An exhortation toward professionalism

Mike Rinaldi · Liger Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 1810 Location: California

Building your career doesn't begin when your first completed screenplay goes out, it began before you registered here. Once again, I feel I must address an issue about a simple change of habit that will greatly increase your odds of breaking into the industry. And I'll be straight with you: if you don't believe me on this point, your writing career isn't likely to happen.

Most of us have become lazy posters. We need to up the ante and be professional and courteous at all times, with every post on this or any other forum.

We do have some very experienced writers on this forum and I'm sure they benefit from participating here, but currently this forum caters more to new writers and writers who are working on perfecting loglines and structure. That's not a bad thing. It's not a slight toward anyone. In fact it's a great thing that this forum has a niche. But if you visit the Artful Writer forum, where some of Hollywood's top working screenwriters hang out, you'll notice an obvious difference. Professionalism. Especially in the form of proofreading posts. Very few typos.

Many of our forum members here are lazy with their posts. We're not following the rules set by John Austrian about proofreading and other courtesies. As a result, won't be contacted by the industry pros who covertly read the forum regularly. I'll guess about 1% of us are being solicited by agents or buyers. I'd like to see that change to 10 % or even 30% or 50%. Blake and John have rules for a reason. They're not dictators-- they want you to succeed! And you can help yourself do that with a little extra effort.

Industry pros know a serious writer when they see one, even by a web posting. It's common knowledge that readers who receive hundreds of scripts every week are looking for any reason to throw yours away. One typo in the first ten pages and you're in the trash. We know this, yet many of us don't consider a blog comment or forum post as seriously. The problem is we all meet a lot of people everyday, online and in person, and we can't do business with everyone. When a lit agent, studio exec, or pro writer are browsing this forum, they are looking for any reason to not take you seriously. And not just here, but that goes for Artful Writer and Trigger Street and every other website. I'm not trying to be Simon Cowell, just underscoring a point.

*Your concept doesn't have to be perfect. But your format, spelling, and punctuation do.

*You can ask a "stupid question" or make a newbie inquiry-- we all have them-- but please use proper grammar when you post it.

Some of you may be familiar with scribe Bill Marsilii and his film, Deja Vu, starring Denzel Washington. If not, it's worthwhile to search online for interviews and read Bill's story of perseverance and success. On a forum, not too unlike ours, he met Pirates of the Caribbean co-writer Terry Rossio. Terry could sense from Bill's posts and emails that he was a real writer ...even though Bill was close to abandoning his dream. There was a professionalism in Bill's communications. They formed a partnership and co-wrote a screenplay that resulted in one of the biggest spec sales in history. In the neighborhood of $5 million if I'm not mistaken, the highest sum for a movie in which the writer did not also direct. I hope I've illustrated my point.

Note: Granted, English is a second or third language for some of you. No one reasonably expects it to be perfect, so you get a pass. But if you don't live in the United States and you know your English isn't perfect, post your location on your profile so we know you're from China or Switzerland or wherever. British English is acceptable of course (real English as I like to call it), but likewise update your location if you're in Australia, India, or UK. You don't want Ari Gold holding your vocabulary against you.

By the way, I'm not the greatest speller, nor do I have the best grasp of punctuation. And I'm surely not smarter than you. But I am blessed with three awesome editors and each script I write goes through each of them before I send it out to the rest of the world. I have a dictionary and thesaurus handy when I post here or send private messages. We can all do this. Set your bar higher and make the extra effort. A little bit of professional courtesy goes a long way and makes you look better. You never know who's reading!

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The Slusho's gone? Why is all the Slusho gone?

Lemoine · Tiger Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 142 Location: So. Cal

Amen. I am making a public commitment to being and revealing my best self. Right here. Right now.

Thank you, Mike Rinaldi, for being a caring big brother.

writingmama · Bengal Tiger Joined: 13 Aug 2008 Posts: 211

debwheat · Tiger Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 193 Location: Seattle

Sorry Mike....I will work on my spelling and grammar issues.

As a rule for me I have a window's app., open and I cut and paste everything there first to check my spelling. (Grammar, however; is a whole other demon.)

But thanks for the update, and I will try much harder. (Mostly because I know you are watching.)

Love ya, and good luck bud.
Deb

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Knowlege is Key. And boy do I sure need a lot.

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