Recently, renowned filmmakersCharlie Kaufman, Boots Riley, and Ed Solomon joined aWord by Wordsession, which is a Zoom workshop for up-and-coming screenwriters, and offered advice on Hollywood business and screenwriting. Hosted by The Black List, the writer-directors shared their experiences as aspiring writers and thoughts on the industry (viaTHR).
Kaufman is known for his directing and writing onBeing John Malkovich,Adaptation,Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,Synecdoche, New York, andI’m Thinking of Ending Things. He stated that the business aspect of writing in Hollywood is complicated and should be more accessible.
“I think that the business is in a very, very bad place, and it needs to change into something where people who have idiosyncratic voices can make movies because I think we need that, as a society and as a culture. And I think it is a very difficult road for people who are trying to do that. In no way am I trying to dissuade people from doing it. I think people should do it. I want to figure out how those people can be supported and movies can be made so we don’t get sort of this cookie cutter version of reality that we’re presented by people who are trying to make fortunes.”
Riley, known for his filmSorry To Bother YouandAmazon Prime seriesI’m a Virgo, took a more radical approach toward shaping the future of Hollywood.
“Maybe it’s time for collectively run studios. I’m not really an expert on how that would work. There are a number of people talking about those sorts of things. They don’t exist right now, but there are discussions happening about them. I don’t know how they would be distributed or anything like that, but those are talks that are happening. People are looking for new ways to make these things happen,” explained Riley.
Related:Exclusive: Kara Young and Olivia Washington on the Greatness of Boots Riley and I’m a Virgo
The Filmmakers’ Advice: Focus Less on the Business & More on the Writing
Ed Solomon, writer ofBill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,Charlie’s Angels,Men in Black, andNow You See Me, urges writers to find their unique voice, rather than focusing on whether or not their script is marketable to mainstream audiences.
“New writers I come across feel that they have to write something that looks like all the other movies in the world to get it sold, set up or get representation. The truth is not one showrunner I know is looking for someone who knows how to structure their show perfectly well. What everyone I know is looking for is an original voice. It may not be a script that sells for a new writer, but what everyone I know is looking for is, does this feel like a person who has something interesting to say, someone who has a unique quality to what they’re writing and the way they write it? Your script doesn’t have to be a perfect example of what a risk-averse business is looking for.”
No doubt this advice from a trio of such notable filmmakers will appeal to many aspiring writers and those wanting to make it in Hollywood.
