tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post7625679673575045530..comments2023-10-15T05:01:43.528-07:00Comments on Bamboo Killers: Four ways to be a polite screenwriterEmily Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02163221455899041141noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post-5224778947850787432013-06-28T09:14:29.336-07:002013-06-28T09:14:29.336-07:00Oh of course, Shawn, if it's a close friend an...Oh of course, Shawn, if it's a close friend and you can have that kind of honesty, then yeah, ask away. I'm talking about people who meet someone, maybe have a couple of conversations with them, then ask. And I'm willing to bet that a ton of people had the same experience I did - literally a day after news hit that I was repped, I got emails from a few people asking me to pass their scripts on.Emily Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02163221455899041141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post-46461516937629169802013-06-27T18:17:16.735-07:002013-06-27T18:17:16.735-07:00I think I should clarify. Anyone I've asked - ...I think I should clarify. Anyone I've asked - and I can count on one hand how many and have some fingers left over - have been friends for years, and knew both me and my writing very well. I think what you're saying is not ask someone you may barely know or just have a loose connection. I don't think it's rude at all to ask a friend for a help and so far neither did they.Shawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15496229806500210915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post-87900866695563147062013-06-27T09:45:21.598-07:002013-06-27T09:45:21.598-07:00Some of these techniques may work for some people....Some of these techniques may work for some people. I've no doubt they do. But that doesn't really make it any less rude to a lot of industry folk. I guess you have to decide what kind of writer you want to be, and what kind of reputation you want to have.Emily Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02163221455899041141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post-24607686705005811992013-06-27T07:03:41.034-07:002013-06-27T07:03:41.034-07:00Vehemently disagree with #2. I've asked repped...Vehemently disagree with #2. I've asked repped friends to pass a script along to their agents and managers with no problems. I've also asked people who have better connections to pass my material along to reps and have gotten reads, meetings, and two managers that way. <br /><br />Getting a referral is the best way to get a rep. If you wait around for someone to make the suggestion, you might be waiting a long time. But how do you know if you or the script is ready? Judge their reaction. If they love the script, go the next step and ask if they'll pass it along to someone. More often than not they gladly will.<br /><br />Other three points are good, but the second is bad advice.Shawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15496229806500210915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post-54005849325564945722013-06-25T08:44:44.131-07:002013-06-25T08:44:44.131-07:00Not gonna lie - I've queried on the weekend. H...Not gonna lie - I've queried on the weekend. Had one guy tell me it was a bold move that he respected... a few people got back to me on Monday. Other than that, a whole lot of silence.<br /><br />I didn't really think about that before, that whether they want to read it or not, it's going to intrude into their personal time in some way.<br /><br />But this is the 2nd or 3rd piece I've read that suggests not doing that, and it really makes sense. I definitely won't do it again. I just hope I didn't make someone drop their baby or something with an ill-timed phone alert.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05324233872394012532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post-70927103049668298882013-06-24T15:11:24.803-07:002013-06-24T15:11:24.803-07:00Love this post. Great advice.
Off of point 2, whe...Love this post. Great advice.<br /><br />Off of point 2, where you said, "If I want to read your script, I'll ask."<br /><br />Do you think it's rude to ask people to read your stuff? I ran into an old co-worker who works at a production company and we were just chatting. She knows I've been writing. She didn't ask to read my current material, but is it out of line to say, "I'd love for you to take a look if you're interested?"rjlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934126154259454952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post-25312253670403120322013-06-22T12:43:42.120-07:002013-06-22T12:43:42.120-07:00very good advice, but if i may, i'd like to ad...very good advice, but if i may, i'd like to add something to this working scale of how to progress in the business. while we all want to be in the know, now... there is a learning curve to this bubble. People make mistakes. listening is not easy, in any endeavor, but with screenwriting it's so important to progress, even though you may have made 'all' these mistakes. <br /><br />It doesn't mean you suck, it means you suck if you don't learn from what you're sucking at. that's what screenwriting is. hopefully with each script you learn how to reveal information, create organic red herrings, 3 dimensional characters, limit exposition, create building narratives, just like it's important to learn all the hard lessons emily described and then NEVER do them again.<br /><br />It's far easier to learn if you're not yelling back at the teacher. <br /><br />RustinAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04513325599318764316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post-3416497813526664422013-06-22T12:41:50.650-07:002013-06-22T12:41:50.650-07:00Here's the other reason why arguing with peopl...Here's the other reason why arguing with people who call this stuff rude is a stupid idea...<br /><br />I walk by and pinch your ass. You call me a rude pig and accuse me of sexual assault. I say, "Ease up! I was paying you a compliment! You've got a nice ass. You should be glad that people want to touch it."<br /><br />If it's not your ass being pinched, you don't get to tell someone that they're wrong to call your actions towards them inappropriate.The Bitter Script Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post-32774620428306410022013-06-22T12:17:24.456-07:002013-06-22T12:17:24.456-07:00Good stuff, Emily. I got my break into TV last yea...Good stuff, Emily. I got my break into TV last year, and I'm finally on the receiving end of this behavior. Hopefully your post will cut down my inbox overflow Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07633192821165844361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post-88651570686246219352013-06-22T12:00:01.677-07:002013-06-22T12:00:01.677-07:00Bitter, such a good point that I always forget abo...Bitter, such a good point that I always forget about. Legal concerns are no joke.<br /><br />Barbara - seriously I don't get those people. And plus a million for managing to work semapohores into the conversation.Emily Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02163221455899041141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post-72841449736702400562013-06-22T11:52:50.093-07:002013-06-22T11:52:50.093-07:00I've seen #3 played on out twitter a few times...I've seen #3 played on out twitter a few times and it always surprises me when screenwriters argue about it. Because, really? You'd rather make a point about how to filter emails on a smartphone than get your script read? <br /><br />If I really want a certain person to read my work, and that person says he only accepts queries by semaphore, I'd head to the sewing machine to whip up some flags. Priorities, people. Barbara McThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09781805016137281798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895692.post-18169836894485858602013-06-22T11:17:36.690-07:002013-06-22T11:17:36.690-07:00Regarding the first - it's also an issue becau...Regarding the first - it's also an issue because people who handle scripts professionally (readers, execs and agents) prefer the submitting writer sign a release form so they won't sue down the line, should that exec be involved with a project that looks like a rip-off.The Bitter Script Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.com