'The Outsider Advantage' or 'How Being an Amateur Has its Advantages'

[Fluoro]

Thought this was an interesting blog entry from Scott W. Smith:

The Outsider Advantage

June 5, 2012 by Scott W. Smith

“The fact is, when I wrote Juno—and I think this is part of its charm and appeal—I didn’t know how to write a movie.”
Diablo Cody
If you took all the books on screenwriting and all the blogs on screenwriting—even those from produced screenwriters— and mashed them together you’d get some great lessons and great insights, but you wouldn’t find many great films that they actually wrote. In fact, if you take William Goldman’s Adventures in the Screentrade off the table—you wouldn’t even find many good films that they wrote.
It’s not that all those people don’t know what they’re talking about—it’s just there is an obvious disconnect between knowing what makes a script great and writing a great script. "

http://screenwritingfromiowa.wordpre...der-advantage/

[nycineaste]

This from the girl who wrote Jennifer's Body. Don't pat yourself on the back too hard.

The key is to study craft and make sure when you apply it to your work that you also add feeling, emotion, gut instinct and some risk-taking, and that you don't try to make art paint-by-numbers.

[Gillvane]

Usually you can break down a good story and it will follow all the standard advice in books about writing screenplays, whether the author has read those books or not.

Sometimes authors can instinctively follow those rules just because they've watched so many movies.

The problem is some authors think that because someone else can do that, they can to. Maybe you can, and maybe you can't.

the trick is realizing that if you can't do it instinctively, that doesn't mean you can't do it. You may need to actually do some research and practice.

Some musicians never took a lesson in their lives. However, a lot of famous musicians actually did spend some time taking formal music training.

The formal training isn't ever going to kill your natural talent so I don't think it's something to fear.

Picasso spent many years painting in the classic style of his day. That didn't stop him from deciding to go in a new direction with Cubism.

[Carla]

...The key is to study craft...

It certainly doesn't hurt.

[David Jimerson]

Honestly? Juno wasn't very good, and the script is the weakest part -- it's preposterous, even. Diablo Cody benefited from movie politics.

[CallaghanFilms]

BIG TIME, David.

i Agree 100%.

[David Jimerson]

Cracked gives it the rundown it deserves.

http://www.cracked.com/article_16161...re-honest.html

[NoTalentAssClown]

Phil Jackson wasn't a great basketball player but is considered to be the best coach ever. It isn't news that teachers, coaches, critics... have gifts/talent much different from what is needed to be a "player".

As far as being an outsider or amateur, I disagree with his point. I think screenwriting is probably one of the most difficult of the arts to succeed at without experience/training. Everybody wants to write their own movies and they actually try; very, very few succeed. Screenwriting is technical and mechanical which makes it very difficult to expressively tell your story the way you imagine- to the point where many find it limiting.

Cody may have appealing stories but her screenwriting is mediocre (if it's her that actually writes her scripts and not a ghostwriter). I thought YOUNG ADULT was beyond awful and was saved by Charlize Theron's performance. Ironically, Theron's character was inconsistent with horrible dialogue but Theron brought it to life somehow. There have been loads of scripts about small town girls and stories about suburban America circulating through production offices. Cody may be talented but trust me, her stories are not original. She has my support but IMO, she isn't a great screenwriter... yet. You know what story she wants to tell but unfortunately, it's very easy to notice she fails in her execution.

I'm not a fan of people promoting stories of overnight success, incredible luck, huge spec sales, etc. These stories give the aspiring screenwriter false hope and seem to encourage writers to NOT work hard. IMO, the toughest part of learning to write screenplays is that going to USC or reading the best how-to books and great screenplays don't cut it. We also have to read terrible books and terrible screenplays along with those in between to truly become an efficient screenwriter.

[Bill Clar]

Honestly? Juno wasn't very good, and the script is the weakest part -- it's preposterous, even. Diablo Cody benefited from movie politics.

Can you elaborate? I've always speculated that Cody knew someone in the movie biz...or gave them a lapdance.

[Gary Huff]

I don't know the story, but I'd assume its the same kind of politics that gave Troy Duffy his shot before he blew it all to hell with his poor attitude.