the problems and interest of writing and loses that fear. – Shane Black
- Enjoy the process. We all have fear and self-loathing. Celebrate all the small victories. – Mark Swift
GETTING NOTES
- Listen first, because they’re noticing something that didn’t work. Even if the advice seems dumb, there is an issue and you have to figure out what they’re really noticing and find a solution. – Peter Craig, THE TOWN, THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PARTS I AND II.
- Hear the note behind the note. They’re not giving you the answer, but something isn’t working and it’s up to you as the writer to figure it out. As you approach the note, be humble and smart and remind yourself, “I can do it. I’m good enough. I can come up with something else.” — Chris Provenzano
Kelly Jo Brick is a Contributing Editor at TVWriter™. She’s a television and documentary writer and producer, as well as a winner of Scriptapalooza TV and a Sundance Fellow. Read more about her HERE.