Why 99% Of Screenwriters Fail - Corey Mandell

Corey Mandell is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter who has written projects for Ridley Scott, Wolfgang Petersen, Harrison Ford, John Travolta, Warner Brothers, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Family, Working Title, Paramount, Live Planet, Beacon Films, Touchstone, Trilogy, Radiant and Walt Disney Pictures.
Corey teaches screenwriting via private online classes using video conferencing to allow participants to see and hear each other in real time. His highly popular classes draw students from across the US, Europe and Australia.
His students have gone on to sell or option scripts to Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Disney, Fox, Fox 2000, MGM, Universal, USA Network and Lifetime. Others have gained admission to the USC Graduate Screenwriting Program, the AFI Conservatory Screenwriting Program and Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab.
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[@filmcourage]

Here is the other video Corey refers to: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e32sep2sitlrrbc

[@Doggieworld3Show]

Forget the stardom: cry, dedicate, fail, do it for life. People will see you. Make sure your passion is true.

[@imadivergentandantinormiep7877]

Do you know how many people with passion have failed? If you didn't study at a school with the people that today are part of the Industry, if you don't know anyone inside the Industry, if you don't have relatives inside the Industry, if you're not rich, wealthy like... probably you're going to fail. The thing is that you have to make a living, you have to put first other things that are really going to improve your life, it's not about passion? It's how long are you going to wait knowing that 99% fail

[@Doggieworld3Show]

Okay, no point is trying then@@imadivergentandantinormiep7877

[@harryspeakup8452]

I have no beef with anything Corey has to say about voice and originality and commitment and process. But there is an elephant in the room in terms of the original question asked at the start of the video. This is an industry which has the economic ability to support no more than 20,000 writers, tops, and that number is going down as production volumes fall from the 2022 peak. And there are at least a couple of million people making serious attempts to do it for a living. So the reason that 99% of then HAVE to fail is that there's only enough paid work to support one in a hundred of those who would like to do it.

[@mfoul2422]

Bingo. Talent is not hard to come by. Even a good process is not hard to come by. Opportunity and access are the two things that elude most screenwriters.

[@markothwriter]

I think there is a gap or chasm between the current screenplay format, and getting in with a good director, cinematographer, producer, actor. Everyone says that it all has to be on the page, but then they want to restrict what is on the page. I would rather get to know a director and work with her or him as a collaboration, rather than me throwing a finished screenplay over a chasm and hope that they get it. That's why I started writing for myself to direct or someone that I know. And why I got involved in local theater - to meet actors and directors.

[@RockWILK]

Exactly. The notion that Springsteen was more dedicated than most is a joke. Anybody who had the support of a record company who gave them the opportunity to do a third album after the first two "bombed" (ridiculous term) is some kind of opportunity from heaven. Most incredibly gifted artists never get a record deal, and none get a second opportunity if the first one fails. This is a common story in the entertainment business where people tell the tale of somebody who persevered and had the highest level of success overcoming unforeseeable obstacles, yet the common thread is that somehow they had high-level support during that difficult time, which 99.9% of the population never gets to have. This explanation is kind of tone deaf in this video. Disconnected from the reality of most people. The real dedicated artists are those who have never found that type of support but who continue to make art every day, continie to grow and evolve, and who are every bit as talented and dedicated and committed as those sitting at home with their Grammys or Academy Awards or Tony awards. But we are a celebrity culture, and so those people are looked at as losers. Which is despicable. And there are plenty of non talented and non-dedicated people with those awards, but that's a whole other story. ;)

[@womack900]

This writer also has 2 co-writing film credits, both for critically panned films. The last credit was 24 years ago. No TV credits to speak of from what I can see. So as far as screenwriting goes, I’m not sure why this guy is getting a platform. Anytime they interview someone like this you definitely have to take it with a grain of salt.

[@filmcourage]

@@womack900 We view teaching as a skill. It is a craft. We can’t tell you how many people we’ve interviewed who may have better credits than someone else but they can’t tell you how they did it. They can’t teach you anything. We’ve found that most people who criticize Corey’s credits have no idea how a screenwriting career works. They don’t understand that you can be a working Hollywood writer who has made 7 figures over the course of their career and have very little writing credits to show for it. It doesn’t make sense to people who don’t understand the business. We’ve interviewed other working filmmakers and writers who are on this channel and they have told us that Corey’s class is the best writing class they have taken. Corey has opened up about his journey in a previous interview of ours - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKiwlJpslKaIlck and many have found his honesty helpful and encouraging. In the end maybe you simply do not connect with Corey and his teachings. We understand. Not everything Corey says or teaches we agree with. We do our best to provide as many perspectives as we can from people at all different levels.

[@mikemcginnis9237]

I'm glad Corey got on his "soapbox," he nailed it. I learn so much from this guy. Thank you.

[@Darkwaterrebellion]

His answers "Copy others, sell out and let those who can hire you tell you what to do. That process can get you success."

[@ambrosewetherbee8301]

To sum up the matter of "improving your process", most writers need to be able to ward off the urge to remain in their comfort zones as well as the need to develop more discipline. Corey's examples of two writers he helped are useful and common issues writers seem to have. The first example of limiting yourself to one or few solutions for script/story problems instead of working on several at minimum is something many writers must learn. As Corey said, do you want the fastest solution or the best? The second example is another hurdle many writers must overcome. Being protective of your characters is easily something that restricts a writer from getting to the next level in writing because they will never be open to a plethora of creative directions that are only available once they are open to having characters go through true peril. Protecting characters unnecessarily omits a wide variety of scenarios for a writer. With the example of Springsteen's Born to Run album, it illustrates the importance of having another party involved at times to help with perspective and clarity of vision. Jon Landau didn't necessarily bring anything new to the table, rather, he helped Springsteen to "regain focus and direction with a fresh perspective". Writers can benefit similarly with assistance from a story editor.

[@thefutureapocalypse]

Corey Mandell is tha man. Always enlightening and elevating.

[@filmcourage]

Love this one! We still haven’t seen the Springsteen documentary. Hopefully sooner than later.

[@imadivergentandantinormiep7877]

The problem is that maybe you have a very genuine and unique talent, but then you meet these kind of gurus, those who control the doors and start to tell you about the "process" and about what "Hollywood" likes and it's exactly at that moment that they k1ll your creativity and talent, mainly if you don't have money

[@Terrificguyonline]

As a writer from northern Europe I often find Corey to be very LA, but this is something to apply in any art anywhere!

[@111Phoenix777]

Incredibly good, practical, useful advice. Thank you!

[@filmcourage]

Great to see this one connect!

[@ladyredconstance]

I wish all the new writers well and I hope they make it.

[@HaleyMary]

This was a really uplifting video. So true that process is how you create product. It can take many drafts sometimes to even create one song. I sometimes get really perfectionist about a song and will do seven drafts before I'm satisfied with the lyrics. Often, I'll write several verses and decide after writing everything out what lyrics will be part of the chorus and what will be the verses.

[@debrapeebles1]

I agree… mostly. I had a good script which at first needed tweaks. I had to be open to make those tweaks. I think you have to be open to change your baby, and see it just might get better. After changing the script, it did very well in film festivals all over the world. No one has chased after my work, but I do feel successful whether or not a producer ever wants to pick me up. I continue to tell stories, and look for mentors to tell how I can improve.

[@registered_dodo1743]

Thank you film courage

[@wexwuthor1776]

Greetings from Asbury Park was ahead of its time.

[@tangobayus]

There is essentially no market for scripts from people who are outside the Hollywood system. Write a book that would be easy to convert into a movie.

[@roathripper]

it's who ya know. everything boils down to that thing right there.

[@federicodallas]

It's hard outside Hollywood but not impossible. I think that writing a book is a really good idea when it's a high budget movie.

[@DAMON409]

In writing concept is king. You then shape it, but you cannot begin without the concept.

[@thumper8684]

If 99% of writers fail, it is because there are 100 applicants to every job. If there were only 20 applicants the percentage would be 95. If it was only two applicants I could not give you the odds because it would be down to talent, dedication and vibes. Bruce Springstien is very talented, but he got lucky by getting his foot in the door early in his career.

[@lukeskywalkerlucasfilm]

Awesome!

[@BusterDarcy]

If you’re an aspiring screenwriter and the algorithm landed you here, you have no idea how fortunate you are.

[@indraniray4752]

This was a fab conversation. Thank you.

[@filmcourage]

We appreciate you watching!

[@indraniray4752]

@@filmcourage 🙂

[@AdonisMediaProductions]

Love this guys insights. I guess as a novice writer I have nor particular process apart from writing what comes to my head throughout the day. I guess really as someone writing comedy : if I'm not laughing it;s not worth putting down to paper.and I suppsoe that is my general ethos.

[@Ruylopez778]

Corey absolutely nailed it that the media, government and corporations are focused on polarising and distracting us. We've become intolerant to the point we want things we don't agree with to just disappear, and the notion that belonging to one group, or buying something, will solve everything. As spirituality and true community have been eroded, anxiety, depression and isolation are growing.

[@markothwriter]

I have heard a different story on Springstein. I read a very long article about him one time, and what the article said was the Springstein was told to "dumb it down" and simplify the melodies.

[@kermitfrog593]

Dumb it down and simplify is great advice for life in general.

[@justsomeitweeb]

Knowing people to help correct your process is definitely what I would consider "luck." Fully writing off luck is an act of sheer ignorance.

[@imadivergentandantinormiep7877]

Imagine that you give to any of these gurus a screenplay by Michael Haneke or Lars Von Trier, telling them that you are the writer of "Braking the waves" or "Cache". They are going to reject you. They're going to tell you that the first page was too slow and They didn't feel hooked blah, blah. Those guys like Von Trier and Haneke didn't fail because they make their own movies, they have control over their own projects and aren't jailed by the mediocre standards of Hollywood with its "3 acts", its "The public don't want to watch real life, they want to see something bigger than life (Fast and Furious) lol" and all that crap

[@wexwuthor1776]

Listen to Film Courage. Does Film Courage ever think about live seminars or panels?

[@GHFrankie]

If all the writers that are currently working in Hollywood have been chosen cause of that "process," then it might be about time for Hollywood to come up with an entirely new metric, cause the quality of writing had tanked in the last decade.

[@ryanhowell4492]

Cool

[@user-in5cu2rg3f]

It was Clive Davis , He told him he didn't have a single out of all his songs.

[@CyraNoavek]

A lot can be hidden here by the words talent, process and dedication. Talent is entirely in the eye of the beholder. All the predjudice, cultural blindness and crass commerialism of a given studio executive come into play. Is having a parent who is well connected talent?

[@Igor_ogi]

I love this guy. Second video I see with him and again, his words are rocking my world.

[@MiguelExhale]

What was the process of the first season of “Snowfall”?

[@Ruylopez778]

Corey always advocates vulnerability and experimentation and focus on weaknesses so inevitably some people are skeptical. His ideas are straightforward, but that doesn't make it 'easy' to commit to or be consistent. It's much more challenging to embrace it than just make excuses. The reward is the process of creation. Whining about how few opportunities there are or how bad modern movies are is missing the point.

[@LivingCreekChristianChurch]

Love this guy! What an incredible teacher.

[@gijane2cantwaittoseeyou203]

Multiple failures allow you to develop good process

[@MeccaWillowAli-cg7qv]

Okay Epcheer, I'll write .

[@ballybunion9]

Only you can find your own process but Jon Landau found Bruce Springsteen's process. 🤔

[@meplays5269]

Helping someone to find out more about themselves or handing them the solution on a silver platter is quite different and you dont know what of both happened back then. Most people just need the idea and a little push, then will work it out for themselves.

[@vinloc3854]

I love this but I'm confused. By process does he mean craft?

[@chinthanav5506]

Yes...The process of writing

[@imadivergentandantinormiep7877]

The thing that for these people "successful writers" are Dan Brown and Paulo Cohelo

[@gianttwinkie]

99% fail because there is only room for 1%. Everything else is a Great Pumpkin.

[@cryptohalloffame]

the process? know thyself.

[@jonathangriffin8060]

The great Stephen King had his first novel "Carrie" was rejected 19 times. He kept saying that he persevered and believed in the story and it was published and it sold millions of copies. He didn't give up and persevered and now, he is one of the most prolific novelists ever.

[@j.walker6845]

Chekhov wrote the most important thing for an artist is not money or fame, it is endurance.

[@MeccaWillowAli-cg7qv]

Okay Epcheer. , I'm ready to officially become .

[@filmcourage]

How do you rate your own writing process on a scale of 1 to 10?

[@111Phoenix777]

Honestly, my process is about a 2 or 3. Needs lots of improvement.

[@thefutureapocalypse]

7. List of Process from some of my favorites are Paul Schrader, Harlan Ellison, Dan O'Bannon, Dov S-S Simens, H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King.

[@Ruylopez778]

74% percent of the time it works every time.

[@DAMON409]

So many crappy screenplays get made. Most of the time it is a matter of someone kmowing someone. Producers get screenplays from managers, so clearly you need representation. You get that by having a body of work, no different from an actor or a painter. Focus on writing solid stuff. Promote as you write each one, but the work is your path to getting your stuff produced.

[@imadivergentandantinormiep7877]

99% of writes fail because it's very difficult to find someone who likes your script. Novels aren't as difficult as scripts to get accepted, but scripts, for sure, most people like their own scripts, but find boring the scripts of others. I read "Nightcrawler" script few years ago and I found it very boring, though in the big screen it's a great movie

[@kermitfrog593]

My two cents... Whatever you write is gonna suck. Just get the music out of you. If anything, you'll sleep properly. I'm all for mentorship and an outside opinion, but if you write something you don't like, you won't be satisfied. That itch will remain unscratched. You're an artist; you have something to say; say it. Then onto the next. You have the rest of your life to get better at saying whatever it is you want to say.

[@millie9814]

🩷

[@ShingInAction]

I don't like Bruce Springsteen

[@markothwriter]

Yeah, i can't stand him. Horrible musician and he was in the music industry back when they gave musicians time in the studio.

[@DAMON409]

Right. So it means your writing doesn't have to appeal to everyone to be good.

[@mikejeannotte6642]

Nobody does. This guys a phony.

[@itadaku23]

Good anecdotes, real hollywood experience. A lot to like. But the ad-nauseam repetition of the word "process" is underwhelming to say the least. At count 40, around half way through the video it occurred to me not once was this seemingly magical "process:" elaborated upon. Pity.

[@ogelsmogel]

Imagine if life was this easy. Learn your skills, work hard and find your ultimate process. Success awaits you, good LUCK! Oh wait...

[@Ruylopez778]

It is "this easy". But actually sticking to it and not giving in is why it's hard. And "success" can mean different things to different people. But it's foolish to worry about how your work will be judged by others, or pin the importance of it on how it is received.

[@freddie5ive]

this guy thinks born to run would be a hit if it dropped today? lol no sir

[@that1guy335]

Love Corey. Absolutely love him. Springsteen? Probably one of the most overrated pop stars in history.

[@DAMON409]

The springsteen analogy isnt good. In music you go out play it. In screenwriting you cant just go out and present your writing to anyone.

[@Lark572]

Wow, is this guy smart.