A lot of people write and ask me what are the chances of them getting their first script made.
My reply is always the same: “Negligible. It takes contacts, experience, years of banging your head on the door, a shed load of contacts, and and a hide thicker than a rhino.”
But ‘Juno’ proves that, sometimes, just sometimes, you don’t need to take the long way round.
Juno is a great, clever, touching, sharp, witty, INTELLIGENT way to spend an evening at the cinema – and apparently it’s the first screenplay by the writer (‘Diablo Cody’).
Here’s where the writer explains something of the path that led to her first screenwriting outing hitting a multiplex near you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqyQqE9Rff4
Notice one thing. It’s about the quality of the writing, of course it is – her script is very, very smart. But it’s also about the fact that there was considerable buzz about her before anyone came to the script, and she’s terrific at selling her own brand of wit. You want to jump the queue, well, this is another way to do it…
Take a look for yourself with Amazon and this affiliate link:
How To Write A Screenplay
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
As you say, Diablo Cody is very cool; she’s a marketable commodity in and of herself. I’m not trying to diminish her script, which is wonderful, but the book, the blog and Diablo herself sold the movie.
And God bless her. Most working screenwriters are a)men and b)fairly geeky men. To say she’s a breath of fresh air does not give her credit.
Completely agree about what probably tipped the balance with the script sale. She’s a complete package – and all power to her for it.
It does reinforce the idea that you can’t sit at home and write in a vacuum and expect your first script to be received hungrily. Like all aspects of life, marketing, however cleverly, or indirectly, or subconsciously you do it, is critical.
I think that Diablo Cody is an inspiration for those who came from the gutter…stripper, failed marriage, journalist, now Oscar! What a great accomplishment I must say. She gives hope to those who work smart and hard, showing that you don’t have to wait until your hair turns gray to reach success. So to all my fellow writers, know that we are the backbone of the entertainment economy, and if you work hard and stay thorough you can climb any impossible mountain!
The fact that it was her first script is very encouraging. Those Hollywood doors are not that well shut after all!
Hello Phil/Oli/Writefree/Disaxster et “all”
Re: Juno movie/screenplay
If you took all the soundtrack/music from the Juno movie, would the magic go away or would it be a better movie?
If this screenplay was directed by Woody Allen, would it be a different movie?
I’m having problem watching this movie?
I walked out twice.
I’ll give it another chance on DVD.
Regards
Benjamin
Hi Ben,
I think the music helps, for sure.
And that’s an interesting comment about Woody Allen. But it would be so hard to imagine him directing this script.
The overly quirky dialogue grated more than once it’s true. But I thought it was fine. Not Oscar winning, but fine.
I say that because almost two weeks later I can’t remember much about the movie, which isn’t a great sign.
But then maybe it wasn’t written for me.
While it’s true the Diablo Cody brand/story has been a major asset in pushing ‘Juno’ it wouldn’t mean anything if the story didn’t connect with people. I found it really funny and touching, and while it’s true most people aren’t as relentlessly witty as Ellen Page’s wisecracking teen, nor are ‘most people’ worth telling a story on the big screen about.
I also felt it was kind of nice to see women being witty in a comedy, rather than shrewish foils to idiot child men.
I think Diablo Cody Is a very lucky person because she made an acceptable film. Now i am more enthusiastic about horror and gory films i’m currently a High School Freshman who wants to become a screenwriter, but the film was great.
Well, JUNO may have been her “first” screenplay (attempt, idea) but Diablo Cody did have a development deal with the TV network I work for, for a couple of years which produced nothing of consequence. She’s been plugging away just like everybody else albeit more successfully than most.
But then, you know, everyone loves a fairy tale.
You mean it only takes a few years to be an overnight success?
at least
Juno é um filme fabuloso, a Diablo Cody conseguiu criar uma história sensacional. Não é por ouctro motivo que ela ganhou o Oscar, ela fez um trabalho estupendo!
If you read between the interviews Cody had been writing almost everyday (poetry, short stories, essays, blogs) for about 15 years before selling her first script. (That on top of a BA in Media Studies from a very good school known for producing great writers–The University of Iowa.)
Scott
screenwritingfromiowa.wordpress.com