I've Read Over 100 Screenplays... Here's Why 1 In 10 Will Make It - Adam William Ward

[@filmcourage]

Have you read more than 100 screenplays?

[@zaiah9252]

No. But that's a challenge I would love to do one day!

[@brettpilkington9539]

No but I've read over a thousand books, I will start on the screenplays 😅

[@AltairZielite]

I confess, I haven't even read my own script 100 times. I started to read a couple of others, but never got past the 10th page.

[@hamfistsman6267]

I was thinking, 1 in 10, damn that's good odds.

[@familycorvette]

Regarding what he said about memorable moments and shock value - everybody remembers the ear incident from Reservoir Dogs, which was shocking and memorable but was ultimately gratuitous. But when I talk with serious movie lovers about the final kiss between Robert Forrester and Kim Grier in Tarantino's "Jackie Brown," they not only remember it, they agree it is one of the most heartbreaking moments ever put on celluloid. I think the latter is what you need to shoot for, not shock value.

[@saidjaniyev2443]

Such a great point !

[@mariolopez-oi2td]

It's such a bittersweet moment. I like to think that he followed her out there.

[@MacSmithVideo]

1 in 10? more like 1 in a 1000.

[@filipeandrade9697]

??? he only read 100 scripts lol

[@iwantmylauren]

Adam is such an awesome director! Love this interview.

[@filmcourage]

Cheers Lauren! Much more to come with Adam!

[@ewalichorowicz4614]

This was an interesting conversation. Thank you so much 🙏😊

[@filmcourage]

Glad you enjoyed it Ewa! We had a fun time with Adam and are looking forward to sharing more from this interview.

[@ewalichorowicz4614]

​@@filmcourageThank you so much 😊 I enjoy learning about the movie industry. The people whom you interview are experts, and it is great to learn from each person's perspective. Thank you so much for this channel 🙏😊

[@filmcourage]

Thank you for the positivity your and good energy you bring our way Ewa! We're lucky to have you.

[@ewalichorowicz4614]

@@filmcourageThank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate being able to learn so much new information about the movie industry from this channel. I am lucky to be able to learn about various perspectives and also to hear some great advice from Film Courage and all the presenters and guests that are being interviewed on this channel. I enjoy everything featured on this channel. 😊

[@DanielL.Phillips]

Go Adam Thank you Film Courage. This was one of the most insightful interviews In quite a while that reaffirmed things for me.. One very good video. Thank you.

[@Law19157]

I like this dude, he's super chill. Probably really good to work with.

[@OgamiItto70]

"...It was a murder mystery comedy, and no one had ever done that before." _The Cheap Detective, Murder By Death, Bugsy Malone,,_ all of the _Pink Panther_ movies, literally hundreds of others: "Excuse me...?"

[@Leon-zu1wp]

It's funny because pretty much the entire black comedy genre is that. There are SOOOO MANY movies with that plot.

[@ChancellorMarko]

Not to mention The Big Lebowski

[@OgamiItto70]

@@ChancellorMarko Did that come out before _The Hangover?_ I don't remember.

[@misterwhyte]

I think you misunderstood his point (though he expressed it poorly, I'll give you that). The Hangover isn't "a murder mystery comedy" the likes you mention. It's a comedy that uses tropes usually found in murder mysteries: subtle but important difference. It's a bunch of guys having to follow a lead and find clues, but they're not detectives and there's no murder (or even a serious crime for that matter). It's pretty unique in its structure and that's probably part of why it got so successful.

[@ChancellorMarko]

@@misterwhyte not at all like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas then?

[@Law19157]

K-Dramas do Beginning, Middle and End pretty good. There aren't many episodes, at most maybe 20-26 but more like 15 or 16 one hour length episodes and when it ends it ends they move on to a new story.

[@Nokaret]

And then something like the Acolyte gets greenlit for 180 million anyway 🤐

[@grantgreyguda]

It's an absolute shame. Can you imagine what indie Filmmakers could do with 180 million.

[@rajikkali2381]

Damn, I was just about to watch Horizon. I guess not expecting much could make for a happy surprise if it's watchable.

[@KnightEnterprises]

It’s amazing. I’ve seen it 3x. First time I felt bad for Kevin as the classic narrative structure it’s there. But it’s the epitome of better the second time. Just know it’s not a beginning, mid, end. It’s beginning, beginning, beginning. Amazing work of art.

[@adamward1330]

I didn’t think it was bad. It was worth watching.

[@JackRobert-r2y]

Watching 100k movies would take approx 20 years of non stop watching. Just did the math lol 😂 only 8760 hours in a year.

[@filmcourage]

Live, breathe, eat, and sleep movies!

[@CasperLCat]

That raised my eyebrows too. So, let’s take his low end figure of 10,000 watched. 2 hours per movie (at least) on average, including breaks. Being generous, let’s say watching is your more-than-full-time job, 12 hours per day, 6 days per week. 2 weeks off per year. That’s 6 1/3 years ABSOLUTE MINIMUM. 100K movies would take 63 years. Doing it 40 hours per week, that’s 10 years for 10K movies. 100K movies would take 100 years. No way, Jose….

[@friendlyone2706]

I've been told to read at least three successful screen plays of the genre of the type I'm writing before writing that next script. I wish I had been told that five years sooner. Problem: hard to get spec scripts & shooting script style can get you in trouble. At this point I've read only about 50.

[@pikiwiki]

Heard a complaint that for television series the plot "just goes on and on. I want to watch a movie with a beginning, middle and end"

[@DAMON409]

No the plot doesnt go on and on. Each episode is a movie in itself.

[@pikiwiki]

@@DAMON409 yes. that's what the complaint was. each episode didn't resolve enough to give satisfaction to the viewer. It just kept going episode after episode without resolving the plot points

[@DAMON409]

@@pikiwiki well that isn't how it is supposed to work.

[@pikiwiki]

@@DAMON409 exactly

[@jackryan9435]

Do you think you could make an interview with Taylor Sheridan? Would be amazing to have him on the show!

[@DexterMorgan-sd4jx]

Most screenplays are boring to read, in fact, I prefer to watch the movie and after reading its screenplay, it makes the reading easier. Most screenplays have a slow pace and they get made because the people who wrote the screenplay are the ones who are going to make it (Of course they already have a name in the Industry) Rarely you see an unknown guy who wrote a screenplay that was made.( From that fact is the data 1 made from 1000)

[@formulaic78]

I noticed actually looking at some really famous movie scripts, Ghostbusters was one, that the screenplays were filmed with typos, which is obviously a huge no no for an unconnected screenwriter. Not knocking Ghostbusters of course which is a deserved classic.

[@adambyrd7499]

So if I say my movie is like this successful movie and like this successful movie combined, I have a better chance at selling it?

[@friendlyone2706]

Yes

[@DAMON409]

Better chance of getting sued

[@Iamluisnavi]

Fire 🔥

[@AS-zj6uk]

He's seen 100,000 movies? Yeah right 😂😂😂

[@ReachForTheSkyVideo]

I ran a video store in the 90's with 70,000 titles. I crunched the numbers one day, and there was no possible way I could watch them all.

[@tareklegrand7747]

@@ReachForTheSkyVideo Tarantino would've done that.

[@ratemyactors]

Fascinating insights from a seasoned professional! Adam's breakdown of the challenges faced by screenwriters is enlightening and offers valuable advice for those pursuing a career in the industry. I'm looking forward to watching more of his videos for more thought-provoking analysis and guidance.

[@DAMON409]

Nobody wants to read your script. Either theyre doing it as a favor, which means they don't care and probably will stop after 20 pages. Or you paid someone to read it, which means they aren't motivated to read it either. The money is what they are motivated by, which means theyll only read maybe half of it.

[@AltairZielite]

I was on inktip for 1 year, no one ever even read my spec. :(

[@filmcourage]

Interesting. Forgive us as we are not familiar with the process. How is it supposed to work? You post your script and others can find it and read it? Or do you have to promote it to get people to read it?

[@AltairZielite]

@@filmcourage Good questions, I'm not sure how to answer 'supposed to'. There was a 'pitch' function, but I never figured out how to use it. I could see that my logline was read by a few dozen studios per month, but none ever read the synopsis, or the spec. At 34$ a month, I just could not justify the budgeting any longer. It's okay, 99% of specs never get made into movies, I knew that going in. Although, for $400 and one year, I had hoped to get SOME feedback, constructive or otherwise. It was just a big nothing burger.

[@filmcourage]

Okay, guess that makes sense. They are reading the logline but stopping there. Maybe working on a better logline could be an area of focus? For some reason your dilemma makes us think of this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZOafmycqrWNlck

[@filmcourage]

One year is a crazy long time for no one to read your script! Sorry to hear that. Thank you for sharing.

[@AltairZielite]

@@filmcourage Thanks for the link. 4 years ago is when I started watching film courage. I'm sure I've watched all the logline vids a few times. I don't recall this pitch vid, I'll watch it now.

[@ryanhowell4492]

I'm currently working on my third project

[@filmcourage]

That is great to hear! Congrats to you Ryan!

[@ryanhowell4492]

@@filmcourage I'm currently working on 15 candles to pay a tribute to 16 Candles the movie

[@Law19157]

I Love Westerns

[@Law19157]

I have to disagree with one thing. Yes film making is an Art and is subjective but its also a business and like any business it has to make money so your business can stay afloat. Like a business you have to be aware of your market and what your market wants and that maybe different from what you like in your art form. Yes its Art, but at the end of the day what sells? Borderlands for example, the Director wanted to take a lot of creative liberties and thought the product was great however he disregarded the source material which was not well received by fans among other issues. If the market wants the product to be faithful to the source material then be faithful to the source material. You can take some creative liberties but not to a point you upset the core fan base leading to your product flopping. $115-$145 down the drain, that's terrifying if I'm a studio owner. Point: Give the people want they want.

[@jamescat2386]

Wise mind, cracking biceps.. the full package

[@wadavis5252]

If anyone reads this comment, I’m curious if you have your script or scripts listed on the ISA website. If not, why not? If so, what’s your experience?

[@EllerthePeridot]

I love The Hangover, but I don't think it was the first of its kind....

[@giuoco]

0:38 you’ve seen a 100,000 movies? lol maybe it’s definitely not a strong point here

[@untiliwin]

Yeah that's when I ChatGPTed it. And I guess that's A LIE N

[@idxstudios]

Most all scripts suck..i think its up to the filmaker to make it sing

[@lexcoupe82]

No way he watched 100,000 movies you have to watch 10 movies a day for 30 years sorry but no

[@mantaray385]

He has not seen 10,000 movies 😂😂😂 Thats 222 movies a year for 45 years! Also 100 scripts is not that much 😂 if you read 1 a week you'd have that in 2 years!

[@marias8007]

Theres 365 days in the year, you could watch 2 movies a day and that's about 700 movies a year, over 15 years, youd make that 10k mark. People have careers for longer than 15 years ...

[@blakedowdell4725]

I don't think he meant it literally. But it can feel like that sometimes 😄

[@3Dfilmmaker84]

Yes you can, I have.

[@kuramobay2445]

Most writers want to write straight drama because most writers don't really understand how genre stories (horror, thriller, sci-fi, crime, etc) work. It's mostly directors who can write who prefer to work in the genres.

[@snellavision]

He has not seen anywhere near 100k movies in his life. At an average running time of 90 minutes, that exaggerated claim is that he spent the equivalent of 17 years watching movies. He isn't that old and is clearly talking out of his ar5e

[@familycorvette]

First!!!

[@filmcourage]

You were ready for this one!

[@harveyhankerson8359]

Wow.. I’ve an awesome screen play. ! I just can’t finish

[@familycorvette]

@@filmcourage If there's a new Film Courage in my alerts, I drop everything :)