Ever meet a pre-pro screenwriter you actually DID LIKE! Yikes, that's a hurtfull question to examine IF you're an aspiring pre-pro screenwriter like I am.
So IF this is potentially damning subject why am I bothering broaching it? Well-p, I feel I have to AFTER meeting many a pre-pro screenwriter at events sponsored through such groups and associations at such places as: The Screenwriting Expo in Los Angeles, The Northwest Screenwriters Guild, The Pacific Northwest Writers Association; and varrious pre-pro screenwriters blogs -- which will not be mentioned because I'm not a jerk -- I've derived a decided negative opinion about a vast majority of pre-pro screenwriters that I've come in contact with.
O-kay, E.C., I play along with you for a second. You seam like a nice enough guy (I am, hehe) What is it about these people that you've found bothersome?
Let's start off with the unfriendly/mean factor. The most striking/damning realism about most pre-screenwriters of today is how unfriendly and mean they are. Now, writers tend to be introspective/contemplative types. So it should suprise anyone if they come across as being a little shy, and lay back in social venues. BUT I've found most pre-pro screenwriters aren't very nice nor friendly when you do get around to taliking to them.
I'm not sure why many pre-pro screenwriters I've meet see fit to be mean and unfriendly towards me. MAYBE it's because they see me and other pre-pro as the competition...? Competition?! Ha! That's now that's a joke, because it's not like some production company, agent, director, established tallent (actor/actresses) are going to line two pre-pro screenwriters scipts up side-to-side and pick to produce the one they like the best. My point is: pre-pro screenwriters really aren't competing against each other becuase our opportunites our there are so few. BUT maybe -- if you're an IDIOT -- you see EVERY pre-pro screenwriter out there as your competion -- which must be viewed with hastened suspision.
Why be mean, jellybean?! What does anyone stand to gain by being mean to towards anyone? Nothing. But maybe that's PART of the problem with the pre-pro screenwriters of today; if they don't see you as someone who can advance their career they treat you like...
Is that how you feel about me, Homes? I'm just a waste because I'm not able to produce your script!? So that justifies you treating me poorly? Shit ain't right, Homes! Karma, baby. What you've done onto others, will be done onto you.
Another reason that most pre-pro writers may come accross to me as being mean, and unfriendly people is because they're not saved. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Loving the Lord and being connected spiritually to God makes a BIG DIFFERENCE in how you treat others.
So what am I saying? Most pre-pro screenwriters I've met don't know Jesus. YES, I think that's a very fair assesment.
Switching gears, though being on the same subject, I think a lot of pre-pro screenwriters problem is that their's is a short, shelf-life. What's meant by that, is that a lot of people TRY screenwriting. Maybe have a story or two in them, but don't have the inner foratude to pull it off. Breaking-in is hard -- if not impossible in today's economy. Honestly, how often does anyone read about a pre-pro screenwriter who broke in, and made a sale? If you're not born into it, good luck, Skippy. Talent has nothing do with it. Knowing the right people and being connected has everything to do with it. AND I think at some point EVERY wanna-be, pre-pro screenwriter comes to that sobering realization.
In a directly related subject, I'm also finding that many blogspots that pre-pro screenwriters have started have been abandoned. Why? Probably because of dashed dreams and life. It's very hard to break in as pre-pro screenwriter who isn't a sibbling of Steven Speilberg or someone of like ilk.
It's been said that pre-pro screenwriters SHOULD form support groups -- and I'm all for that. I just wish I could find LIKEABLE people who are writers. I've found SOME -- don't get me wrong -- but the vast majority of pre-screenwriters I've met aren't people I wanna get to know, or spend any time with whatsoever. And that has me perplexed.
Personally, I vow NOT to be that guy. I want to be someone that people want to be around -- especially my fellow writers.
Maybe antother factor which affects writers being excellent to each other is the accentric nature of the writer. Let's face it; writers think differently than your average, everyday, Joe. One foot's on Earth. The other's in la-la land dreaming up stories, tweaking ideas, exlporing possibilites. THUS you're dealing with a person who's not entirely there. STILL, that's NO EXCUSE for being a dick!
There is one pre-pro screenwriter who I will NEVER come to terms with. Met him on one of those "suppport sites" and this shit-head had the gall to delete something I said simply because he didn't agree with it. Can you believe that? Sensorship on a "support site" that's supposed to be fostering an environment of open, free thinking? Don't go to that site anymore. Not angry with the site, just the guy who sensored me. NEVER want to speak to that guy or have anything to do with that guy ever again. Yes, you can piss E.C. Henry off to the point were he doesn't want anything to do with you ever again, but it takes a lot to get to that point.
I have been asked to leave other "support" groups. One group even sought to put me on a sort of trial. Sometimes it was even my own extravagence, and not watching my mouth, which cost me. I'm not a perfect person. And I have been justifiably blameable at times. I haven't always treated others with the respect I think they're do as fellow pre-pro writers. A lot of my problems have arrisen because I've taken it upon myself to dress up in costuming to draw attention to myself. And when you do that, rest assured some people out there aren't going to like it.
When all's been said, I must admit that I think the state of today's pre-pro screenwriters is quite sad indeed. Most of the pre-pro screenwriter's problems are self-inflicted. Others are frustration factors with an industry that is closed-off to finding and producing peices of work that don't originate for the camps of the entittled. Still, I, E.C. Henry press on. Hoping to meet other writers of like mind that I can bond with. I, E.C. Henry, am not a dick! I'm not just out here for myself. I actually DO want to meet and bond with my fellow writers. I am willing to help people out -- to a point.
I just haven't found the right setting or people to bond with yet. And that bothers me...