Screenwriting Quote of the Day #14: From Author Chuck Palahniuk
"I believe in dangerous writing…Unless you're writing about something that scares you, you're wasting your time." Chuck Palahniuk – Fight Club, Choke
"Every day, wake up, and do something to move your career forward. You can write, call someone, approach people, whatever — just do something." Mark Castaldo – Producer; My Run, The Perfect Tenant
"Make your decisions strong decisions, bold decisions. If you think it is enough, double it. Get there in an unexpected way. Do things that make your story stand out." Jon Gunn – Producer; My Date With Drew, Mercy Streets
"There are two paths to writing a great movie — a unique point of view, one that can only come from you and the life you've lived…or your craft; creating great popcorn movies that can still touch us." Harry Winer – Director / Producer / Writer at Smash Media; SpaceCamp, House Arrest, Lucky 7
"Readability is the key quality I look for in a screenplay. It’s what will enable me to fall in love with it and its something writers often overlook. Your scripts might become movies and once they are movies no one will care about the degree of readability, but how readable it is, how much fun
"Every producer is praying for a great screenplay to come across their desk. You just need to be that script. Easy, huh? Oh and while you’re at it… make an impression – and make it good, timely and smart. A good script will always find it’s way." Cooper Layne – Producer/Writer of The Core, The Emperor's
"At the core, I look for the truth of a screenplay. What's real and compelling about the story. If the story has teeth to it, then the writer will own me, and drag me into their world." Hal Lieberman – Former President of Production at Universal Pictures Producer at Hal Lieberman Productions
"I certainly have other ideas I've not been able to crack that I see great potential in, sitting in the back of a drawer. You never quite know what you’re going to come back to and figure out how to make it work. You never quite know where that desire to finish something, or return
"I see a lot of screenplays and movies that are derivative. That's like trying to be second in a race. Lightening in a bottle is when you touch on something real. It can be a small observation, but you need to have something to say. If you feel like you have nothing to say, then
"The opening is critical. I can tell within 5 pages how good and how smart a screenwriter is. Come out strong and keep it up. Don't play it safe with your writing." Beau St. Clair – Producer for Pierce Brosnan Irish DreamTime