Sylvester Stallone quotes that are powerful

Sylvester Stallone was interviewed by People for his Rocky Balboa movie in 2006. This sixth Rocky movie challenged Stallone, as the writer he created major obstacles to challenge Rocky to reach deep inside his heart to continue on. Under distress, this historical character had a greater purpose to get back into the ring again.

As the screenwriter, director and main character, Stallone has always had a huge hand in Rocky's journey. One major event took place in this movie to change this protagonist's direction.

Watch this Rocky Balboa movie and see what event inspires Rocky to box.

Sylvester Stallone answered several questions on screenwriting. Two quotes, one about writing and another reflecting on the passing of the torch, sums up screenwriting and Hollywood.

The following two quotes from Sylvester Stallone's 2006 People interview are available below:

 "I can never understand those people who spend two years trying to get the perfect script one time out. That's not writing, that's waiting."
"You reach that crossroads and society basically has deemed you passé. You've had your chance; now they expect you to just move aside for the next generation. "

Many Hollywood stars face the "passing of time" obstacle. When is a good time to quit? How can perfection affect writing? In the screenwriting world, writers age to perfection. However, movie actors and actresses who age encounter an uphill battle to stay relevant.

Staying on top and falling to the bottom have an adverse impact on Hollywood performers. In order to be relevant, movie stars must sacrifice their private lives and accept constant criticism at the expense of their mental health. When reaching the bottom, the perils of surviving the industry continue to wane until movie roles evaporate like a dry well.

Screenwriters must keep reinventing their writing. They can't rely on time to be kind. A screenwriter may write a hit in 2014 and lose their luster in 2018. It can happen that fast.

Focus on mastering several genres, even the smallest of genres. Consider writing a few original scripts, so when Hollywood requests original ideas, you will be ready to engage.

Keep writing and be passionate.

Source: People
  

Screenwriting dreams locked away by life

Believe it or not, your unaccomplished screenwriting dreams are locked away in a vault, in an undisclosed location waiting to break free. What do you do to find this vault, and then unlock it? It is no simple task to become a screenwriter. But, however, passionate writers are up for this competition. They know what needs to be done in order to deliver their screenwriting dreams to Hollywood. With that idea in play, we can focus on our screenwriting dreams that are locked away by life.

Ever wonder why so many aspiring screenwriters fail to option screenplays that are made into movies shown on the silver screen. It is hard to option a screenplay. The right ingredients must be mixed together to whip up a decent movie. When we say decent, we mean that not all movies are good. Bad movies get optioned, get made, and get produced into real movies. 

Any movie that enters the box office is a success. It doesn't matter if these movies are good or bad. Thousands of screenplays reach Hollywood each year, but only a small fraction of those are optioned. Statistically, a smaller fraction of those are actually made into movies. How do we write what we know and make this interesting to option? 

Look at all the things you've done in life. Jobs you've taken. People you know. Stupid obstacles that make you laugh. Stories told to you. What you see on the street. Listen to at work. What is reported in the news. These premise ideas are there for you to seize, to capture, to make into movies. No more waiting for the perfect screenplay, to make this script right.

Lets look at the startup industry. Why do tech companies continue to search for software engineers? You'd think these startups are represented by top talents in their field. Well, they are stocked up. It never hurts to advertise and find another talented individual to join the team. 

Screenwriting works this way. Hollywood knows there are hundreds of unsolicited scripts stored in computers. These movies can easily make Hollywood millions of dollars in the box office. The problem here is locating these commercial screenplays that have the right ingredients. Diamonds in the rough are hard to come by, so for reason alone the major players are searching long and hard. 

We know your life can be interesting, though not the simple moments where you share a beer and talking about sports. We're talking about those stupid moments where you look up to the sky and yell. These are funny events, funny obstacles that make us life.

We live those real moments. We dislike the odds that are stacked up against us. We complain about our lives. When we watch these scenes at the movies, we can relate to them. We identify with these characters. We empathize with tear-jerking moments. Humanizing characters and telling a creative story are tricks to complete a quality screenplay.

It really sucks that these dumb obstacles put in every road are what hold us back from reaching Hollywood. This material sells. People enjoy watching these events play out on the silver screen. Add an unexpected twist at the end and now you have a dynamic piece of work. Start from the ending and move the story between this beginning to that big end. Interconnect these events with an ensemble cast that have a deep connection and this shows Hollywood you are a great screenwriter. 

You see, you can do it, too. Instead of investing all your time into writing that perfect screenplay, you can search for that screenwriting safe and unlock those ideas, events, experiences, jobs, family reunion disasters, and everything else known as life. Life may hold you back, but it will give you an edge. The scariest of moments, the funnest experiences, and the tough hardships you face, are what makes screenwriting worthwhile. If these scripts are written right, using the best techniques, these screenplays will sell. Screenwriters must write often, write religiously, and write with a mission to option their scripts.  

Think about these scenarios. A coder writes decent codes to make a mediocre website that lacks a theme. However, highly skilled coders write brilliant codes to create a dynamic app like Instagram. A team of coders write basic codes to keep a simple social networking website like Facebook operable. It is because Facebook gives people that 15 minutes of fame every day, that is what keeps this social networking company running. Facebook is the heart, whereas all its companies are outlets to expand their service base. Scroll down the board to see all those people happily sharing their lives.  

People want to tell their life stories. They want attention. They believe their life makes a good book. If this story is told wrong, then it lacks interest. The screenwriters who understand basic script formatting, basic storytelling, and know which events to include, will sell their screenplays in Hollywood. Don't listen to negative people. Locate that safe filled with unique, original ideas, and unlock these scenes, these moments called life. If you can do this, you will win in Hollywood. 

Write for television

Screenwriting is a challenging dream to pursue. It is highly likely that most screenwriters will never master the art of writing for film. However, don't let this moral deflater we hear from most Hollywood insiders discourage you from chasing after this screenwriting dream. We just want you to know there are potential risks involved, so plan this dream accordingly.

In a PsychCentral.com article, an author shares the most common genres where novice writers fail to advance their screenwriting goals. Of these two genres, most writers overlook storytelling in favor of being overly creative. The mistake here is investing all this energy into writing that perfect script. We can't be perfect writers. Even the most prolific screenwriters have failed at writing. They don't quit. They pick up the broken pieces and rebuild. Criticism and constructive criticism are two opposing forces. Learn to deal with both.

There is no right or wrong way to break into Hollywood screenwriting. This dream to succeed at all cost may block writers from achieving the greatness they desire most. They want to get noticed really bad. For the most part, these writers refuse to make adjustments.

In the end, these screenwriters may write a terrible movie ending like The Devil Inside - the worst exorcism movie ever made. It violates the traditional exorcism structure. Watch the movie and see for yourself, how miserable this movie really is. We feel sorry for the unidentified demons who never got to reveal their names. It really sucks to not get noticed!

Use the co-screenwriters of this exorcism movie as an example that perfection is unnecessary. Write a bad, bad, bad movie about unidentified demons convincing a fictitious woman to murder fake church staffers and trick people into believing this is the scariest movie since The Exorcist, and you may have a real winner. It can make you into an instant millionaire, especially if you choose profit participation rather than accept a low 6-figure option.

Writing a terrible script on a sub-genre that has a built-in market can open the right doors. Go small now, then go big later. We're sure of it, that writing a less than perfect script can get your foot into the door. If not, squeeze through the window and make your case known; that you have what it takes to write movies.

Screenwriters have big dreams. It just so happens that only a few of these screenwriters reach them. Bad movies won't hurt your screenwriting career. Just look at Showgirls. Watch Speed 2: Cruise Control. Look at all the scripts that M. Night Shyamalan butchered after his breakthrough movies, The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. Nothing is happening in The Happening, except a disaster premise and poor writing.

You have time to develop into an award-winning screenwriter the next time around. You need money to keep this dream afloat. It is that first bad script that will make this happen. As time goes on, you meet important and established people. Soon enough, your screenwriting will evolve. Ask Leigh Whannell and James Wan. Look at the brilliant award-winning screenwriter, Simon Beaufoy, and his Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours screenplays.

How can we reach this screenwriting dream without wasting valuable time? According to this author, he believes that television writing is an avenue worth walking down. In television writing, these writers can make a good living and develop scriptwriting skills in the process. It is possible that this paid television writing work may guide them into screenwriting.

Do you want to become a paid Hollywood writer? Or do you want to become a starving screenwriter? Pick your poison. Write for television and invest your off-time into writing a good spec script. Now that's a good plan to reach your screenwriting dream.

Check out the PsychCentral.com article here.

What job will make writers money while pursuing a screenwriting career?

A recent article on PsychCentral.com discussed what jobs writers could perform while chasing after their screenwriting dream. This is an important question to ask oneself, because becoming a Hollywood screenwriter is no guarantee. It is tough out there, trying to get noticed, but what really can put the writing flame out is trying to weather the financial storm. What jobs are reliable to survive until the writing dream is realized?

Quite a few aspiring screenwriters are performing primary day jobs. In the night, they may work as restaurant servers, bartenders, drivers, and even take on irrelevant writing projects. It's not impossible to become a great screenwriter, all it takes is one good spec script to reach the right person.

Our personal struggles make great stories. In these daily challenges, we figure out how to shape characters and learn how life really works. Though many movies are unrealistic, there is some truth to them. While performing these day and night jobs, pay close attention your surroundings. These moments, these events provide good material to inject into screenplays.

Every screenwriter has a personal journey. Their hope and dreams rely on survival instincts. With that said, writers must depend on their day jobs and typically a second job to keep the cash flowing in until their screenwriting dream hatches and give birth.

The following are examples of jobs that screenwriters can perform to keep afloat, while in their pursuit of chasing that screenwriting dream:

• Ridesharing jobs
• Bartending
• Restaurant serving
• Academic writing
• SEO writing
• Web developing
• Valet parking
• Hotel night auditor 
• Car salesperson 
• Computer sales

Check out this PsychCentral article and report back here. Share a current job that is keeping your screenwriting dream alive.

Every page is money in the Bank

I connected with another screenwriter, who is on the verge of optioning his series to a cable network. Because this writer was under an NDA, he couldn't share the name of the project and this cable network involved in the potential deal. That's cool, I understand that he must abide by the legal terms set aside in this contract. This cool writer shared a really awesome moddo to follow.

Several times during this conservation, this writer reiterated that we all must keep finishing pages because every page is money in the bank. I really like this phrase. The mindset of this writer explores how he attaches value to his writing, especially since many writers focus too much on developing multiple ideas rather than complete movie scripts in their entirety. 

It is all about finishing writing projects, instead of devoting endless days and nights discussing screenwriting and television writing on forums and never working toward a finished script. One completed spec script holds more value than several working scripts stuck in the First Act. 

It is true. Every completed page is money in the bank. Whereas ideas are a dime a dozen, completed screenplays have a shot at potentially selling if the execution of this writing and the storyline capture the essence of their intended purpose - whether the concept is highly commercial and/or this original spec script is salable under a popular genre. This screenplay may represent an artistic montage of the screenwriter's brainchild, their creative expression that is ready to divulge top secret ideas into an all-out silver screen mission to capture moviegoers.  

Write script pages to build value into an overall movie project. Writing outweighs talking. Talkers are not walkers. Writers are movers. They move every scene forward, closer to a completion. 

Indeed, every completed page is money in the bank. When the final page of this script is completed, now the writer has something to discuss with the right people. They can revise this script, as well. 

Keep writing. Focus on the main goal. Finish the script. Then, option this script to put money in the bank. 

Original Scripts are going to make a return

Original Scripts

Original scripts reached their height in the 80's. However, originality has taken a backseat to comic book movies. Batman, The Avengers, Spiderman, Hulk, Iron Man, Superman, X-Men, and other superhero movies are generating billions of dollars in the worldwide box office. Artistic expression, as we see in Interstellar, is impossible without the credentials to back up such a large budget.

In Hollywood, writers must pay their dues to get a movie made. Writing a movie that appeals to a mass audience will win future projects. Would a great writer sacrifice creativity for longevity? Breaking into Hollywood requires a screenwriter to sell a spec script, write uncredited scenes, and/or hold writing experience in the television space.

There are several other strategies to get into Hollywood, such as winning screenwriting contests, film festivals, writing fellowships, writing programs, industry connections, and old-fashioned luck.

Why are comic book movies dominating the movie box office? One screenwriter, who is on the verge of selling his show, shared that comic book movies already have a built-in audience. It doesn't take much endless marketing to convince fans to watch these types of movies. Young children and adolescents, even adults, enjoy watching comic book movies.

Nonetheless, Hollywood is not ready to accept original movies quite yet. Soon enough, there will be a renaissance, a new movement, a resurgence where demand for original movies will outweigh remakes, reboots, comic books, books, sequels, and other movie types. For the most part, original movies take more effort to build a new market.

It seems movie studios are reluctant to gamble on new screenwriters and original screenplays. Past original movies nearly bankrupted studios, also resulting in executives getting pink slips for these lackluster duds.

Get ready for renewed demand in original scripts. In a few short years, Hollywood may be calling out for your original screenplays. Your hard work and dedication will pay off soon enough. Stay patient and never lose sight of the screenwriting dream. Originality is on the verge of making a comeback.

Keep writing original movies. 

Ask people for story advice

Random strangers are a great source for script content. Ask these people to give you advice on character development and story analysis. The best screenplays come from real life events. It is resourceful to tap into original ideas, given these people live real life.

Tap into real people, real advice. The best writing is believable. Infuse screenplays with real stories. Original concepts are probably impossible to create, but writing an original script of another way to tell this story is something that Hollywood desires.

Talk to strangers often. Share your problems with writing a movie. Maybe these people can give you a tip or two to move this story past the roadblock. Writer's block is brutal. However, writes can use this block to their advantage to ask questions and find real answers, real solutions.

Go ahead and ask away!

Check out ScriptMag article by Chad Gervich

Read ScriptMag article on PrimeTime: The Truth about Protecting Your Work by Chad Gervich. This screenwriter/writer is solid. He writes in a tone that keep you glued to the next point he wants you to remember.

Chad mentions that screenwriters who attach a serial number and/or copyright on their scripts are amateurs. It makes the screenwriter appear as a rookie. He says never do it! 

Good writers are confident. They don't worry if ideas are stolen or taken. However, protecting a script in its executed form is wise as a timeline to show you own this screenplay, this story.  

Definitely check out this article to answer question on script protection. It is a great read! 

http://www.scriptmag.com/features/primetime-the-truth-about-protecting-your-work

Start scenes with a problem and develop a resolution

The best writing techniques are switching traditional scenes up to start with down moments. We start with a major problem, but through intervention we resolve it. Think of your screenwriting as a counseling session, a form of therapy to rehabilitate this character.

In the beginning of a scene, a character shares a problem that causes a disaster. The character receiving this bad news will start a fight. We see this in cheating movies. We see this in the American Dream movies such as Pursuit of Happyness (ultimate struggle), Rocky(sports dream), American Beauty (good example of losing the dream), and Forrest Gump (dream through the ages). Life is hard, but if you stay persistent you will achieve the American dream.  

Write this way. Open scenes with conflict. Use reversals to solve problems. Open with a problem and leave with a solution. Make this scene a call to action. Try to change this character, detour them from their routine. But aside from their need to change, the character refuses to listen because they want to achieve the dream and nobody understands their fire and desire. 

This writing trick is psychology. People will understand these scenes, that is because they live their life this way, everyday. Millions of students are moving back home. Jobs are not hiring. Their degrees are temporarily rendered worthless. Until these characters can sustain theirs struggles and learn from them, they won't take the required steps to sought after change. They believe the world is looking down at them, criticizing their challenges and hardship. Whereas, these people should be looking up to reach the stars. God is giving them signs to make adjustments. 

Start scenes with conflict. Make this conflict unbearable to write. Live in the scenes. Become a fixture in your stories. Write with a purpose. Make problems so severe you stave off intervention. Writing is special because you create the real world through make-believe encounters. Life follows this paradigm. People digest these scenes, these stories. 

The next time you write a scene, think about opening with a major problem. Make the characters react in what you think is believable. Your audience will catch on and enjoy these real moments. Happy writing! 

Be Selfish with Your Time

Screenwriters must value their time to write great scripts. Time is of the essence. Don't allow any person to influence your time and block you from accomplishing success as a screenwriter.

Screenwriting is not an easy craft to master. It's not because a writer is not talented enough, is because you must protect yourself from family, friends, co-workers and strangers that use negativity as empowerment to disrupt you. They believe success is based on immediate results, so writing is viewed as a struggling art that lacks substance and profitability. Their first impression of you is that you're dreaming and can't compete against what they believe are highly talented professionals.

Little do these people know that your writing can earn you a good living. People are quick to judge. If you don't drive a fancy car and own a home, you are considered a failure.

Education doesn't matter to these people. Some people have said that college degrees make good toilet paper. It is the mere fact that if you're not earning money and hold a quality education, then this is frowned upon. People form an image of you as being unreliable to search for realistic jobs. They see you as dreamer who doesn't want to wake up to reality.

What if you have already developed a writing portfolio? You've probably written quality projects. While these writing samples are out there, making a name for oneself can actually be compromised. Writers must survive, which is the reason they take money rather than credit. In result, the writer is prevented from showcasing all their past writing work and this may impact their job hunt.

Family, friends, co-workers and strangers can become antagonists that make you feel insecure about your screenwriting goals. These people may represent conflict, obstacles and challenges which resemble structured scenes in screenplays.

Be selfish with your time and don't give your time away so easily. Never let this negativity, this jealousy block your success. Your dream is about your happiness. Think of all the people in the world that can benefit from your stories. Thus, your dream makes many people smile. It makes them ambiguous. It inspires and motivates them to dream like you and everyone else.

You wasting time trying to please others may hurt your chances. It really depends on the attitudes that surround you. If people look down at you, then you are fighting an impossible battle. Screenwriters need to survive in the moment until their scripts are optioned and/or if another writing project arrives that keeps the income streaming in.

For most screenwriters, consistency is never a dependable theme. It's sad to say that money and lack of support kill screenwriting dreams. Those screenwriters who can overcome these major challenges will reach the top. It is true that the odds are against you. They really are. Not for the reason you think with lacking talent, instead this setback is lacking support.

Protect your dream. Utilize time management to treat your screenwriting dream like a job. If you're not a working screenwriter, your screenwriting is primarily your future job and career. Schedule time to write. Don't let people deter you because they will instill fear and doubt in your mind. If you allow this to happen, you don't really want to become a successful screenwriter.

Be selfish with your time. Treat your screenwriting like a job. People don't usually bother others that go to work. They may bother you because they think you're just a writer and nothing is happening in your life. Don't believe this. Everything is happening.

Tell them you have to work. You have projects to complete. In time, your dream of becoming a screenwriter will gain traction and people will watch your work unfold. Just believe in yourself and never falter on fears. Screenwriting is your journey to teach people about real life, real struggles and real dreams.

We are capable of reaching dreams. Our passion and desire rely on time. We have a certain amount of time allotted to this dream before we must move on. Just like movies, we can keep the audience in the movie theater forever. Your time matters most, so don't waste it on people who want to sabotage your dreams, your success, your happiness.

***A good movie to watch about a real-life character experiencing unfortunate events and reaching a dream is The Pursuit of Happyness. Perseverance and persistence are the foundation to prosperity.   

Know your characters

Great screenwriting is building realistic characters that walk and talk like real life people. Your experience as a human is valuable to write characters that people can relate to and understand. Infusing scripts with these unique characters make watching movies refreshing and memorable. 

How can beginning screenwriters construct these genuine characters? Survey people in a library, at school and at public places. Take notes on nonverbal communication, movement, and gestures. This is a popular sociology tool to learn social interaction. Next, concentrate on writing visual scenes and withhold any dialogue to gain insight on good visual acuity. Lastly, practice writing only dialogue. 

Use the notes taken from surveying people and fill in the details with imaginative dialogue, storytelling, and movements. Nonetheless, continue writing movie scripts based on imaginary situations connected to your real life. What is unique to you that is most interesting? 

Happy screenwriting! 

Who do you know?

Ready to embark on your screenwriting dream? Dream of writing movies in Hollywood? The main challenge is who you do know. It really is. Who you know can determine who reads your screenplay. The right eyes must be fixated on your great screenwriting to get you noticed, get you optioned, get your name in front of film executives. Want to write and submit the next script to make you famous?

Who do you know in Hollywood? Is there one person that can pass your screenplay to an important person? Know any person working as a script reader? A film student classmate who is currently working in Hollywood? A script supervisor? Anyone? Who do you know?

If you don't know anyone in Hollywood, you need to get out there and meet people. Good screenwriting won't find you success without creating some type of exposure. Write for new media to generate buzz. Write for students who can shoot a short film.  Better yet, go to celebrity hotspots.

Screenwriting instructors will tell you to write a creative script. They show you the tricks of the trade to equip you on your journey into stardom. The truth is that screenwriters are not household names. They really aren't the typical people we discuss while having breakfast or speaking about who we want to meet.

I, for one, would like to meet a UCSB alumni, the UC I graduated from in 2007. This UCSB alumni, Jeff Nathanson, is a highly established Hollwood screenwriter that Steven Spielberg has worked with on a few projects. He is also the credited screenwriter behind the Rush Hour movies. This guy knows how to write commercial movies. His movies have done well in the movie box office. We can argue that a few of his past movies are duds, but who hasn't made a box office flop?

Box office flops are movies that underperformed; they didn't catch on commercially and actually took a production upside down to lose big money. It is possible that major box office flops may result in terminations, where top executives and entire departments get the ax. Film studios can't afford to keep making movies that lose money, so someone of importance must provide answers to explain this poor showing.

Who do you know in Hollywood? Is your neighbor a Hollywood director? Hollywood executive? Script reader? There has to be someone you know in the movie biz? If you don't live in Hollywood, or anywhere in the 30 mile zone, you better get moving soon. There is a low probability a screenwriter will make it big without taking the dive into Los Angeles. LA is where movies are at. This is where new screenwriters must live in order to establish their writing careers.

Ask yourself today, right now, right at this moment, "Who do I know in Hollywood?" If you know no one, you get you find a way to answer this question in the next month with, "I know this person who works at _____?" Get out there and meet people. Screenwriters and TV writers don't always sit in dark caves and write a storm of words. They know how to connect with the right people. These are the important people listen to in the industry. They have a track record for success.

Make your tracks count. Make your mark today. Make it happen at this very second. Screenwriting is your dream. It is not hard to write movies. Believe in your dream. Don't listen to no person. Criticism comes at a price; people empower their jealousy through making you feel insecure. You lived your stories. Just plot and organize them to create dramatic movies, scary movies, funny movies, intense movies, amazing movies, award winning movies and memorable movies. You control the future.

Who do you know? Who do you need to know? Who do you want to know? Who do you want to become?  Make your screenwriting dream happen today. No waiting, period. The longer you wait, the less opportunities there are available to you. Don't keep telling people you are a screenwriter. Instead, let your writing do the talking in those brilliant, amazing screenplays you have stored in your computer. What are your Hollywood connections? Who do you know?

Good luck. Make screenwriting prosperous.

Why Screenwriters must write original work

We located an article that details another writer's influence on a screenwriter, the creator behind True Crime. However, the dialogue written for a major character in this show is mentioned as borderline plagiarism and/or borrowing of ideas.

In the literary world, recycling ideas and phrases without properly crediting the original author may create unwanted attention. It's not about citations and sourcing ideas and phrases, the theme of this discussion pertains to whether a writer is taking credit for this work: making money and seeking fame from producing it.

As a screenwriter, pay special attention to how you write visuals and dialogue. Nothing in life is original, unless we do something that never has been done before and say it's original (pun intended).

Read the article below and make an honest assessment whether this is plagiarism or not:

http://defamer.gawker.com/true-detective-creator-accused-of-plagiarism-1616949034


Also check out Shia LaBeouf in his plagiarism case:

http://www.avclub.com/article/shia-labeoufs-plagiarism-finally-receives-legal-ac-106808 

Great quotes from Gary Sinise on movies

Screenwriters know that they must strike at all times. There is no letting up on the screenwriting race. If you're not the front of the pack, you must be positioned to see the leaders.

Watching the race on the sidelines will evaporate your dream. Needless to say, if you're not writing something, you're not a writer at all.

You must write, and write good. Making your deadlines is great, but submitting mediocre writing doesn't get you noticed as fast.

The movie industry, as a whole, is intertwined. I respect great quotes that are beyond the movies. They are genuine comments or statements about the real movie industry.

A great actor in Forrest Gump, Gary Sinise, starred in this timeless movie. Forrest Gump and Speed are the reason I pursued the Hollywood dream; they represent the catalyst of my movie dreams. I noticed a few quotes Gary Sinise shared about acting, which the theme of them can be directed toward screenwriters.

The following Gary Sinise quotes:

"Sometimes you're in great demand. Then suddenly your career hits the brakes."

"Careers, like rockets, don't always take off on time. The trick is to always keep the engine running." (I like this quote the most)

"There's always the ongoing actor frustration of finding the great role to do the next. I don't go to work a lot. I wait as long as I can until the money runs out or a great part comes long."

There you have it! Gary Sinise quotes demonstrate that we must active as screenwriters. Don't just keep writing your script for many years. Despite constant struggles to balance your personal and financial life, make a smart decision to submit this screenplay in screenwriting contests, to studios, and to agents. Nobody wants to hear a writer complain about their misfortunes. Success attracts attention.

People want to hear what the next successful person is doing. They pay to hear a successful investor speak. These people read articles on how to become successful in a particular field. Many screenwriters have purchased screenwriting books on ways to break into Hollywood. What people and books don't tell you is how to balance personal struggles and a screenwriting career.

If you're not the best screenwriter, figure out to how reach that high level. Why can't you make it? No more excuses, just go out there and submit your work. There are too many discussions on what should I do with my script? How should this scene play out? I'm telling you right now that time will pass you by so fast that you will find frustration in every second. Don't allow this to happen.

Gary Sinise is telling you that Hollywood life is tough. There are many talented people out there. Nonetheless, talent and good looks looks won't get you work. It is your hard work and determination, and of course, some good luck on your side. You have be in the right spot at the right time, prepared and ready to take ownership of this opportunity.

Screenwriters must operate like the military. The military doesn't fight wars daily; they train to be prepared and engage into conflict when it is authorized and required. You must write daily. This writing must consistent. Be ready to counterstrike, or make that first strike to hit the target - optioning that script. Write away! Write on! Keep writing!

What genres do you master?

GENRES

Movie genres that attract the most box office business are action, science fiction, horror, comedy, adventure and war movies. Sub-genres of horror and comic book movies are highly popular among moviegoers. Hollywood banks on kids movies because this entertainment translates into large ticket sales. Typically, parents attend movie showings along with their children. Unfortunately, original movies are not as relevant as they once were in the past few decades. What genres do you master as a screenwriter?

People may ask screenwriters what type of movies they enjoy writing. Therefore, answering this question and knowing the types of genres you write best can make a name for yourself. Movie fans can identify you as a horror writer, or as a sci-fi adventure writer. 

Horror movies such as The Conjuring, Insidious Chapter II, The Purge, The Sixth Sense, The Possession all have something in common; these movies entertain our greatest fears. People love to watch scary movies that put them on edge. It is those jump scares that set off chills during these unexpected and terrifying moments. The high rush of getting scared packs movie theaters on opening night. The funnest experience is going to watch horror movies on a Friday night where teenagers provide secondary screams to amp up this chill fest. 

Horror movies cost less money to make and return a nice profit on this small investment. Screenwriters can break into the movie business by writing a good horror script. Science fiction horror movies are even better to write and produce because there is already a built-in fan base. Combining the two major genres together may attract fans from these two groups. 

Marvel has a huge grasp on the comic book movie business. They own the rights to most of their comic books and many characters within them, but there are characters (Marvel sold the rights to some of them) that other movie studios own. The Walt Disney Company is the parent company to Marvel Studios. However, Sony Entertainment owns the rights to Spiderman and Warner Bros. has creative control over Batman. Screenwriters not affiliated with these studios and don't have a hand in these comic books are cautioned to not write such movies. 

Spiderman is possibly the most lucrative Marvel character ever. It is this comic book character who spawned a billion dollar movie empire, worldwide. 20th Century Fox owns their fair share of comic book rights. They can make any movies on Wolverine, Fantastic Four,  and the X-Men. Iron Man has taken in massive box office business, where three movies earned nearly $1 billion in domestic ticket sales. 

Screenwriters and directors can write their own comic book. Director James Wan recently got optioned for his graphic novel, Malignant Man, which Fox now owns and can make a movie on this character. During the beginning of his Hollywood adventure, James probably never expected to be directing Fast and Furious movies or two two horror movies that went on to open at $40+ million in their opening weekends in the same year. 

Great screenwriters are in high demand. Hollywood needs more awesome scripts to make into profitable movies. Think commercial first, and then write creative later. 

What genres do you master? Are you a comedy writer like Tina Fey? A horror writer like Leigh Whannell? Science fiction writer? Crime movies? Pick your genre or genres and master them.

Visit AMC's FilmSite to view a list of genres here

Most of the Top 10 Highest Spec Scripts are Box Office Bombs

Writing a movie script takes passion, persistence, and skill. Good screenwriters know how to write screenplays, plus they understand formatting protocols that drive the movie industry. Writing a spec script to sell in the open market requires luck and major talent. It is not impossible to sell a screenplay, but the odds are against most screenwriters to make this happen.

Box office bombs may cost studio executives their jobs. It seems optioning the wrong screenplay or losing out on a great script can also cause internal issues. As a screenwriter, the goal is to write a screenplay that makes money and brings notoriety to studios. If this script happens to garnish film awards, this enables the screenwriter to make their mark in Hollywood.

The top 10 highest paid spec scripts are some of the worst performing movies in the box office. The box office counts because movie studios are not in the game of losing money. No film studio wishes to overpay for a spec script that ends up on their shelf for years. Maybe this script is never developed into a movie, so paying millions for an unmade project is bad for business.

What are the 10 Highest Paid Spec Scripts:

1. Deja Vu - $5 million
2. The Long Kiss Goodnight - $4 million
3. Panic Room - $4 million
4. Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby - $4 million
5. Basic Instinct - $3 million
6. Medicine Man - $3 million
7. Euro Trip - $4 million
8. The Pink Panther - $3 million
9. Mozart and the Whale - $2.75 million
10. A Knight's Tale - $2.5 million 

The most profitable movies on this list are Basic Instinct, Panic Room, and Talladega Nights. The worst performing movies are Mozart and the Whale, The Long Kiss Goodnight and Euro Trip.

Want to sell the next spec script to a movie studio? Here is your shot. Write an original movie that sells to the highest paying studio. Dream big on this script and maybe you will find success in Hollywood.

Source: Listverse

Write What you know

***Spoiler Alert***

***The Duplex***

I watched The Duplex movie last week. This is a good movie for aspiring authors and screenwriters to watch. Because Ben Stiller's character is an author, we see his conflicted life draw out on the silver screen. These events are especially valuable to writers, the type of authors and screenwriters who sought after writing books and movies about real stories.

"Write what you know" is what the antagonist shares in the movie ending. The old antagonist made the protagonists suffer beyond belief, which she has done to many couples to drive them crazy. Once the couples had enough, they sold their homes for cheap and left. It was a recurring theme to make money off these poor couples. 

As passionate writers, we realize the best material is made out of true events. Nonetheless, true events are always in high demand. Moviegoers crave watching movies based on true stories because they feel a connection with these characters. 

Horror movies based on true stories such as The Conjuring, The Rite, and The Possession involve evil themes which depict reality. Devil and demon themes are the epitome of evil. These unsettling topics make their way to our minds, provoking our subconscious to fear any notion of their influence. 

Write what you know. Inject your stories with real life. While you may experience unfortunate situations, these events become memorable stories that people want to watch at the movies and read in books. 

Write away! 

Inject screenplays with real life

How many times have you heard that Hollywood is losing their grip on making movies? If you write movie scripts, then you know good writing goes a long way. Writing compelling screenplays based on real-life scenarios will capture a large fan base. This is your time to shine. Inject screenplays with your life experiences.

Original movies are in high demand. In the past three decades, original movies have quickly declined. Hollywood is viewed as a recycling platform focused on making movies that earn massive revenue. As a result of this, remakes, comic book movies, reboots, and books are leading the film circuit. Original movies are almost nonexistent.

Screenwriters should use their life experiences to shape movie characters. Movie characters thrive on conflict because the central theme depends on introducing tense situations and events.

Great writers know how to shape their characters. If you want to become successful in Hollywood, write original screenplays using your real life experiences. Good luck! 

Create the World around you

Screenwriters possess the writing abilities to capture their wildest imagination. They create characters, special effects, scenes, inciting incidents, and a plot that drives the script to the silver screen. Millions of moviegoers anticipate watching their favorite books turned into movies. Nonetheless, comic book movies and video games are becoming massive revenue generators for movie studios. 

As a screenwriter, you have the creative freedom to write screenplays that influence the world. People from all over the world will watch actors speak your movie lines. They will see your word text translate into a visual creation. Writing movie scripts involves building a world outside of your existence.

Have you ever questioned the spirit? Wonder what happens to humans and animals who pass away? Obviously, every living human, creature and plant life have a spirit. Inject life into your screenplay. You are the spirit your screenplay needs to sustain life.

Create the world around you using originality. Write original scripts the world enjoys. Want to become the next great screenwriter in Hollywood? Write what you know best. Create a story populated with likable characters? Include a few characters the viewers despise most.

Dedicate time to write a movie script. Construct the movie script like an architect. Your movie creation is yours to enjoy. Enjoy writing the next great movie!

The Dark Knight Rises screenplay

***Plot Spoiler***

The Nolan brothers completed The Dark Knight Rises screenplay, concluding what is now recognized as one of the most successful trilogies in movie history. Batman fans are esthetic with the latest The Dark Knight Rises masterpiece, a comic book movie that crossed the $300 million domestic box office mark to collect $304 million in ticket sales. The Dark Knight Rises screenplay has created lengthy discussions on the ending.

Christopher Nolan's resume includes riveting films such as Insomnia, Memento, The Prestige, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Inception, and The Dark Knight Rises. Even more impressive is that Christopher Nolan has written the script to all of his movies, also recruiting his brother Jonathan Nolan to co-write three great Batman screenplays. The Batman trilogy features some of the best writing in movies.

Christopher Nolan is an exclusive product of the United Kingdom. The most talented U.K. movie stars, directors, and writers have delivered amazing movies to the movie world. We are lucky to witness Christopher Nolan's epic Batman movies play out on the silver screen. The Dark Knight Rises is a complex screenplay that features a movie ending that has fueled countless discussions on the web.

Why is The Dark Knight Rises ending such a popular discussion? The film ending is written with very little exposition; instead we see subtle dialogue encode messages. For example, Batman told Gordon that any person can be a hero, even a man who puts a coat on the shoulders of a young body to tell him the world hasn't ended (not exact quote). This is creative screenwriting at its best since the movie quote reflects back to the origin of Batman, a young boy who’s trying to accept his parents are dead. That movie dialogue alone makes The Dark Knight Rises a splendid screenplay.

Another impressive aspect of the TDKR script is the rope symbolism. We see the "rope" open the movie, as Bane and his crew are hijacking a plane to take nuclear physicist Dr. Pavil hostage. The same rope is conveyed in an important prison scene to build emotional structure such as fear, hope, and fate. The rope is further elaborated on, connecting moviegoers to underlying themes with an atomic bomb dangling below the Bat plane. Lastly, Robin John Blake swings with a rope into the Bat Cave to rise as Nightwing.

The Nolan brothers introduce clues in the setup, and then deliver a payoff to answer such plot questions. Selina steals Bruce Wayne's fingerprints and his mother's pearl necklace. The main focal point is that Bane and his thugs use the fingerprints to waste away Bruce's fortune. In result, Bruce must step down from his chairman position.

However, the events are interconnected, as Miranda is actually Ra's Al Ghul's daughter. The Dark Knight Rises plot twists expose Miranda's sinister plan to seek revenge, Batman reveals his identity to Gordon, an ambiguous cafe ending raises many questions of Bruce Wayne's true fate, and the introduction Robin John Blake as Nightwing is shown as a cliffhanger. The twist endings are a series of twists that keep the audience thinking.

Plot twists are also known as twist endings, which reveal a surprise ending or an unexpected twist to change the dynamics of the plot. We see twist endings in horror movies, crime movies, and psychological thrillers. M. Night Shayamalan is referred to as Mr. Twist Ending. His The Sixth Sense movie reveals a plot twist at the end of the movie.

The atomic bomb adds a dimension of fear to the story. In a pit prison, Bruce admits his fear of death, indicating that he refuses to die in the prison while Gotham falls to Bane. Bane threatens Gotham with a 6 megaton atomic bomb capable of wiping out the highly populous city. Gotham citizens hide in their homes to escape the fear of the revolt against the city government.

The Dark Knight Rises movie end features many plot holes. How does Bruce Wayne survive the atomic blast? It is implied that an autopilot repair 6 months ago enables Batman to guide the Bat plane to the sea. Therefore, the shot of Batman flying the Bat plane is suggested as a trick. Most viewers believe Bruce Wayne survives because the Nolan brothers reveal an autopilot repair. How does this autopilot repair save Bruce Wayne?

The Dark Knight Rises script thus becomes confusing to answer plot questions. Are main characters experiencing a personal moment with the plot clues in the movie end? We see Fox show a surprising look to imply he knows Bruce Wayne survived the atomic blast. Gordon is hopeful that a Bag signal repair, broken since The Dark Knight, establishes that Batman is alive. Lastly, John Blake is given a bag to guide his journey. We see Blake swing into the Bat Cave to rise as the next hero. The major characters experience a personal moment to deal out a surprise ending.

The surprise ending is broken down into two parts. Alfred is dining at an Italian cafe. He looks over across the way to discover Bruce and Selina having lunch. This scene is ambiguous, leading us to believe in possible dream imagery to convey a fantasy. Alfred speaks of this cafe scene in the turning point, hoping that Bruce will one day find happiness as he imagines. How does Bruce arrive at the Italian cafe at the same exact moment as Alfred? Moviegoers believe in the obvious clues to show Bruce is alive.

The writing is so vague that we can't determine the purpose of the Italian cafe scene. Is this cafe scene realistic? Are Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle in a fantasy? Should people believe that Bruce Wayne survived an atomic blast? The plot holes are transparent, thus creating multiple possibilities to interpret the scene. Did Bruce Wayne survive an impossible atomic blast? Did Bruce use autopilot to save Gotham?

Good screenwriting makes us think beyond the silver screen. Christopher and Jonathan Nolan are great screenwriters. Their Batman movies feature some of the best writing in movies. In the future, we will review The Dark Knight Rises script. Thanks for reading.