Joe and I have fared decently when entering contests, but we never broke through in the Nicholl or Disney Fellowships and could not seem to crack any of the top tiers when it came to some of the bigger, more well known screenwriting contests. In fact, the contests that we placed or advanced in were generally not ones that are LA-centered. We really don't enter too many contests anymore, but we always wondered --all scripts being equal-- do scripts with an "LA style" fare better in contests and the industry at large?
Someone could say our scripts just aren't up to snuff. Naturally, we don't think this is the case, and since our material has been well accepted by those in LA we're pretty sure --while trying to remain humble-- that we have quality material to offer.
But given that most big contests are centered in LA and have readers who are in the "biz" and live in Hollywood, it's not a stretch to imagine that two scripts, equally compelling in terms of character, story, and dialogue, might be looked at differently based on which achieves that slicker, more "LA style." As Boston denizens and writers, and having been schooled at Boston University, it's possible our writing has a more academic, Yankee look and feel to it.
This feeling may have been confirmed recently when we spoke with our manager friends in LA regarding the epic, spec project we are working on with them. These managers sent us a few sample scripts to read for pace, style, and general slickness. These scripts were written by pros with oodles of credits, and though we didn't think the minds who crafted these were somehow off-the-chart geniuses, the screenplays did have a certain look and feel that caused them to leap off the page. That certain look and feel was, in fact, the common denominator in the scripts we reviewed.
The descriptions were cute; the writers played with the words and took chances. They used CAPS and ... and small, quick, staccato paragraphs to push the story forward. The style was markedly different than ours: we dubbed this an "LA style," one which we needed to emulate to give our project a sheen that would attract buyers.
Wasn't that, after all, why they had sent them to us?
Writers in Boston and Hollywood are both using Final Draft or Screenwriter software so there's no real difference in the basic platform writers here and in LA are employing, and I'll be darned if those living in LA have a monopoly on talent and desire. But there may be a difference in how an LA writer puts spit and polish on his or her script, and it's something we in Boston and New England should take to heart when looking to compete in the marketplace
-Randy
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6 comments:
I'm glad you posted about this as I am in a similar boat.
I would have to agree with your findings, Randy. I recently read an L.A. script from an L.A. soon-to-be insider, working with taste-makers and such, and the script, while filled with typos and poorly constructed dialog, did in fact contain much of what you mention here -- short, staccato, fragmented phrasing to move the story along.
The content of the script (IMO) was pedestrian at best (think of all the trendy, hipper-than-thou, Tarantino meets Memento rip-off stories lining the Blockbuster shelves and you get the picture). This had me scratching my head since it was mentioned that his script won "favorable reviews" from actual industry insiders.
That said, I have since adopted some of the truncated style (L.A. style?) incorporating it into action lines and I've found that it does help get to the point and push the story along. If it can shave off a page or two I think it's worth trying.
A friend turned me on to John Rainey's screenplay site and I've found it invaluable for writing and style tips.
http://www.raineyscriptconsulting.com/craft_notes.htm
Cheers!
~ Jeff
Jeff,
Terrific thoughts. I checked out Rainey's site. You are right - very impressive indeed!
JH
Wearily lurking clist for a job and stumbled upon your blog...
must be fate as ive been thinking of penning my first ideas and there in the first post i spy is mention of specific softwares recognized in the biz along with a juicy tidbit about styles of assembling like ideas!
thank you sir
Smudley,
Glad we could be of service!
JH
Anecdotally (sp), there seems to be a lot supporting your thesis of a pro-LA bias.
My response is more along the lines of what might be done to marshall the resources - finances, talent, production, post, marketing, distribution, etc - to counter the perceived bias?
There seem to be a broader range of storytellers outside of southern California. Actors are hungry (hungrier?) here. Money only wants to make more money irrespective of where.
The East Coast has a stage industry that can't be touched elsewhere.
Elements are there even if a different picture emerges.
PS - A few thousand years ago, I studied at BU. Good school then - we used quills ;) - and great school now.
TwoPlusPlus:
Thanks for this insightful comment! Quills at BU when you went there?
I was intrigued by your website/blog. Are those webisodes? Randy and I are working on a webisode project in Boston dealing with college life...
-Joe
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