Actually, first of all, what IS a screenwriting podcast?
Go on then, I know I’m Old School, I really do, so I admit I (probably) do get the concept – but I just don’t get the need.
I guess the real question is: why would people WANT screenwriting podcasts?
If they are little videos of people teaching other people the finer points of screenwriting, well, OK, but why would you want that? Surely watching someone chunter on in a video on a titchy little screen on one of those terribly fragile and hugely expensive iPod devices takes five times as long as just reading the equivalent content in one of those light, easy to manage, random access, highly damage resistant, portable information storage devices we used to call ‘books’?
OK OK, talk me through it. Email me, or comment here – if you’re one of those people who really likes screenwriting podcasts, what do you actually like to see in them? Can you see a role for Screenwriting Goldmine podcast or two?
“Screenwriting podcasts” It just sounds wrong.
How To Write A Screenplay
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I really like the idea of a screenwriting podcast.
I agree that it would suck to watch video on the tiny iPod screen. But most podcasts are audio-only — think of it as a radio show that you can download and listen to at any time.
Podcasts can be lectures that teach us something new (or something old that we have trouble remembering), or can be discussions or interviews with successful screenwriters or other people in the business. Successful writing is much more than just writing, so there are plenty of topics to cover and people to talk to.
For me personally, the best thing about podcasts is that I can listen to them during the 40-minute drive to and from work. Time that I would normally spend bored, or cursing at idiots, can be spent learning something useful.
I’m not listening to any screenwriting podcasts at the moment, so I can’t talk about what works/doesn’t work in them. I do plan to check them out now.
Ok, good point – so for travel time, and maybe for gym time, audio files are a good thing. I’ll certainly think about doing some more of that. In the meantime did you see the audio interviews that are collected on the main site? Have a look at these existing, what I guess I should now be calling, ’screenwriting podcasts’, over at http://www.screenwritinggoldmine.com/interviews/
Some are paid access only, but most are free, and you can download the MP3 files to use as you like. (Well, you know, don’t package them up and sell them on, but personal listening is great, and what they are there for.)
Okay — stumbled onto your website through another podcast recommendation. Now that you are flattered, do you like podcasts better? Why the audio-visual versus the written? Don’t hate me for using fragmented sentences, that is one of the joys of writing scripts.
Back to the point… Podcasts. I have been invited to talk on one and to listen to one. One positive thing is that you usually get someone who is further along who is interviewed by someone who is not as far along but curious to come along for the podcast-ride. That moderator/questioner usually ignites some kind of lively discussion about the craft we are all so passionate about (or should be). And I always say if you can take away one useful thing that impacts your writing — it was worth it. I think we can all forget to love what we do trying so hard to do it with little or no emotional or financial support. It is important to HEAR or SEE people who love what they do and enjoy helping and sharing. Sound a little too sweet, but that it is — memory lane with successful writers who usually love to dish about some abuse or win they experienced… usually, unless you get a ranter who just wants to bag on a business where he tried and failed in. So, podcasts. If you have the time and inclination and vet who is giving it and who is being interviewed. A lot of people have not experienced the Hollywood Hustle/Shuffle/tussle, and so why are they saying they have? You might ask them — Have you written professionally? Did you get a movie or TV show produced? At what budget level? Are you currently actively pursuing either writing, producing or the thing you are pod-casting about? Those are the kinds of questions you need to be asking pre-podcast listening or payment. I gotta go back to my writing now, the real writing… okay, it’s my day job… i am writing a book on writing…. next up, the screenplay that is calling from my shelf. Alright already… I’ll get back to you…in a few months… Luckily the characters won’t leave me alone… Hopefully, your characters are talking to you, too. Why don’t you ask their opinion if you should listen to a podcast instead of write them? They always know what’s best.
Thanks for doing what you do… write and write about writing!
Devo
I know you don’t like the idea, but I have some great insider interviews with professionals screenwriters:
http://www.makingof.com/insiders/department/screenwriter/39
Tell me what you think?
I
Phil
I don’t like video podcasts, but as Charles says, most are audio. A quick search on iTunes will find you a few – I listen to On The Page which can be irritating cosey but gets good interviewees; there are a lot of others which have clearly gone the way of most blogs – a few chunks and they peter out. And like most thing Internet, there’s a massive American bias. They’re great for commuting, exercising (I imagine), or when Radio Four is only offering ‘Midweek’.
The other element is that they’re periodical – most have new editions weekly/fortnightly/monthly, so once you get it up on iTunes, users get updated automatically regularly. This is great from an online marketing point of view, and you’d reach anyone searching iTunes for screenwriting, and they’d get steered towards this blog, your website, the forum, your book…. etc.
In terms of content it would be great to have a UK orientated screenwriting podcast, and the interviews you have on your site would work fine. Anything format that works on Radio Four would work as podcast… in fact an awful lot of Radio Four is up there as a podcast.
Podcasts for screenwriters, would appear to be an oxymoron or just
for morons… but to be a bit experimental here — they are helpful for more ‘breaking into the industry tips’ versus writing tips. Aprocra-full tales of bloom and gloom… cream and scum floating to the the top.
Enjoy them? Do we have time for them… Just get busy writing,
but do stay in the closet. Get in with a good group of professionals for feedback and networking/ Podcasts… can they help with that? Anyone? Devo
Dear Phil
I have been reading Screenwriting Goldmine and am inspired by it. I appreciate your straightforwardness and humour. Thank you. Last night I read the screenplay “Moonstruck”. To me this script stands way and above 99 percent of the formulaic ditzy dribble romantic scripts and films that have been written and made since that film was made. Please set me right if I am wrong but who or what is the villain in Moonstruck, as there doesn’t appear to be one? Can the villain, or antagonist be a Hero’s own mental attitude? Also, you say in Step 2 in Screenwriting Goldmine to ‘Attack Your Hero’ …Now imagine something truly terrible that could happen to that person… Well, in Moonstruck, nothing truly ‘literally’ terrible happens to our heroine ‘Loretta’, actually something fabulous happens to her – she falls passionately in love. What can you tell us about this please Phil? cheers, Loralei
HI there Loralei –
For me the antagonist in MOON STRUCK is the brother the Cher character was supposed to marry, and her family and his family that are expecting her to do the ‘right thing.’ It is also perhaps the society of spinsterhood in an Italian American family that traps her into a choice that is not authentic.
Her decision about whether she should believe she is just moonstruck or if this is really love fuels the whole movie, and the characters, quirky, surprising choices and performances that inhabited the final product fulfill on its promise. Truly one of the best scripts ever.
Your thoughts? & Happy writing. I am finishing up a script tonight
and will be burning the post mid-night oil. It was one I wrote 30 years ago that just won a contest and I am rewriting it for that program. Quite a challenge revisiting work that was so raw and unformed and still speaks to me. As well as the emotional aspect of all the disappointment attached to it, it has been financed twice and optioned many times… Still loving it and who knows. Best with your endeavors and thanks for reminding us all to keep asking why things work and get smarter/better/deeper etc. on our way to a great script that could rival something as spectacular as MOONSTRUCK! – Devo
Firstly Devo, a big CONGRATULATIONS on your success! Enjoy the moment. Thank you for clarifying MOONSTRUCK. Your comments make me aware of not taking the formular (with all due respects to it) too literally. The characters in MOONSTRUCK all bubble over with warmth and humanity and I want to join them for dinner in their big old brownstone. Please keep us posted on your script’s future journey and will look forward to seeing it on the screen. cheers, Loralie