15 Screenwriting Lessons People Learn TOO LATE

In this Film Courage video series, screenwriters share their thoughts on screenwriting lessons most people learn TOO LATE.
1) 0:06 - Work On New Projects
2) 4:24 - What No One Else Can Create
3) 5:44 - Six Scripts
4) 11:08 - Script Comparison
5) 12:30 - Nothing In Return
6) 15:16 - Story or Character
7) 15:56 - Name Of The Game
8) 18:55 - The Great Weakness
9) 21:03 - I’ll Take A Look At It
10 27:04 - How To Build Empathy
11) 31:05 - A Participatory Experience
12) 35:35 - Writer’s Mindset
13) 41:46 - Not Good Enough
14) 47:43 - Value Of An Idea
15) 50:40 - Story Structure Myth
Bonus) 56:10 - Never Forget This One
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#writing #screenwriting #screenplay

[@DOMINOSMOFO]

You should be writing rather than spending on hour watching this; so here is the rundown of the video. 1) Focus on what you have in hand and only what you can control. Do other things while you wait. 2) Write something that is unique to you. Write your truth. 3) Write 6 scripts every 2 years. Odds increase chance of lightning in a bottle. Write these even outside of your writing day job. 4) Compare you material with material that is actually selling/getting work. 5) Free time? Write. Similar to lesson #1. 6) When starting to write given a premise, find where the conflict lies, that is where the story lies. 7) Think of how you will differentiate yourself and your work from other writers. Give a few details why your story is unique/better than others. 8) Remember to give your protagonist a great flaw to overcome -- namely in superhero films. 9) When given notes, say that you will take a look at it, even if you don't like editing/rewriting anything. Appear open to change/accommodation. 9b) Even if you and your script are genuinely great, expect to still receive notes. 10) To build empathy, show a character being betrayed in some way/caring about something beyond themselves/admirable/honorable trait. 11) Empathy is vital because it is a conduit by which the audience becomes participatory in the story. Needs to be more than just obstacles. 12) Always been pushing/willing to learn more about the craft, even if already successful. Be open to ideas. READ, READ, READ. 13) Be better than the people already working to be noticed. Your work is likely not good enough yet. Enter contest to see where you stand. 14) Ideas are worthless. Story and execution of all other elements must be worth watching; everything else is more important than the concept. 15) Put characters you believe in into impossible situations that they can escape. Worry about format/structure during rewrites, not first drafts. 15b) Writing is an active process, you have to DO IT! You have to write and read everyday. Stop reading this and get to it!

[@MrTshawn63]

I love your final sentence. Such good advice!

[@aldoreyvalderrama]

Thank you for taking one for the team and saving us an hour. Screen capturing your comment.

[@jobantwisp6060]

a good summation,much appreciated,but'm glad i still watched it in full,,would've missed a lot of solid stuff

[@slobhacks8441]

Thank you

[@unleashed4138]

Thank you now I'm about to get to it!!!!

[@ericrenquist6494]

Writer's these days are very lucky to have the internet. So much advice and wisdom at our finger tips.

[@hipdude5277]

U rite

[@ScribblebytesWorldwide]

We are the luckiest generation alive. I can't imagine not being able to type a question and get an instant answer. Imagine if we were alive in the 80s and 90s? What did people even do back then? No wonder they were involved in so much mischief...idle hands.

[@oldepersonne]

@@ScribblebytesWorldwide We took a bus to the library and looked them up in a card file, wrote down the mysterious letters and numbers and tried to find them or ask the librarian to find them. Frequently the books we wanted would not be there. If they were there they might be in the "stacks" which meant we could only use them in the library, not take them home. If the books were there we took them and the bus back home again. On the other hand we could phone and ask a librarian a question. She could look it up and get back to us with the answer in a few hours or days or maybe find no info at all, like ever. Good times.

[@crakhaed]

This gift necessitates raising our level of discernment in accordance with it. Otherwise the blessing becomes a curse.

[@MrArtist1971]

57:08 Exactly. Tell the story and the structure shows then you just tighten it and ratchet up the tension, etc.

[@karlinwilliamson9329]

I'm like the guy that talked about over structuring. Writer's tend to over think a script. Have fun, if you are a writer just write. Great video😀

[@Z5Z5Z5]

its like I set restrictions for myself without meaning to ugh

[@StephenGeorge]

One heck of a compilation

[@TOOFUTURETV]

This got me pumped to get writing again, thanks FILM COURAGE for all of your amazing videos! ;)

[@itadaku23]

Just adding my 2cents of free advice. I feel obliged to publicly thank Film Courage for this incredible sequence of eclectic ideas, anecdotes, advice and humility. If you pay attention you realise that half of these interviews contain brilliant little stories within the larger story of telling the story of storytelling. Beautiful

[@filmcourage]

Thanks for posting!

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Love these long compilations. Hearing from some of the best in the business is invaluable. And...free!

[@coloaten6682]

Well said! :-)

[@elusivenova2918]

I’m 16 and hoping to be as prepared as possible for my future. Looking forward to a good listen!

[@chris13435]

Dont go to film school

[@vsmoonchildmahir283]

Omg! 😍 I'm also 16 and trying to learn more about writing

[@PaulSharpequalrights]

Good luck on your journey.

[@moonlit6311]

Start small. Write/film stuff on your phone, iPad. Watch a ton of YT videos for filming on a budget, etc. Good Luck to you!! ☺🍀

[@Z5Z5Z5]

@@CaitlynWemyss you can learn everything online

[@yusufmhassan]

Entire video was GREAT! Richard Walter's portion (#14) really hit home for me. I have tons of ideas for what I believe would be a great script. It's the story and dialogue that will turn those ideas into successes. Thanks so much to Film Courage and all its contributors

[@lastlooks2986]

Erik's comments on giving over just trying to get something out of the process has come to me twice this week. (at 39:03) Message received loud and clear, Universe. Thanks, Film Courage!

[@MiaCatAdventures]

Brilliant video - thank you so much for uploading this and sharing

[@h.a.s.7336]

Corey Mandell may be hugely successful...I don't know his work. But this advice (3 scripts a year) could be the reason why US feature films are becoming weaker and weaker. British drama is very strong because they take time to develop stories. Streaming is doing well for the same reason. The US industry adapts books way more than using original scripts because the book author has taken time to develop the story.

[@ZDvoid]

Exactly, that's it! A great story takes time to develop. Taylor Sheridan's Sicario took two years to write, and probably that's why it's an excellent movie. The follow-up, Wind River, was made after three years. Christopher Nolan was writing Inception for ten years, granted - he was doing other things in the meantime, but still. He got the idea while making Memento and was working on it until he has such a big position with the studios that he could make what he wanted. But still, it's TEN YEARS. He wasn't churning out three mediocre scripts a year in hopes that one of them will be successful. I agree that this is maybe a good way to learn the craft, to keep working. But then you take one of them and work on it as long as it needs for the story to be good - and that indeed could be years.

[@TheRiyoman]

He wrote battlefields earth one of the worse film I ever seen

[@camronchlarson3767]

I'd love to hear more from all of these writers about how they got their lit managers. If they sent query letters, how did those look and what tips can they give to us? If they got set up as a referral then who was their contact and what did they do right that helped them Network those relationships. If they won contest and got attention that way, which contest did they enter and how many times did they have to try before one finally came through. I would love to hear more about their experiences finding and obtaining representation.

[@Villeins09]

They dropping free gems through out the whole video.

[@filmcourage]

Doing our best, thanks for watching!

[@tyger-]

@@filmcourage Seriously, thank you for doing these interviews and showing them to the public

[@coloaten6682]

Some nuggets of gold in this vid. Really got me thinking about my current script, as well as how to improve my writing in general. Awesome stuff guys, thank you!!

[@indiesindie1984]

Right on! You cultivated your project and didn't obsess about it.

[@ScoobyandShaggy5554]

I want to write for tv but sometimes when I think of even writing I get lazy but film and production interest me so much I can’t see myself doing anything else

[@camerasade4360]

You're echoing Shonda Rhimes advice... if you can't see yourself being anything else other than a T.V. writer, go do it! Hey, may be take her online masterclass?

[@tyger-]

You're the best for putting these videos out

[@TwistedAdventures42]

Woah. I didn't know that about Ray Bradbury! He's one of my favs!

[@writingeditingguide3968]

Great, Keep it up😊👍

[@josephchristopherlewis6020]

Great info ! 😃

[@lglp3]

I'm not going to lie, when I was 12 years old all I wanted to become was a director. And then life happened, the flame went out and such. It was only a couple of years ago that the idea came up and sparked a new ember, since then film courage has kept the flame alive. Now I am realistically engaged was becoming a screenwriter and maybe someday I can become a director.

[@Nachemanya]

Same, Just get to writing. Can't wait to see your film on the big screen one day.

[@lglp3]

@@Nachemanya awe thats the sweetest thing to say

[@pedrojello8983]

@@lglp3 do you write scripts? if you do let me know I have some great movie idea that will get people pumped up off their houses to the theater

[@writtenbyrharrison]

God bless your endeavors do it my fellow Artist!

[@mateomarcosluke2521]

REALLY GOOD! Thanks, Film Courage! Many of these things are NOT TAUGHT in FILM SCHOOL.

[@filmcourage]

Thanks, if you can find a little extra value here then we feel pretty good about that. Keep learning and keep creating!

[@zack2thafuture]

The Meg was one of the worst written films I have ever seen in my life or ever hope to see for the remainder of it.

[@mychannel-lp9iq]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mikeyounis80]

I concur...

[@vehementlyflat8503]

53:05 my favorite moment, emotional diagram too close to home, cathartic to hear him describe, ha ha cry cry thanks, :)

[@jeannielokey8214]

Thank you!

[@samsungminlee]

What a gem of a video!

[@filmcourage]

Cheers!

[@shill1444]

17:00... Wow. Thank you.

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

The only thing I do now is I make joke log lines. castaway I I: "Tom Hanks is stranded on a desert island--again!.!. ""Why does this keep happening to me!.!.""

[@diegooland1261]

Great stuff

[@joetred931]

Thanks

[@Darfaultner]

51:36 - PRESS - REPEAT

[@alanrosenthal3978]

Wrong title, its not 15 "Lessons," more like 15 "Opinions," all good, but still really just individual "Stories" of what worked for a few, or one.

[@samripley6905]

This guy talks about the MEG like he wrote the Godfather... cool advice bro, but u spent 20 years making a movie abt jason statham fighting a huge shark :/

[@fanpandatastic]

Yet he wrote a script that became a movie. Can most of us here say the same?

[@namanshah8354]

@@fanpandatastic agreed.

[@taheemlewis7627]

@@fanpandatastic nobody said it had to be succesful

[@fanpandatastic]

@@taheemlewis7627 you could have written a script as good as Citizen Kane but if no one ever reads it and it doesnt become a movie...does it matter? Schrodinger's script lol

[@Fireeater-rl4ep]

Not all of these writers boast an impressive resumé, the Meg isn't exactly Shawshank Redemption, but they were able to sell their scripts, which proves they know something about the business.

[@Z5Z5Z5]

😂

[@jag5798]

I have one rule right now and that is to work on one of my 8 scripts each day. I don’t want to have the same meal each day, so why the same script? Its what works for me to staying passionate.

[@_s_a_]

#7 at 16:00 - great, so valid

[@filmcourage]

Thanks for watching!

[@_s_a_]

great channel, I love it @@filmcourage

[@lastlooks2986]

Kinda harks back to the old days when we would hand send out resumes and cover letters. Often, you'd want to personalize them in a small way. Yes, I'm majorly dating myself with this comment. LOL

[@delyseonduty]

12:33 Jonathan!

[@vellimanim654]

In my opinion, Film industry is experimenting one. If the storyline is interesting one though script is not as per the rules that will be definitely screened.

[@stacyyoust]

Mom always says I'm "RELENTLESS". ;)

[@leofeo2098]

Is #8 denying the use of the flat arc character?

[@chrissystewart4123]

I have a question how many screenplays I should read? Screenwriting interest me

[@FirezAper46]

It doesnt matter how many, you just start and keep going

[@chrissystewart4123]

bLaZiNg_FiRe_ Thankyou so much I will write my own movies, plays, & tv shows

[@writtenbyrharrison]

Hey Chrissy I go to www.scriptfly.com to order just for my own education stories that have made it to become produced.

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

Toy Story versus The Muppets -- Final dominion A band of junkyard survivalists take on a well-heeled cadre of Hollywood puppets and the fir starts flying.

[@CC-ed4ir]

Agree with all of these except #8. So sick of Screenwriting 101 students asking what is each characters "tragic flaw?" First of all each character in the story does not need to be as developed as the main ones. And even the main character does not need a "tragic flaw." They need a goal and some sort of obstacle. Unless you are a Coppola or Cohen and then your story doesn't even need that.

[@jobantwisp6060]

contests?

[@eriksmith2514]

16:00: Gary Goldstein: Can you give examples of "research" in queries, reasons why a writer sent a query specifically to you, and explanations of what compelled a writer to choose to write that story "of all the stories in one's imagination?" I accept that my query must stand out. But it also seems odd that you must see my research, can't presume to know why I queried you, and that you don't know that I was compelled to write the screenplay for the same reasons you were compelled to write yours. It seems like the same type of game one plays in writing job cover letters: It's not how good an applicant is or his real merit, but whether he can brag about himself for a page without using the word "I" and describe "what he can do for the company" as if the employer is retarded.

[@anthonyperry7296]

My writing stamina last two hours

[@einsteindarwin8756]

Adriana is the name of my character.

[@Darfaultner]

52:29 - Dude carries on about not needing structure then proceeds to show us how he fails repeatedly because he has no structure.

[@stefanomaggio5109]

that's true lol. But also, once u have a vague idea of structure, u don't rly need more. 1 or 2 books are enough to learn everything you must know and learn from those kind of books

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

Beowulf the early years: A grotesque 7 foot hairy monster transfers to a new school and must begin the third grade -- again.

[@danwroy]

That's Frankenstein - idiot!

[@stublandford4364]

@@danwroy Billy Madison?

[@dhpdaedalusStudio]

IDK, definitely experts but none even come close to writing Elephant Sitting Still with their advice.

[@stefanomaggio5109]

Actually not true

[@quiksilver2222]

Imagine receiving advices by a dude who wrote The Meg

[@TonyCourtney]

I got take more notes of being better

[@BingeOnThisChannel]

Damn... I write 3 scripts a year...

[@2012XF3]

Sure you can write, but its inportant to plan it out first.

[@bazmurphy7792]

After watching the worse top 10 movies of all time where they flopped at the box office after being made, and then watching this. I stand a dam good chance..

[@27scotyboy]

It's hard to take "waiting" advice from someone who was waiting to make a movie as awful as The Meg...I can see why a writer who wrote that would wait for a long time to get a movie like that made. I get they interview working writers but can they give us writers that made good movies?

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

I stopped writing because Disney stole my finding Dory script. I have stuff that is so important and useful as socially relevant and people just steal from me so Hollywood is failing. even men in black was kind of dark and dull--I saw it in there but it wasn't life-changing, I'm not trying to get that video for my collection like if I see it for three bucks maybe. its about studios taking an interest. theubie.com/k.htm

[@thereseember2800]

Timothy Sheridan: Steve Jobs wrote about Jeffrey Katzenberg (“Antz”) stealing and making a knockoff of “A Bug’s Life” from Pixar. Even though “Antz” was released sooner, it was abysmally inferior compared to “A Bug’s Life.” Because “Ants” was born from basically blatantly non-virtuous larceny, it then ripened as profoundly inferior. And it blackened Katzenberg’s character to this day. You hear of people in Hollywood who purposely will tell a writer that their idea or their script will never sell, yet right afterwards, they’re stealing their script/idea and developing it. Or else they have someone add a few word changes here or there to profit from movie credits. Or they buy a script to quash it from ever being produced. You’re not alone.

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

the difference is that they are getting paid to be 'imitated'... in my case they didnt pay, monopolized the market place and didnt imitate, they just did the script without the jokes.. but america is a sham with no competant lawyers.. you pay for hope. not sucess. and you cant pay if they steal your script. because 40% of a kings ransom (whichis what the creeps want) is still more than you can afford. oh and you forgot the movie beez with signfeld..

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

i replied but it was reased.

[@CarmenPerez-kz6rw]

Adam Greenberg the cinematographer read one of my scripts & said “they will steal it” about 10 times so I never really felt compelled to market any of my work. So I just do it for fun! 😃

[@Zoroasto1]

Thanks for the tips... But it's too late for me, TOO LATE

[@robertjazz3613]

Start now! If you are not dying it aint to late

[@angell504]

Edd Sou it’s not. I’m 35 and I’m still an apprentice. None of my works from the last 2 years are ready to publish but I’m still going strong. It’s the process of creating art that’s satisfying.

[@fatbeets4781]

Yeah. I'm 47 and just getting into screenwriting as a hobby. And why is it too late Mr. Drama Queen with the all caps and no explanation?

[@fatbeets4781]

Besides the title of this video ends in TOO LATE I just realized. I agree that is not a great title for this video. A bit of click bait I guess?

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

If you are not dead, it's not too late. I've been writing for 30 years, still learning (hopefully) getting better.

[@gman7877able]

I’m sorry, but I am not empathetic towards someone who kills people, then goes home and cares for a plant. It’s gonna take a little more than that, especially if that’s the opening.

[@mikeyounis80]

The MEG was one of the worst films I've EVER seen... Just saying.

[@nickpastorino5370]

Could be the studios fault. Studios/companies have a tendency to not follow the scriptwriter's or director's vision, which usually result in bad films.

[@Chillton]

Lesson number one- forget writing, become a smoothtalking con artist and make money on telling people how to write.

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

listen, I love the effing movies. I want to go every weekend and I haven't seen anything since Trumbo!!! everything people say about movies is bullshit you have to hire somebody like me who can write--and read. agents directors producers are making turd.!.!.!. The script for ETA was a pass.--Because Hollywood can't read. That movie was the most successful film ever (at 4% inflation)--and the easiest read ever, Brother sister pizza puppy mommy daddy house closet toys easy read. Hollywood can't read. How are you going to find me? You would have to hire a dozen people to tell you who they thought was smart and then hire those people to tell you that my Scripps were good. I can build you A blockbuster because I know what movies are. And Hollywood keeps making crap. Last Jedi, audiences wanted to hurt themselves. OK Jurassic Park has had a couple of nice successes and everybody like guardians of the galaxy at least once. But people get lost "city of 1000 planets "lost..Nice idea but they tried to get clever, they wanted to be punchy and fast and young and cool--if you wanted that you would've hired me. And not just somebody else who wanted that

[@MelaninMonarchy]

Sorry Guys at giving it a Thumbs Down. It was not the content, per se. These people clearly have the knowledge needed to working with the Film Industry and TV. But they're kind of Debbie Downers. It's good to be prepared for the worst, but a lot of their advice was void of Hope. And when you do arrive, the industry changes on you. Again, Love Film Courage, just not a big fan of this one.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Weird. You can't be a Pollyanna in this business. You want self-congratulation, get a mirror.

[@MelaninMonarchy]

@@scottslotterbeck3796 Pollyanna was a Book, a Film and a TV Show. I'll stick with being a Pollyanna. Thanks Scott for the encouragement!!!

[@jobantwisp6060]

@@MelaninMonarchy i see what you're saying,,definitely had to keep out seeds of pessimism while watching but i find i have to keep that filter there when taking in pretty much any advice on anything, nd i still got solid stuff from it #14 in particular,, the screenplay'm working on is one i really believe in but i gave up for awhile(certainly won't be the last time) when i started mentally staring at the brief overview nd i dunno if you watch south park but scott's just a d*ck,, i admire the fawk out of your persistence toward greatness,,tryn'a keep that fire alive in me as well

[@MelaninMonarchy]

@@jobantwisp6060 Just keep writing. I believe in you.

[@jobantwisp6060]

@@MelaninMonarchy thanks,man,, 'm sorry the video wasn't helpful but same to you

[@Ajidam]

An hour? Jesus Christ. Make this 30 seconds long as a KZbin short.