Why Most People Fail at Screenwriting with John Truby (Screenwriting Masterclass)

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Today’s guest blew my mind on his approach to storytelling and screenwriting. John Truby is one of Hollywood’s premier screenwriting instructor and story consultants. Over the last 25 years, more than 50,000 people have attended his sold-out seminars around the world, with the American Film Institute declaring that his “course allows a writer to succeed in the fiercely competitive climate of Hollywood.”
Called “the best script doctor in the movie industry,” Truby serves as a story consultant for major studios and production companies worldwide and has been a script doctor on more than 1,800 movies, sitcoms, and television dramas for the likes of Disney, Universal, Sony Pictures, FOX, HBO, Alliance Atlantis, Paramount, BBC, MTV and more.
Truby’s former students’ work has earned more than $15 billion at the box office, and include the writers, directors, and producers of such film blockbusters as Ratatouille, In Treatment, Pirates of the Caribbean, X-Men I/II/III, Shrek, Mother Mary of Chris, Breaking Bad, House, Lost, Planet of the Apes, Scream, The Fantastic Four, The Negotiator, Star Wars, Sleepless in Seattle, Outbreak, African Cats (which Truby co-wrote for Disney) and more. Truby’s class is also regularly attended by top fiction writers and novelists who have topped the New York Times’ Bestseller List, won numerous prestigious literary awards, and have sold over 46 million books worldwide. Hollywood’s best-kept secret, Truby’s classes regularly attract everyone from first-time writers to A-list writers, producers, directors, filmmakers, story executives, novelists, fiction writers and more.
In addition to his sold-out seminars, John Truby remains on the cutting- edge of technology having created and developed Truby Blockbuster - the bestselling software designed to intuitively help writers learn and understand the art of developing their story ideas into fully realized professionally-structured scripts.
Truby’s principles and methods are the most modern, exciting approach to screenwriting and storytelling to be developed in a generation, which is why his classes regularly attract everyone from Oscar winners to first-time writers.
We get into the weeds of story in this EPIC conversation. Get ready to take notes. Enjoy!
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#screenwriter #screenwriting #screenwritingtips

[@KajsaBernhardina]

I'm writing full-time and this is a great video and accurate in many ways at least it fits well with my own experience. Narrative drive and thematic plotting are what I see most writers fail at. It's definitely hard, but it's worth doing the work, cause if you can get the structural and plot elements right, the story almost begin writing itself. Especially the dialogue. 75% of dialogue in my scripts are entirely plot-focused and plot-driven. The other 25% are character moments, relationship building dialogue or characters explaining how they feel, and that's where you have to put in the real work. But the reason why most people fail at screenwriting, in my opinion, is not that they can't write or don't know the craft. There are two big reasons. One of them is that writers tend to give up when it gets too hard. It will get hard and you will doubt yourself all the time, i'ts part of the process. But if you let that take you down, you will fail 100% of the time. Accept self-doubt is part of the journey. How to get rid of anxiety? Keep writing anyway. But the number #1 absolute biggest reason people fail at screenwriting, in my experience and I cannot stress this enough, is that they're writing for an audience that doesn't exist. I see so many authors falling into this trap. Let's say you've gotten past the amateur stage of writing only for yourself, writing what you like and expecting everyone else to get onboard with you. Let's say you've taken a step beyond that and started actually writing for an audience. What's your perception of that audience? Many writers seem to believe that the mass audience is a bunch cool people they have to impress by writing cool and epic stories and dazzle everyone with the depth and brilliance of the script. 99% of the time, that's not the audience you're going for. It's certainly not the audience that will earn you a living. The audience is more accurately described as a diverse bunch of nerds looking for some escapist entertainment after a long boring-ass workday at Starbucks. In other words: They're not that different from YOU. When you start writing for an audience of losers, but as equals, you're not writing down to them, you're still writing as if they're smarter than you but keeping in mind that they're also losers like yourself... that will hugely improve your script, and change your approach to screenwriting. This is my number one advice to make success start coming your way. Realize that the mass audience is a bunch of losers. I mean they're certainly cooler than you are, but they're not living on high horses. They just want to have some fun after working at Starbucks all day. If you can give them a fun experience, and make them forget the world for an hour or two, you'll have success.

[@usernmae77]

This is by far the most encouraging piece of advice!

[@firewithfire848]

I failed as a screenplay writer because I spent my time watching and commenting on KZbin videos about screenplay writing instead of actually writing screenplays (except for that half of a first draft I wrote five years ago before I discovered KZbin).

[@Tommy88-]

The brain is like a sponge it soaks up what gets in its way.

[@waltermanson999]

The nose wheezing tho ! A legendary interview marred with a nose too close to a microphone. R.I.P.

[@ComicPower]

The name of the mcguffin in Avatar was so silly that it almost took me out of the movie. I was like Really? That sounded like a placeholder name they never decided to replace

[@davidpearson611]

This was an extremely helpful interview. Thank you.

[@IndieFilmHustle]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tobymenstroni8765]

This has just made me re-evaluate one of my all-time favourite comedy movies: Bringing up Baby. It has a clear desire line and a strong opponent who is attacking the hero constantly. Incredible!!!

[@KristopherSatchell]

"Myth, action, and a love story," my mind exploded when John Truby simplified the themes James Cameron leans on for all of his films! Cliff note, James Cameron is one of the filmmakers that inspired me be a filmmaker. I was around 6 years old when I saw T2 in theaters, I left the theater wanting to know more about this stuff called movies making. Star Wars, Mad Max, Aliens, and many more came thereafter in the VHS, DVD, and Blu-Ray market. If I ever get a chance to shadow a director on set would be James Cameron, George Miller, John Carpenter, George Lucas, Christopher Nolan, and Steven Spielberg hands down. If I could go back in time would it be Stanly Kubrick during Eyes Wide Shut for the whole year of production. Yeah this is a long post, sorry

[@jlovely504]

Be cv

[@edwardteach3488]

Bebè e. E. E. E s e s esss. E. E. E s. E. E s. E. E. E. E. E. E s e

[@edwardteach3488]

Vvv. E.

[@edwardteach3488]

Bebè.

[@edwardteach3488]

Vabbè. E. E. E. E s. E

[@DenkyManner]

The hierarchy of antagonists who are secretly working together works perfectly in RoboCop. A different way to approach it is having two goals, rather than one goal with two people in the way. Rocky is a love story in the first half and a boxing story in the second (from the perspective of the desires Rocky is actively working on). Back To The Future had Marty trying to get his parents back together, with the antagonist is Biff. That's resolved right before the overarching desire to get back to 1985 comes to a head, which has no human antagonist. I've seen that described as the antagonist being Murphy's law, which I guess is a natural consequence of a goal being an unmissable deadline. These videos are invaluable btw. I've only recently taken structure seriously and I find I really enjoy thinking about it.

[@koveanthanpon]

Sensible guru on screenwriting! Thanks John and Alex.

[@freddyfranchise]

The fact alone that you are using the term "Tribe" says everything about your spirit. It's what made us stand out in the Evolution. Forming tribes and supporting each other. I write down and study a lot of what's being said here. You also just have a way with people, even the higher up legends in the industry. People seem to trust you with meaningful, sensitive and personal information. I would have never thought John Truby wanted to be a Point Guard. That detail alone makes him a lot more personable to me cos I love basketball. Absolutely in love with your channel and looking forward to working with you when I feel confident enough getting notes on my screenplay.

[@IndieFilmHustle]

Thank you! Glad to be of service.

[@Chiller01]

It seems that for the number of bad and repetitive movies made not enough studios invest in a guy like this.

[@duartepereira7255]

God damn..this was WAY above average.. Way above. Thanks so much for this. I reckon this channel is becoming one of my landing-spots.. 3rd video in a row, that i watch and that leaves me sursprised, in a very good manner. Thanks again. Now im gonna watch the other episodes with J. Truby. :P PS: I agree that The Dark Knight Rises is not as brilliant in its precision, as The Dark Knight.. but at an emotional level, namely in the characters, and their subtleties..it is , imo.. better. It moved me..at a 1to1 character level. The others did the same, but more on a conceptual level..and the degree of skill in which they were written and played out. And yes....in the 2nd movie...the criminals' boat vs commons boat.., had I written it..I would've had Mayhem just erupting.. It's a too peaceful battle, amongst the ppl in each boat. All actors are brilliant..but I must say.. Michael Caine.... damn.. Cheers from Portugal

[@melindawolfUS]

What's a great book about the female hero myth??? Now that I know it exists I feel desperate to feed my soul THAT story

[@matthiaswolf]

As is the case with the Joker in 'The Dark Knight', the plot of 'Inglourious Basterds' is driven by Hans Landa the whole tilme.

[@Tommy88-]

I personally didn’t like ‘inglorious bastards’. if that was a first timer that never would have been made.

[@t.h.acrofilmcinema]

I am glad I got the book thank you John Truby

[@Andrew-the-Writer]

Alex, you know who said he has read every book on screenwriting? Woody Allen. And the baseball analogy is a good one, BUT it would be more effective to discuss pitching great Sandy Koufax. At one point in his early career, Koufax - and the Dodgers - were so disappointed in his outings that Koufax was ready to QUIT baseball and work in a sporting goods store. Just before he was going to do that, the Dodgers hired a new pitching coach. The new pitching coach watched Koufax pitch batting practice. Afterwards, he told Koufax that he noticed a small "hitch" in his delivery. He fixed that and what followed was four no hitters, a perfect game and every award and achievement possible for a pitcher. The fact is: A lot of people fail at screenwriting simply because they do not listen when someone is telling them there is a "hitch" in their writing... they're too busy rehearsing in their head an Oscar acceptance speech.

[@sylvielogan]

Great point. One thing to add is the person may not even realize they have a hitch or someone to point it out, then explain how to fix it.

[@nicholasstamper3352]

Great talk, but considering the premier date I am surprised Knives Out got no mention for original WHODUNNIT.

[@howardkoor9365]

Master class with John Truby!

[@MrRmann1234]

Godzilla vs. Bambi is a good example of a protagonist/antagonist mismatch

[@roughrider6129]

We would like to thank the city of Tokyo for lending us Godzilla for the making of this film.

[@oldplanetmedia1629]

Michael Jordan was cut from the hs varsity team at 15

[@1adadada]

Hi is the worksheet avalable? can't find the link.

[@Gorboduc]

*INTRO VOLUME!!!* *Host Volume.* _(truby volume)_

[@anthonymbarra]

Nice video. Would you reach out to John and quickly ask him if he's spoken or written about "Twin Peaks: The Return"? Or even Twin Peaks in general (but especially The Return), which is one of the most innovative and genre-hybridized shows of all time (including very inventive detective/hero's journey stuff). Much appreciated if you could get back with any info here.

[@IndieFilmHustle]

Great suggestion!

[@flazeda8743]

Indeed it's not money spent on special effects that makes American movies success it's the one spent on promo, also he's half right for movies stars. 🤔🤔🤔 Bad dramas shoved down everybody's throats by powerful studios often do well worldwide but great dramas with little promos budgets often don't... And movie stars aren't a guarantee for success but it sure help a lot seing how they insist on them in trailers. Plus the special effects movies give the very most lucrative projects so since it's nearly always American having the money to make these of course they take the most lucrative market in cinema even if it includes most of the genre flops as well.

[@MrMas22]

The elephant in the room is the fact that three act structure is not that far away from John Trubys 7 seven-steps-structure. The division in seven steps is basically the same method. In his book he also analyze movies AFTER they were written. He does exactly the same thing to understand the techniques like the three act gurus. He is just a little more precise.

[@tobymenstroni8765]

Oh dear, me again. Am I allowed to ask a question here? Where the hell has that man been all my life? It doesn't bear thinking what I could have achieved if I had found Truby 20 years ago. I don't use the (wildly overused) word geniuis very often but he comes pretty damn close.

[@DDumbrille]

Oh puleaze. The man teaches his overpriced course because he couldn't hack it in the real world. He wrote three episodes of 21 Jump Street 34 years ago...

[@ComicPower]

WB should have hired him to fix Wonder woman 1984. And saved us all a lot of pain. It might be the worst screenplay in history. It felt like a 10 year old wrote it.

[@user-go2yu4hq5p]

What's is Stephen king book's name?

[@roughrider6129]

"On Writing", it's a must for your working library

[@commercialand]

Can the protagonists goal change if he is 7 and wants to be an astronomer but his father will not let him, then when the protag is 30, he now wants to save his son from being killed by his father.

[@D.o.l.l.a.r.s]

🚶

[@flamingocupproductions5329]

40 plot point method

[@BookClubDisaster]

Countless great writers in movies and literature have broken all of these rules

[@jimjo8541]

I have to stop you at underselling Avatar’s visual appeal. The ONLY reason I went to see it, and the ONLY reason my party of 6 went to see it, was because of the amazing 3D. I’m sure that applies to at least 1/3 of its sales if not 2/3s. The plot is paper thin. The characters are forgettable. It’s all about the visuals. I tried watching it at home in 2D and didn’t care to watch more than 15 minutes. And it helps to see it for extra fees in 3D on Imax and other 3D theaters.

[@Brisco1]

Why is he dissing the three act structure? Of course there's more to screenwriting than that, but the fact is all successful films DO indeed have three acts. It mirrors how we think about situations in life: a beginning, a middle, and an end. Problem (something isn't right, a solution needs to be found to change it, OR something/someone from the outside comes into the story's world), we take actions to change it (or engage with the newcomer), and how it resolves, what the NEW situation is like. It's the foundation of ANY story. He says it doesn't work at the professional level; I say it can't work at the professional level WITHOUT a beginning, middle and end.

[@user-wh4lx9by2o]

Thanks, I enjoyed this interview. If I may, here's how I would've enjoyed it even more. 1) Talk less. Much less. You are clearly as knowledgeable as some of your guests, but use that knowledge to draw useful information from your subjects. Watch the pros, the best interviewers on network TV. That's what they do. Instead of showing us that they know the answer before they ask the question, they play dumb (hyperbole) and let their subject shine. 2) Don't finish your subject's sentences. It's irritating to the viewer, not to mention to your subject. 3) Laugh less. It makes you look frivolous.

[@milanpenk9537]

You lost me at Avatar. That movie is boring and filled with cliches it hurts.

[@michaelgilroy1096]

Strange interview. Several points they make which I absolutely agree with and other points which I totally disagree with to the extent that I think they are blathering ignoramuses from the overrated Godfather (yeah I said it) to terrible Christopher Nolan movies, to Avatar to the fact that each of the DC heroes have weakneses in the COMICS which are never truly expressed in the terrible MOVIES. The Peacemaker tv show and Second Suicide Squad movies were better. For example, Superman's greatest weakness is the obvious need to KEEP HIS IDENTITY AND WEAKNESSES SECRET (such as vulnerability to Kryptonite), followed by the NEED TO PROTECT HIS LOVED ONES, as well as COMPULSIVE GUILT TO SAVE OTHERS WHICH THREATENS THE OTHER TWO. Jeez. Not rocket science here guys.