Studios And Networks Don't Want Good Scripts, Here's What They Really Want by Houston Howard

[@Tubingonline1]

This lady who takes all these great interviews is an enigma to me. But I really like and appreciate the work she puts in and the end product of that work.

[@paraisoenllamas]

I love her. his voice is so sexy haha

[@mjolninja9358]

Angel Perez simp nigga

[@dkthg]

@@mjolninja9358 Nigga stfu all women are queens! Bow fool!

[@reginayfavors]

I love her. She is a great interviewer. She lets the interviewee talk.

[@theblacksmith0880]

He's absolutely right. I wrote a script then a graphic novel and finally a game on iTunes. It got the attention of three studios. The most important advice I received was that Hollywood buys ideas not scripts.

[@zodlord5669]

I don't think so, I'm not saying he's wrong. But I don't think one shouldn't neglect writing a good script. I think he refers to the profitability or the proven sale potential. If you have a product that has some proven sale value of course Hollywood or any industry will at least take a gander at it. Currently also there are tons of unmade film scripts in Hollywood I'm sure studios have rights to.

[@reginayfavors]

You're making the point that I've been making to other people. It's like they want a system. With the Harry Potter series, there are the books, the high school play scripts, the theme park, etc. They want a perpetual brand. Harry Potter will outlive its lifetime.

[@davebar2017]

Yes, I would like to copywrite an idea ....click

[@grim_2000]

Hollywood doesn't buy ideas. It buys IPs :)

[@galacticmind9060]

I have come close to getting scripts for many years ("getting discovered") but at the last step things would collapse due to things out of my control. Now, I am adapting one of those "Almost Made" scripts into a graphic novel (I'm a writer that can draw). Also putting up a KZbin channel to promote (self/work/media in modern age) before crowdfunding campaign next Spring. Are you saying I am on the right track?

[@pacificostudios]

The important thing to remember is that a feature film is a $1 million to 100 million+ investment. Anything you can do to bring that story to the public at a lower price -- e.g., writing a novel and promoting that, or making a short film for KZbin -- is going to help persuade studios to pick your spec script, because they can see that the cheaper project was successful. That's what Houston is really trying to say.

[@ronaldmayle1823]

Writing a novel and having it published could take years, even if you're lucky enough to have it published.

[@pacificostudios]

KZbin has made lowered the barriers to filmmaking to an astounding degree, by making distribution effectively free. No, you won't make money, but you can develop a fanbase and go from there.

[@reginayfavors]

What creative people struggle to realize is that the book series works like a series Bible for TV, film series, cable, etc. If you do not create the book series, then create the web series, and this will guide the new writing for scripts, etc. Insecure was born out of the web series Awkward Black Girl. You can see elements of ABG in Insecure. Great video always. I love these discussions from Houston Howard on pre-awareness.

[@daveindezmenez]

The thing left out of this conversation is that it's also difficult to break in a book series or a video game or whatever. It leaves out that those other things might be as hard as it is to break into a television or movie deal and your commitment to those other formats may not be as strong. While it is true that pre-awareness will ease the path, creating this pre-awareness might not be the easiest thing either.

[@cristinadriviera8144]

David Thrasher+ Yes what he is actually implying only works on a very basic human level of awareness. In other words - if your screenplay CANNOT be translated into a damn video game- it's no good.

[@daveindezmenez]

@@cristinadriviera8144 Video games and movies are completely different forms. What may work in one may not work in another and it has nothing to do with quality. Evidence of this is the many video games that have been adapted into movies and have failed. They are different experiences.

[@cristinadriviera8144]

@@daveindezmenez + Yes absolutely.

[@fancycrafts7774]

@@cristinadriviera8144 That's like saying if your lollipop wouldn't make a good pizza, it's a bad lollipop.

[@noteem5726]

It's not just video games! Losers only hear what you want to hear that's why you'll never go anywhere. Stories are either good or bad. If you can't translate a script into a book or a comic then maybe it's not good.

[@weirdy8]

5:19 is where the answer comes

[@laxi8305]

weirdy8 thank youu

[@moodywa_9051]

Thanks

[@scooterdooter]

Thhhhaaaaaaaaaaannnk yooooooooooooou!!!

[@cmdr.shepard]

An alternative way is to make yourself a brand instead of a movie. So then people will be "pre aware" of all you do.

[@josephinev8140]

Thx

[@markothwriter]

The idea of getting a publishing deal without having written the book -- that's one in a million. Publishers don't buy a pitch - unless it's non-fiction. Publishers buy finished novels.

[@grim_2000]

I think, in his example the author rewrote her TV pilot as a novel and then got a publishing deal. Maybe the pitch was with a script, idk

[@Fireeater-rl4ep]

I have a fantasy story up my sleeve that is by far my favorite script, but filmmakers are very hesitant about high fantasy, so I'm seriously considering making it into a book.

[@josephedmondson1969]

Same, but I'm sticking with my script with plans on turning it into an animated short.

[@Fireeater-rl4ep]

@@feralmode I just started last week becauseI had to write the timelines of the twelve countries within the fantasy world first. WHEW! 1600 years worth of overlapping history to create, not to mention half a dozen languages and making sure I catalogue everything in the index. It was a huge project, but world-building and setting the stage is the most important part of Epic Fantasy. Anyway, that's all done and proof-read now, and I've started writing the book. Two chapters in!

[@Horatio787]

@@Fireeater-rl4ep People say write a page a day. I prefer spend an hour a day minimum.

[@jimmybee440]

So smart. Our stories are brands, not scripts. I started the two largest hip-hop magazines. I realize now that I'm not a novice where it counts even though I "only" wrote two scripts through which I did several drafts and finishing the first draft of a third. This video has me thinking more broadly of how to tell these stories.

[@freddie5ive]

What magazines?

[@dzobie]

That whole "pre-awareness" thing applies to books, tv, everything if you need a financier like a publisher or producer. It's all hopeless unless you create your own market and sell by yourself.

[@josephedmondson1969]

I imagine that is far harder to do by yourself.

[@ayamore]

I like your advice, Houston. I'm a writer, and people tell me all the time that my books, "The Hacienda," or "Las Palma, by TB Riggs, would make great movies, lol. And I agree, knowing full well, that my books will never be made into a movie. Producers are always looking for new Ideas, because you cannot copyright an idea!! And they know this. They have their own team of writers. They just need fresh new ideas to write about. It's a good thing I write Historical Novels... not to many movie producers are looking for novels written way back when. But then, you never can tell. If you ever hear of one, let me know. TB Riggs. :)

[@avtpro]

This guy is REALLY intelligent. I know I just now understand "The Bottom Line" of what he is saying and I feel late to the party. However, if I saw this video in 2018, it would have totally went over my head. I happened to see him on the Pixar Theory video so I looked him up. He's really got it and is not being vague at all. Awesome.

[@TheMichaelCardoza]

Can you please interview writers who write for animated series? I feel this is a different process of structure and business.

[@matthewgordonpettipas6773]

Yessss. I'd love to see that as well. I want to write for animation so it would be a God sent. I have done research online but hearing from professionals actually doing what I want to do would be much more helpful.

[@vomothytigan1640]

I feel enlightened. My mental horizons are now much broader. Thank you Houston Howard.

[@joshliam1967]

Really like this, I keep hearing that creating a brand is essential to being successful and this just reinforces that.

[@Stritex1]

Yeah i know that industry is not looking for "good scripts" but doing good scripts its recommendable because as an artists we strive the passion because you can't go through the world and the internet offering regular-mediocre scripts either, right?. Don't get worry my dear people, everything is fine, it's all common sense

[@AustinWetzel]

Less then 1% of book publishing deals are accepted, he wants us to not only be the 1% in writing books but after that be 1% movies and tv. This guy has never made anything on screen, those who can’t teach

[@sharwandsouza1747]

It's actually sad and annoying that this is the truth because great stories can actually go to waste if all this has to be done for it to be done on the screen

[@thereseember2800]

Sharwan Dsouza: Great stories needn’t ever go to waste. It’s the way in which they’re user-friendly as easily woven into or through. Think of that one great story as a singular thread yet as having permeability-as having the capacity to weave through other people’s great stories, TV shows, art exhibits, etc. It’s written from the beginning as synergy to create uber-synergistic effects.

[@craigjhard]

The 18 wheeler metaphor hits home. Very simply put. Thanks for the expansion of approach.

[@revishon]

he starts with think for yourself, it was the ingenuity of our ancestors that our modern knowledge and technology sits on. We build the path we walk on, no one else can path for us.

[@beyondcinema]

we made a proof of concept short for our feature script, it's gotten a lot of views already on youtube, but still unsure of how to get interest from studios/producers.

[@noteem5726]

Any luck so far?

[@beyondcinema]

@@noteem5726 Yes actually. It's being considered by an established producer. This jus happened a couple weeks ago. Fingers crossed! :)

[@noteem5726]

@@beyondcinema Congratulations! I hope it goes well 🤞

[@tgkafg]

I sat in this guys class, taught me a lot.

[@whoisdesirtv]

Not a filmmaker yet but building my seed company that will fund my empire. Just hired an IP attorney and will do a lot of what you said. Thanks brother.

[@TheExWife]

I like everything about his advice. I should truly concentrate on a book and then let them come to me. At least, I can self publish.

[@jamesreid7238]

This is such amazing advice and its so simple yet most people don’t even think about it. Have to have different streams of ideas to create different opportunities for yourself.

[@BillieJolene1]

Can you elaborate on getting organizations to endorse your project? How do you approach them? And how do they go about endorsing your project? They just talk to members of their group? Or give them flyers to pass out to watch your material or what not? Or is it asking them to write a letter stating that they endorse you? Because how would you prove that they endorsed you at all? Thanks for any clarification you can give. And great video by the way!!!!!! This was great information.

[@DingoTheDog]

Thia is really sad that I can’t be what I’m good at. I love directing actors but hate all the management, pitching, financing. And now this guy is telling me, that additionally to all those things that I’m already doing as a director I need to brand myself meaning spending hours online creating my-online-product-self, create stories suitable for games, tv, comic books, ebooks. When will I have time to direct actors?

[@zacharycbraddy]

Jeez louise, these videos are gold. This is something I think every writer should hear. Keep them coming!

[@anavonrebeur6121]

Short: they want famous writers with followers and previuous personal audience. (He calls it "awareness") You'd better be a Rolling Stone. Or Michael Crichton. He also recommends contacting organizations that could endorse and support your project on a self branding process. Only posible in the US. In my country organizations ask you money.

[@unciervoenciervado]

They say success is about taking risks and chances. But the movie industry has never been so risk adverse.

[@MichaelSmith-jw8qw]

that is because it costs so much to make films, studios are owned by conglomerates--they want guaranteed returns

[@Nautilus1972]

George Lucas did it. He sold one idea for 4.5 Billion after already making tens of billions ... from an independent idea jumped on by a big studio, and the balls of Alan Ladd Jr.

[@Nautilus1972]

risk-averse.

[@film_magician]

They do. It's not as overt or obvious. Nolan can make whatever he wants, which is risky, but he's proven himself.

[@grim_2000]

@@film_magician Because in case of Nolan, his name is the brand that they're paying for. Hence he can make pretty much any story he wants

[@SuperTompo]

A lot to take away from his advice... absolutely brilliant. 👌

[@JordanJSparks]

this is GENIUS and just sparked SO much inspiration and motivation in me!

[@filmcourage]

Keep learning, keep creating!

[@chazieo]

Had to come back in 2021. You have to respect this man!

[@reginayfavors]

Back in 2024. I can listen to Houston Howard and Shannan E. Johnson all day!

[@chazieo]

@@reginayfavors yes Houston is such a cool inspiration it’s crazy!!

[@FrankSustainAMustly]

Great advice! Any prospects to make a kindle version of the book available?

[@helenbland493]

Great news. l published a conspiracy thriller trilogy, are now writing a T.V. pilot prequel to the books.

[@diegooland1261]

Okay, I need to give you credit for this. I watched this a while back, put it in the mental file cabinet and went on with life. One day I got the idea, "Hey, this story idea can be worked into a short story, it can be spun into graphic novel concept and it can be built out into a novel. I still working these angles but it's so nice to work all these aspects and not just focus on one perfect movie script.

[@skittlemenow]

Yeah the irony of Hollywood is it purports to be a creative industry when it's anything but. The major studios and networks even fucked alternative entertainment on youtube so they wouldn't have competition. This is why nothing in theaters or on tv is even remotely watchable.

[@lisahyyppa3360]

‘Cha Ching factor’ is an old time reference to the cash register sound in a sales transaction… they want high ‘cha Ching factor’ AKA as big profit margins no matter what they ‘step on’ to achieve it.

[@L-A-M-E-nergy]

I notice a lot of people that are focused on and are given a platform on this channel have very little to almost no industry experience. And though a lot of what this guy says is true, it isn’t new or news. Also the industry changed on a daily if not purely basis. I just really have an issue with the “how to make it in Hollywood” branders. No one other than those in Hollywood making the daily decisions on how media is cultivated should be propped up or given a blow-horn to influence those folks who are genuinely looking for solid and sound information. The way to make it in Hollywood is to be a creator that can not be ignored and that will never change, but thinking that the Hollywood studios are the only gate keepers to a successful career in moving pictures and sound style storytelling, is just wrong... and shouldn’t be the artists pursuit.

[@bonsaihunters]

Basically, unicycles aren't going to get you there. Thanks though, because it's nice to hear someone say it, that's how I've managed to get by.

[@nicholasjames1101]

Just write something that; delights,excites,reaches, teaches,inspires, desires. Keep at it,as you the writer, without listening to the Hollywood nonsense.

[@MysticMotherTracyElise]

Brilliant. No story is an island.

[@concious1being]

thanks the team of film courage for everythings your content is really helpful.. It will great help if u could also write in the description what these guys have already written or directed, So that we can watch or read the script of the shows they have written.

[@n3wskoolmagic]

This is one of the most valuable videos posted

[@joannkelly7994]

This truly is a great source of information. I thank God for it.

[@mychalsimmons4177]

Awesome it’s got me thinking differently about my stories and scripts

[@theforensicastrologer]

I’ve been approached by a production company and they Skyped me immediately. They asked me to recite lines!! (That surprised me as I’m not an actor and didn’t expect this) for a possible tv special on a subject I’m an expert in. What can expect next? I live in Australia and the company was in NYC. Will they want to fly me out? Will I have to find money to get there if they want to film a show?

[@makattack568]

How did it go?

[@SolutionH.O.R.S.E]

Interesting people want original outside the box content but yet they want you to pitch the same boring way.

[@matthewgordonpettipas6773]

They say they want original scripts but they don't. They want to read your original stuff and then hire you to write the next reboot, adaptation, or spinoff lined up lol.

[@c7eye]

This works in life in general. Great teacher. TY

[@timothybragg3871]

He isn"t telling you anything you shouldn"t already be doing

[@ResistanceQuest]

I guess that's the point of making an informative video

[@TAB12353]

Wow, this was SO helpful! Thank you!

[@SaggiScorp]

OUTSTANDING!!! THANK YOU, SO MUCH!

[@filmcourage]

CHEERS!

[@vanhawk8180]

I get where he is coming from but at the same time there is a risk factor and surprisingly enough many of the most succesful movies or stories come from nothing where the risk was tremendous, and while it is true that time has change and in the past with lucky one could have 3 or 4 movies a year, they don't have to trow the budget out the window to tell a good story, my hope is that eventually hollywood will run out of reboots and will go back to the drawing board to know what make them special, which begs the question how do disney skip decades of comic book material and wind up trying to do the new "superhereos"

[@pallabinaik3686]

True piece of advice. Every filmmaker should imbibe this Practical thinking.

[@sebasvelasquez]

Thanks so much...do you think you could discribe who Houston is?

[@musicletters7214]

true, but so sad. it's all about BIG money PS: this interview is one of the most important for me. Thank you

[@RD-lt3ht]

I'm not a writer and this all sounds like sagely advice, HONEST advice actually, considering the title of this video. However, isn't the adherence to the ethos of this advice -- Hollywood wants ideas/springboards, not good scripts -- the reason why so many movies are shit nowadays, because individual movies are more franchise-pitch than a self-contained story? I don't doubt that this advice is the way to go if you want a reasonably long career, but what would the likes of Robert Towne think of it...maybe reluctantly agree? I don't know...just wondering, not trolling.

[@myklantnymuwe]

3:55-5:10 , 5:15-7:00, 10:00-2:15

[@onlyjujubeeh5612]

it’s great advice and all but thing is, you can’t really indoctrinate perspective, you have to earn it and go through hardship and experiences 1st hand, and it all begins with the first step. That’s why we have consumers and creatives.

[@OA5ive]

He’s a great teacher. Learned a lot from him having him as professor for 2 months

[@camilom2752]

Great points. Was thinking about some points he made prior to this video.

[@sullyFL]

It's good to think across markets, but it's very rare to build a movie audience from a book...and when that happens, it's because the publisher spent tons of money marketing the author and the book. It's also important to consider timeline for book publishing. 1 year to write. 2 years to publish = pretty standard. You'll become a better writer by doing novels, but it's a huge time investment--but the barrier to entry is just as tight as the film industry, and the gatekeepers are a small clique of NY Ivy League white people.

[@zstopperuno]

@SullyFL - Yup.

[@artistjim114]

man, I love this channel!

[@filmcourage]

Thanks James! We just interviewed Houston again. Keep an eye out for new videos with him.

[@artistjim114]

@@filmcourage I am so honored by your response! As an artist who spent my entire adult life trying to break in--and not doing so, this channel, and your courage helps me continue my life's work. Thank you. :)

[@filmcourage]

@@artistjim114 Cheers James! Keep putting in the work and keep working on your craft and opportunities will open up. Our best to you.

[@CaptOsage]

There's more than one road leading to Rome. This is a great reminder of that fact.

[@MichaelSmith-jw8qw]

Hollywood sux--I wouldn't even bother to sell them a script, write your stuff, try to sell to small outfits or indep. filmmakers

[@DoctorCyan]

yeah and then starve

[@filmselparaiso6263]

Yes i agree...

[@Th_Uslss_Indvdl]

So Hollywood isn’t running out of ideas, they’re just choosing to be unoriginal.

[@daveindezmenez]

They are choosing what they think is "safe" because of the amount of money involved. Originality stands more of a chance when failure is not as catastrophic. More chances are taken on series on pay channels like HBO and such than tentpole feature films because the fall isn't as far and hard if you fail.

[@mikeski3856]

I strongly agree! I have multiple outlets myself

[@DrFaceHead]

This is all very true, except it misses the point. What is your end goal? To be the next lemming or cog in the machine that makes decisions based on 'pre-awareness' but not on quality? Do you want to make crap, or do you want to make quality work you are happy with? I don't understand how you could possibly be making good work if you're so concerned with how other people perceive you and how to sell them stuff like a guy with a trench coat full of cheap watches running around the street chasing anyone who will listen. Even in the end when this guy started talking about 'tapping into how your project is important' he just talks about it like a manipulative and disingenuous person who is trying to leech off of the emotions of others and insert self-importance by allying to any cause he can. Does this guy even realize that it's so transparent that he's pimping these causes and spitting pimp game? He's not even caring about the cause, just the endorsement to obtain audience. Man I'm sorry but that's not why people make art, so go start a brick and mortar business or something where you make American cheese slices or something if this is how you feel. I mean, kudos to you for spilling the beans, but it's a little ridiculous that all you clearly care about is eyeballs on any turd they'll look at.

[@ronaldmayle1823]

You're right. Besides, this guy has not written anything substantial. He talks as if writing a series of novels is routine, and spending valuable time chasing corporate greed is somehow art.

[@TonyM-yl4pg]

This is the best information on film courage....

[@tjslam26]

Re-upload? The comments are years old.

[@swaygfx]

really good insight!

[@dangreeney]

A preexisting IP-driven industry is not good for Art - never has been, never will be. I would love this guy to name one single "transmedia story" that was either, A. Quality Art right out of the box, and/or B. Hasn't been corrupted by decades of photocopying. The "Game of Thrones" shirt is unintentionally ironic. The only two I can even think of in Film - "Back To the Future" and "The Godfather" - are intact to this day because the creators not only stayed in charge, but have barely touched the IP (BTTF had a cartoon, comics, and a musical all written with Bob Gale's involvement, and "Godfather" had a couple estate-authorized sequels. Oh, and they both had a few video games. That's it.) I also don't have a problem with playing in an IP - I'm writing several stories right now in preexisting universes. But when an industry has no interest in new works, then it really has no interest in *good* works. This is the reason Studios not only don't care about good scripts, they actively don't *want* them. All this said, the comment about connecting your Theme to outside organizations is an interesting one - I just think it would be *very* difficult to do without being preachy, or having the Message drive the ship.

[@ronaldmayle1823]

Art is an enemy to organizations. How low have we stooped to let "outside organizations" control what is seen on the movie and TV screens?

[@Rexodiak]

"just do what everyone else is doing"

[@commercialand]

So my feature is based on areas of domestic abuse, mental illness but mostly substance abuse. Would organization dealing with substance abuse in my case LSD in my movie, would this be worth the pursuit for their endorsement ?

[@johnhendricks1998]

This is the entertainment industry in general.

[@Sean-lv6fx]

Excellent advice. 👍

[@funguy29]

100% on point.

[@user-jw4fn6fh2x]

Wow! Great advice.

[@jamesharris3109]

Pure gem 💎!

[@btsdancestudio5691]

wow thanks for this great info, usc education for free.

[@daveram57]

That is Exactly what I need to hear!!

[@KnightstarTalentMgmt]

Love this. Thanks for sharing!

[@BlahBlah3244]

This seems to only apply to action/horror/scifi etc. Not drama.

[@trevorprimenyc]

Very good work here.

[@Samsonmanase]

Always be more !!

[@sunlightpictures8367]

Great advice!

[@LLBotero]

Great talk!

[@Sophia-wv6yf]

This is everything people! Give us more!

[@filmcourage]

Here is our full interview with Houston - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJCVgH-fhryZmK8

[@TheSunshinefee]

there was no pre-awareness for the series 'the good wife' and yet it was a good tv series

[@grim_2000]

He didn't say that no pre-awareness is reflective of product's quality. He said that having pre-awareness makes it easier to sell your product or get it made into a different medium.

[@figgettit]

an 18 wheeler that floats. got it.

[@sydneystroud4397]

Which goes to the point that film industry should not be Hollywood-centric or have central brain trust in one locations.

[@YesYouAreAbsolutelyCorrect]

This man is really into boxes.

[@LightningStrikes66]

That soapbox concept done wrong... is what ruin starwars... and hopefully doesn’t become cliché when over done I would keep that in mind as well.

[@thereseember2800]

What is this gentleman’s name?

[@filmcourage]

Houston Howard

[@thereseember2800]

Film Courage: Thank you!

[@Kaleboomskits]

Amazing! My feature film is about finding peace during life’s hardest trials! It would make an incredible life Changing video game as well! When I began writing it I also saw a tv show. #MysticJuna is going to change the film and entertainment business and reach people throughout the world since it is a universal message needed for all people to find peace.

[@patriciafaithfull6360]

for new writers, this is a rabbit hole of wasted years

[@Matttchew5]

Sell a hamburger Upside Down and call it different.

[@alexanderordinary2110]

uhhhh .......and then call it burgerham.....?

[@Matttchew5]

@@alexanderordinary2110A Bamhurger. Why is there no ham on this burger?

[@libraryofthemind]

Sell 'Air-Burgers' and convince customers feeling hungry is feeling full. It's trans-hunger!

[@HonestArttsEntertainment]

Great interview

[@MrFullsailer]

THIS AT FULLSAIL?

[@filmcourage]

Los Angeles Film School

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

E.T. was a good script. it was a pass at first.. because people cant read and don't know anything. So bad scripts sell. Anybody see 'the last Jedi'.. audiences gave up.. after 'Rogue One'