Nifty Robot Filmmaking and Screenwriting Podcast

Make a Commitment to Screenwriting as a Craft

// April 28th, 2009 // filmmaking, screenwriting

I’ve recently been thinking about what it means to commit yourself to the craft of filmmaking and screenwriting. Screenwriting and filmmaking are like any other learned skill, it takes time and practice to produce quality work. This fact alone is why so many young filmmakers and screenwriters never make the transition to professional.

They are in such a hurry to finish their first screenplay, win a screenwriting competition, get an agent, sell their script, and make their film they never stop to think if their screenplay is any good. Let’s be honest, it probably sucks! It probably sucks really bad!

Is it because they are a terrible writer? Yes.

Is it because the screenplay lacks depth, creativity, and interesting characters? Yes.

Does this mean there is no chance in hell they could ever make it as a professional screenwriter or filmmaker? Not in the slightest.

Like any other job, you are NOT a superstar on day one. I relate it to that feeling you have the first week at a brand new job. No matter what qualifications and skills you bring with you that first week you still feel like an idiot and completely out of your element. It takes time to get the feel for something new, it takes time to learn some new shit!

Screenwriting and filmmaking aren’t any different. To become a truly efficient story teller it takes practice, usually lots of it. I’m no different from anyone else in regards to this topic. I want to have my breakthrough moment now! Right now damn it! But what I want even more than that is to be great at what I do. I know my skills as a writer and filmmaker are not at the level they need to be yet. I know if I tried “going for it” it would probably end with mass rejection and disappointment. Common sense tells me to just relax, don’t be so eager, and just learn how to write.

With this in mind this is exactly what I’m doing. I set goals for myself that I think will allow me to hone my skills as a screenwriter and filmmaker. Pushing myself to reach these self improvement goals will give me the confidence I need when it is finally time to go after the dream.

In my next post I’ll go through each of the goal oriented tasks I’ve set for myself to improve my confidence and skill as a filmmaker and screenwriter.