It’s not easy when you’re driven to write, when you can’t stop, when the muse, for good or bad, won’t leave you alone. I just wish I could find something else half as fulfilling.
That SNL skit made me feel better about being OLD and not knowing any movies...but I did see ‘Nope!’ Also, I am probably the only person who saw ‘Beau is Afraid’ and I liked it so much I wanted to see it again but it just disappeared. Poof!
If you hated Midsomar you will definitely hate ‘Beau.’ So you made a wise choice.
I think ‘Severance’ was on Apple TV. It’s fantastic. But they must do a terrible job advertising their shows or something because I have never even heard of any of these shows. Samuel L. Jackson? And nobody told us? Now I am going to look to see what the lineup is.
All these mediums that get your content directly to the reader or viewer definitely give writers more opportunities, but don’t you find these mediums saturated now as well?
When I graduated from film school in 2011, I went straight to making YouTube videos. It was a full-time job that brought up very little money, but I got enough views for a manager in New York to find me. Still, the YouTube series project fell apart. I’ve tried it again with travel videos, and the amount of work put into it just doesn’t seem worth it. I had very successful YouTubers like Mark Wolters from Wolters world on my podcast, and still couldn’t get nearly enough views to make any money. I was also researching, writing, filming, and editing all on my own, so it led to burnout.
That’s just my personal anecdote, but you hear it all over. It can take years of 40+ weeks before getting anywhere on platforms like YouTube, and most of us just don’t have the savings to do that.
I’ve mentioned this before in another comment a few months ago, but I wonder if it’s a good idea for screenwriters to try something outside the Hollywood realm. Netflix content is open to various structures, lengths, etc., and that gives me hope. Maybe more collaborations with international writers and producers will be the answer.
It's a fair point, but here's my response: making a living creating anything has always been really, really, really hard, and 90%+ of the people who try to do it fail. Full stop. Part of that is unfairness, and part of it is creators not creating a saleable message/packaging, part of it unprofessionalism/lack of talent, and part of it is sheer luck.
The more "creative" you're being -- the more you're producing fiction, for example, or narrative film -- the more difficult it is to find success, and the lower your odds of success. Making a living writing novels or making movies? Less that 1%, I'd say. But that was true before too. 50,000 scripts are registered every year, but probably less than 200 are made with anything resembling a real budget.
But I do think if you have the right message/product, and if you're picking the right platform, you can still break through. I think it's EASIER now than it was 20+ years ago, but that doesn't mean I think it's "easy." If nothing else, we have many many more options.
Regarding saturated platforms, this is definitely a real issue. But as a general rule, if something "works," it never works for long -- people immediately imitate the strategy. But that's why it's so important to always be thinking outside the box. Old platform? New strategy.
All this may be cold comfort, and it's all obviously informed by my personal experience. But I've worked in both the traditional worlds of film and publishing, and whatever the world is now, and I really do prefer it.
I think you're right, Brent. And you have more insight than I do because 20 years ago I was still watching The Magic School Bus and Recess. I'm happy this ended on a hopeful note. Some platforms might be saturated, but we have more opportunities than ever to think outside the box and get our work out there.
Well to be clear, being an artist has basically always been a shitfest. It's just a question of how shitty it is now verses then.
Among me and my friends, things seem way better now. But as you point out -- and thanks for that by the way! Magic school bus? 😳🤣 -- I'm older than you, and maybe that complicates things. 🙂
I agree, and creativity is a beautiful thing. Fascinating observation about the U.S. vs. other countries -- yes, you're right. OTOH, massive worldwide popularity is available as a result of success in the U.S., and I think many artists pursue that elusive dream -- and put up with a lot of bullshit, as a result.
It’s not easy when you’re driven to write, when you can’t stop, when the muse, for good or bad, won’t leave you alone. I just wish I could find something else half as fulfilling.
I hear ya, brother. I hear ya.
I've told people, "Writing is hard. Publishing is harder. And finding readers is the hardest part of all."
That's it! Perfect.
That SNL skit made me feel better about being OLD and not knowing any movies...but I did see ‘Nope!’ Also, I am probably the only person who saw ‘Beau is Afraid’ and I liked it so much I wanted to see it again but it just disappeared. Poof!
I liked Hereditary but HATED MIDSOMMOR -- sooooo stupid -- so I refused to see BEAU. 🤣
We recently subscribed to Apple TV, and there were all these TV shows I'd never even heard of, all with huge stars. 😳🤣
If you hated Midsomar you will definitely hate ‘Beau.’ So you made a wise choice.
I think ‘Severance’ was on Apple TV. It’s fantastic. But they must do a terrible job advertising their shows or something because I have never even heard of any of these shows. Samuel L. Jackson? And nobody told us? Now I am going to look to see what the lineup is.
Right??? Julianne Moore in a show, and Rose Byrne. And no word one!
But loooooooved For All Mankind. First three eps are slow then it gets AMAAAAAZING
All these mediums that get your content directly to the reader or viewer definitely give writers more opportunities, but don’t you find these mediums saturated now as well?
When I graduated from film school in 2011, I went straight to making YouTube videos. It was a full-time job that brought up very little money, but I got enough views for a manager in New York to find me. Still, the YouTube series project fell apart. I’ve tried it again with travel videos, and the amount of work put into it just doesn’t seem worth it. I had very successful YouTubers like Mark Wolters from Wolters world on my podcast, and still couldn’t get nearly enough views to make any money. I was also researching, writing, filming, and editing all on my own, so it led to burnout.
That’s just my personal anecdote, but you hear it all over. It can take years of 40+ weeks before getting anywhere on platforms like YouTube, and most of us just don’t have the savings to do that.
I’ve mentioned this before in another comment a few months ago, but I wonder if it’s a good idea for screenwriters to try something outside the Hollywood realm. Netflix content is open to various structures, lengths, etc., and that gives me hope. Maybe more collaborations with international writers and producers will be the answer.
It's a fair point, but here's my response: making a living creating anything has always been really, really, really hard, and 90%+ of the people who try to do it fail. Full stop. Part of that is unfairness, and part of it is creators not creating a saleable message/packaging, part of it unprofessionalism/lack of talent, and part of it is sheer luck.
The more "creative" you're being -- the more you're producing fiction, for example, or narrative film -- the more difficult it is to find success, and the lower your odds of success. Making a living writing novels or making movies? Less that 1%, I'd say. But that was true before too. 50,000 scripts are registered every year, but probably less than 200 are made with anything resembling a real budget.
But I do think if you have the right message/product, and if you're picking the right platform, you can still break through. I think it's EASIER now than it was 20+ years ago, but that doesn't mean I think it's "easy." If nothing else, we have many many more options.
Regarding saturated platforms, this is definitely a real issue. But as a general rule, if something "works," it never works for long -- people immediately imitate the strategy. But that's why it's so important to always be thinking outside the box. Old platform? New strategy.
All this may be cold comfort, and it's all obviously informed by my personal experience. But I've worked in both the traditional worlds of film and publishing, and whatever the world is now, and I really do prefer it.
I think you're right, Brent. And you have more insight than I do because 20 years ago I was still watching The Magic School Bus and Recess. I'm happy this ended on a hopeful note. Some platforms might be saturated, but we have more opportunities than ever to think outside the box and get our work out there.
Well to be clear, being an artist has basically always been a shitfest. It's just a question of how shitty it is now verses then.
Among me and my friends, things seem way better now. But as you point out -- and thanks for that by the way! Magic school bus? 😳🤣 -- I'm older than you, and maybe that complicates things. 🙂
Prefer it NOW, I should say.
I agree, and creativity is a beautiful thing. Fascinating observation about the U.S. vs. other countries -- yes, you're right. OTOH, massive worldwide popularity is available as a result of success in the U.S., and I think many artists pursue that elusive dream -- and put up with a lot of bullshit, as a result.
Fascinating!