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What did you learn from the Opening Teleconference?
Please give us some insights about what you learned from the Opening Teleconference.
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24 Replies
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What I learned: I really loved the idea of “Find the great writing in every movie.” I’ve never really considered that before and it’s probably going to change how I watch movies going forwards. I also had an “aha moment,” when Hal discussed the addictive nature of professional feedback. I struggle with this! Overall, it was a excellent start to the ProSeries!
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What I learned: Wow. So many things. A ton of great and useful information. I love the idea of improving 1% each day. That’s totally doable. The Development Process of Intervals of Learning, Thinking and Writing hit home. Excellent method – Thanks to Jim. No more struggling and beating my head against the computer screen. Most of all, I learned about positivity (frame of mind) from Hal. Thank you.
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What I learned on today’s intro call:
I’ve been around the block with ScreenwritingU and I’m always grateful to be here, no matter how many calls I ALWAYS learn something!
I loved looking for the best in a particular movie – what writing techniques a writer used that I haven’t thought of or used…. no matter the story or the genre, there’s always something you can learn!
I also loved, no LOVED, the Development process you outlined!!!! While sometimes I can just flow and it all works, other times it gets jammed up. So… I have actually been DREADING the start of the ProSeries because I’ve been so exhausted from work and have so many personal responsibilities, I honestly couldn’t see how I could add anything else! It’s not good when you come home from work and literally fall asleep in the recliner within 5 minutes. But seeing the Development process that someone else used and you described allows me to take it in pieces (not thinking of a 2 hour block) and makes actually getting the process done more freeing, allows creativity to flourish… I can ruminate on things at work, take notes when I get a minute and not feel forced to do it all at once or guilty when others are demanding my time! The more I thought about this I literally started crying tears of joy. It doesn’t matter how little time I have each day if I use it creatively! GOD BLESS YOU FOR THAT!
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What I learned: The insight about feedback was powerful. I thought about it before, but not this deep, but giving feedback actually allows you to learn the craft as well. I didn’t know that 90% of screenwriters earn a living from 3 areas, basically, writing or rewriting someone else’s work. The scary part of this process or the writing process is the rewrite. Not being a perfectionist in the first draft is fine, but the thought of writing 5-10 drafts, in some cases, sounds daunting. Perhaps the rewrites are pieces of the script, certain scenes, dialogue, and sometimes pages, but in all, that’s what it takes.
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What I learned: As a Fitness Professional as well as Film I appreciated the “interval” training method. I naturally find myself doing similar patterns to get multiple things done in a busy day and feel simultaneously positive about productivity. I learned that this is a valid technique.( I once read an article once that said people get endorphin releases from having a checklist and checking off tasks.) I also appreciated the learning from giving feedback model, in general humans can all benefit from learning to give more thoughtful feedback to others whether it is in the writing world, your work environment, as a parent, or as a partner.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Michelle Damis.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by
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After taking several courses I’m beginning to warm to – or at least accept – the lack of feedback. Being old school I’m just used to this security blanket.
I also appreciated the 1% a day philosophy and the philosophy of just writing g forgetting heater it’s good or not. Looking forward to the journey.
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What I learned was the true purpose of doing the critiques which I had always skimmed over in other classes. Treating them more like additional assignments rather than chores should help me cement the skills being taught and recognize how others use them. I was treating critiques more like general impressions than hard reviews of techniques. They should benefit me much more if I approach them correctly.
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What I learned:
1. Posting is networking. I always figured posting, in general, is just keeping people updated with your progress/status, etc. But posting your work is really putting your banner up. It lets people know who you are and what you’re about. Better your chances to form partnerships with others and create future projects.
2. Skills are the top priority. The script comes second. It’s about learning the skills for writing anytime. Focus on learning instead of content.
3. Kaizen – Constant Improvement. Small increments of progress will compound over time to create big results.
4. Breakthroughs. Discover parts of your screenplay that were missing. You must step outside of your comfort zone to be able to accomplish this. We are all constantly learning.
5. Healthy Identity. Drop the “starving artist” bit. It’s not doing you any favors. I am a creative soul!
6. Myth: Formatting is very important. Really? Wish I knew that years ago. I took a screenwriting class at SFSU with Joseph Mcbride. He wrote the screenplay for Rock n’ Roll High School and several biographies of filmmakers. He was a such stickler when it came to formatting. God bless him. I got a B+.
7. Use the easy way. Pick the easiest things to fix first. Ride the horse in the direction it’s going.
8. If Katheryn/Orlanda/Reginald/SU Alumni can do it, I can do it. It’s good to remind yourself that you are just as capable of success as anyone else.
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I learned something from each section of the phone call, but the two that stand out are:
1. Becoming a working screenwriter is not a matter of taking a gamble and winning the lottery, but it’s elevating my writing and making connections.
2. Excessive feedback shuts me down. I once wrote a script alongside a screenwriting teacher and was getting constant feedback. I now see clearly how frustrating that process was and remember how I shut down and walked away at one point. Additionally, when I took the re-write class, I wondered why I never got any feedback from Hal or anybody else at ScreenwritingU. I see now that that is by design.
Bonus: I was reminded that I shouldn’t be critical of myself when writing the first draft and I need to give myself permission to write a bad first draft.
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My biggest take-away was less “learning” and more acceptance: the lack of feedback. I’m familiar with the process of applying the model to others’ works and subsequently seeing how it improves your own, I am just not used to it in a more “academic” setting. In grad school, feedback was a vital part of the process. We would workshop our prose during residencies for two hours a day, and subsequently rely on feedback from our mentor/advisors for our novels.
We did, of course, read a large volume of great works in order to see how those models worked as well. Much of my improvement came from this area rather than feedback, but I was used to this. I have been writing fiction since I could string letters together (my first story was written at age 4; I’m no prodigy though…it stank! XD ).
Screenwriting, however, is a whole different ballgame and my first foray into it led to something dreadful and I have been hoping to lean on the crutch of feedback since. It is clear to me now that I will have to Tiny Tim that thought and power through.
It is exciting, and a little daunting, to start from scratch without the safety and comfort of all that, but I’m ready for it!
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What I’ve learned:
That formatting in nowhere near as important as I’ve been told … by everyone.
The doors to Hollywood are not completely shut.
The Aha Moment about Script Consultants. The feedback they provide focuses on what THEY know best and not necessarily what YOU need.
All the successes of the ProSeries Classes.
Learning how to write from a perspective other than my own.
Critiques/criticism are not the only tools for feedback. Our feedback is on the acquisition of skill sets and not content.
Concept of Continuous Improvement and establishing realistic goals – 1%/day. Very achievable.
Finding great writing in a movie, regardless of how bad a movie may be.
The focus on the model as opposed to content.
The Easy Method. Thank you, Jim.
And a healthy identity, the right mindset for writing. It’s okay to write a bad first draft.
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What did I learn in the teleconference?
I learned that it’s okay to be a beginner again, and again, and again as a necessary part of the progress.
I learned that it is better to write messy and unfettered over writing perfect. As a perfectionist this will truly be a learning curve for me.
I learned that nothing I’ve done up to this point in my life journey has adequately prepared me for the sweet bliss concept of the unedited, raw, free-flow nature of the easy way process.
I learned sitting still during a teleconference is difficult for me.
I learned it is okay to want to break out into the film industry, and that I don’t have to know Steven Spielberg to make it in Hollywood. (I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt, but—)
I learned to take a step back from being so critical of every movie I watch and instead to use each movie as an opportunity to learn more about the different processes that the writer/producer/film-maker applied for various outcomes.
I can’t wait to learn more as I move through this course and work through it as the absolute beginner that I am.
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It was a fabulous teleconference and I learned so many things. What stands out for me is that it is important to turn in all assignments, however bad. Hemmingway said, “To be a writer you have to be willing to write shit.” But that is the way to go. Also, that door to Hollywood is closed is a myth. There is trust and honesty. I very much appreciate learning that the approach is mutual support as a way to help each other grow as writers in acquiring each of the skill sets. Seek to learn not to be perfect, is a wonderful approach. As is the Kaizen idea of constant improvement.
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I learned: even when I’ve heard Hal talk about a particular concept before, each teleconference teaches me something new—and deepens whatever limited understanding I already ‘had.’ So I need to just keep listening. And DOING the work. And reading what you all have to say, because—what gifts! You’ve all just summarized the many gold nuggets in that presentation! Thank you, everyone. I’m so looking forward to meeting, learning and growing with you…
Elizabeth Koenig
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I learned a lot throughout the call, but the biggest takeaways were in 2 main areas:
The right mindset: I’ll get the most out of this class with the right mindset, which is to stay focused on learning the skills, not on what I’m writing. I don’t have to necessarily *like* what I’m writing as I go along; it’s more important to use my mental energy honing the skills.
Also, even if I come to a skill I believe I’m already good at, I should take it as an opportunity to get even better at that skill. It’s not helpful to say “I already know that” or “there’s nothing for me to learn here” – there’s always room for improvement!
Feedback: You can ask for the type of feedback you want from people – this is mind blowing to me! It would never occur to me to actually ask in terms of “please tell me what you like as well as a few places to improve.” I always figured that you get what you get. So in the future I’m going to be more intentional when asking for feedback.
Hal also made a good point about being selective about the people you get feedback from. Whatever their “thing” is, whether that’s formatting, character, structure, action, dialogue, etc., that will be what they focus on as they critique your script. Asking someone what they’re best at before you ask them (or pay them!) for feedback will give you a good indication of what they will focus on. Looking back on my own experiences with feedback, I can see this is true, but I had never noticed before. Very helpful insight.
Finally, giving feedback can be even more valuable than getting it. It’s a good way to cement a skill, by looking for it in others’ writing and being deliberate with feedback.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Erin Danly.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by
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Interesting conference. The best part for me is that the first draft does not have to be perfect for the free flow in terms of creativity.
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As I listened to the long but good teleconference, I multitasked with exercise, housework, and other chores related to survival in my tiny NYC room. I have been blocked on a project for the past few months and I hope to recharge my process. Hal has many ways to increase speed, endurance, and focus in the writing process. I agree that too much analytical feedback can sabotage the creative flow and I am fine with this structure. I like the idea of writing badly.
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I learnt that through hard work and common sense I may just get a movie produced.
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What I learned from my first screenwriting teleconference.
a. First and foremost is that have a lot to learn.
b. Is that I’m very excited about moving forward with this class
c. The most important thing is to complete all assignments.
d. A lot of the myths that I’ve heard about screenwriting & hollywood are not true.
e. That I don’t have to be prefect from the start to write a good script.
f. And last but not least if I want to become a good screenwriter I’m in the right class to learn how.
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What I learned: Well, I learned a lot about the class spirit and its goals. Mostly, how important is to give ourselves permission to create freely and to allow these freedom and creativity to flow in all directions (while working on a deadline!). Looking forward to giving feedback based on the module/skills and growing as a professional writer.
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What I learned:
To stumble through the jungle of creativity with Hal’s clarity
To write badly as vigorously as I clean badly in my tiny room
To twist everything and be open to change because it is good for screenwriting (and the hippocampus)
To myth-bust the NE Assumptions about evil Hollywood producers and be open to working with everyone to make money to survive
To do things methodically even though my momentum is to rush ahead tripping and falling
To be willing to throw out if only temporarily to imagine new possibilities
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What have I learned about this lesson:
All the teleconference info was great and informative, so below I am just writing a few highlights that stuck out to me:
I love the messages to keep your mind open and willing by having the mindset of “What can I learn today?” (even if you think you’ve accomplished that specific lesson already).
What is it I don’t know when I step outside the box, my comfort zone?
What is it I don’t know or am not using in my writing currently?
I’m glad to hear that intelligence is based on the ‘willingness’ to learn and not just on your ability to hold information because sometimes I’m challenged memory-wise, but I’m always wanting to learn, so that made me feel a bit more capable to understand the intricacies of this process as I’ve always ‘assumed’ that the more you retain the smarter you are as an individual. So glad I’ve been wrong about that assumption.
Learning the reasons why a Producer would ask for changes was helpful as I’ve heard of writers taking it personally when a Producer wants to adjust their work. Some Writers wear it like a badge of honor to reject the request (which is only self-defeating) when the goal is to get their work produced. Knowing the requests are most often about getting the script ready for funding changes the Writer’s position from ego to team-player.
Smart to always think about the up-sale. Asking a Producer if they’d like something written for them is a great way to open yourself up for the possibility of the next paying gig with them.
It’s important to find three missing breakthroughs each lesson, which will serve you well.
Knowing the freedom of not having to perfect my
work (while in the creation process) takes loads of pressure off. To know that during this class we don’t have
to turn in exceptional polished work, that the exceptional work is in the
process of learning unfettered creating.
Going with the flow instead of editing. -
I appreciate the advice to turn in every assignment even if we don’t love what we’ve written. I’ve found it so hard at times to get out of my head as a writer, and this is a great reminder that any writing at all is always better than nothing.
As someone who has been a writer for hire in other industries for years, I was thrilled to learn that there are lots of opportunities to find screenwriting work by writing scripts based on producers’ ideas or adapting other people’s work. It’s not that this is the Big Dream (who doesn’t want to sell spec scripts?), but I appreciate the reality check of how the industry works for screenwriters who need to pay the bills.
I’m grateful for the reminder that script consultants are only looking for what they know. I am not one to be crushed by outside feedback just generally, but lately I’ve been noticing how a lot of the screenwriting/writing gurus often teach a single way to look at story when in reality, there are a lot of complex factors at play. (A critic recently slammed one of my favorite movies of all time based on the story’s structure, and the film just plain works even if he didn’t love it for not following his method.) I will now apply this to the feedback I get on my own writing.
And yes, critiquing others teaches so much! I’m excited because again, this gets me out of my head and focused on the skills rather than whether what I’m writing is good enough.
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I learned more about the use of the High Concept formats, and the protocols to implement during the conference with the instructor.
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