Interviews
"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
"Find your own voice. Don't try to copy other people. Knocked Up came out and everyone wanted to write like Judd Apatow. Let Judd Apatow be Judd Apatow. Find the thing that makes you special and it works. Find that voice within yourself." Stephen Gates – Manager/producer
"The most idiotic approach [to get into the industry] will work if the writing is genius. The best approach in the world won't work if the writing is mediocre. The biggest mistake a writer can make regarding their approach is to worry about their approach. Win the game by having better content than anyone else,
About the movie THE SOCIAL NETWORK "We started at 100 miles an hour in the middle of a conversation, and that makes the audience have to run to catch up. The worst crime you can commit with an audience is telling them something they already know. We were always running ahead." Aaron Sorkin – The Social
