July 17
7 comments
July 17
7 comments
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This rings true, and there is a market to buy IP for television- MIPCOM. I discovered this when I tried to adapt a Japanese drama for a US audience, but even with that knowledge, without the buying power of a studio, I was a sitting duck.
Great post, David. This is something I hear time and time again: Our original, spec work becomes out calling card to get paid work in the industry.
On my journey as a writer I understand that what I write as an author is only an expression of “my” creativity. While the work itself can be used as a “calling card” it’s not the underlying reason for the story.
Because it came from something deep within my heart… that stirred my soul. As Mr. Byrd stated in his article, not all scripts make it pass the Story Analyst and can therefore never reach production. But that shouldn’t discourage any of us because writing is what we do; “writers”, are who we are.
This is frustratingly true cause all I want to do is make the stories I write.. I’d rather do that and build my own audience from social media/youtube than the ladder.. But it’s not the 90s anymore and the spec game is so different today. I don’t mind writing from other’s IP either.. like I see the Super Mario Bros. films going into the Marvel lane by introducing different characters and eventually creating blockbuster animated features.. wouldn’t mind writing one of those scripts. – Great read overall
“If you’re writing original stuff, great, but understand, that’s your calling card. You build your career on what gets made, and what gets made are assignments.” This hit hard because as an indie filmmaker, I also want to bring my projects to life. But don’t get me wrong, I’d be happy writing assignments too. Those checks can help me to do my own projects as well. Also, I agree with MB and Christopher. Trust, being able to deliver reliably, authenticity and the ability to do the work is everything. Being easy to work with and staying grounded in the work is key too. Thank you for sharing this. Z
That seems to be the hard truth of the industry. Great advice on doing adaptations of proven IP. Looks like we will be working on other peoples ideas anyway. Might as well pick what IP that YOU want to write as a sample. I agree MB, they want someone they can trust.
Scripts are calling cards, not guaranteed paychecks. The emphasis on adaptability, whether through IP work, rewrites, or series development, is especially real right now. Also, the note about building relationships and consistently showing up as a pro hit home. It’s not just about the writing; it’s also about being someone people can trust to deliver. Thanks, David.