"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." ---Nelson Mandela
Wonderful quote above, I would add that if your education does not change the world, it certainly changes "your" world.
The past couple of weeks have been very educational, difficult and filled with lots and lots of homework. I have learned many new things and I also learned that many things I knew from school many years ago no longer apply.
I completed all assignments and reached the point where I decide what screenplay I write for the course. The catch to this is that you have to run all of your ideas through a successful producer that has marketed and sold many screenplays and developed them into feature films. This was a very educational phone call for me and hearing the criticism for many of my ideas was daunting. When I mentioned an idea he liked, his tone, behavior and adrenaline kicked in and he became very excited. That was cool and I could not sleep for a couple of days. The tough part now begins. The idea he liked was one I am not too familiar with and must do research and really stretch myself to take a blank page and create an entertainment value and something that will touch the heart, soul and minds of Producers, Agents, Managers, Actors and obviously movie goers.
I have until August to create this screenplay and I will be working with my class of writers, instructors, two producers and a screenplay analyst. However, the bottom line is that all decisions are mine and the product will be mine. Then a slow and methodical process begins to market it and see if there is any interest in the product I create. A slight hurdle is that only about 1% or less of "Spec" screenplays are ever purchased.
... The journey continues.
"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence." ---Robert Frost
"When writing remember criticism isn't personal, it's technical. Take what is liked and make it loved, take what isn't liked and make it loved. Always improve your writing and always improve yourself at least 1% everyday. Falling in love with your writing to the point of inflexibility imprisons you and your career." ---Todd Hurley
