Think Before You Write
On August 16th, Michael Elliot, the screenwriter of Just Wright, Brown Sugar, and Like Mike” stopped by Inside Urban Hollywood to discuss with Tanya and Tiffini the business of being a screenwriter. Along the way, he shared some of his experiences in the industry, and dropped some precious tips and advice.
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As with many screenwriters, Michael taught himself the structure of a screenplay by reading books and taking notes from his favorite movies. Essentially, he thought if he could recreate the films he loved with a new, original spin, the studios, wanting to recreate their previous success, would be interested. Originally Brown Sugar was the hip-hop When Harry Met Sally. Like Mike was fashioned after Tom Hank’s BIG.
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When Michael felt he was ready to sell his scripts, he was given some valuable advice by fellow screenwriter Takashi Bufford (Set It Off, House Party, Booty Call). That advice was to have a script consultant point out all the flaws Michael couldn’t have seen. To Michael, the notes he received from the consultant were invaluable. To this day, he claims Like Mike would have never sold if it wasn’t for the consultant he conferred with.
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Michael also shared gave some insight into what stories screenwriters should tell.
When you have an idea that you want to tell them, the only thing they’re thinking about as you begin to speak, is will it sell. That’s all they care about. This is the town where you’re lucky to have a job, or keep a job. So when Monday morning comes, and you hear what didn’t do well at the box office, there’s some executive and some producers who’s worried about their job or their relationships because at the end of the day this is about business.
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Michael urged for aspiring screenwriters serious about working in the industry, to always think about the marketplace, and ask themselves, if their project is marketable. Whenever a new movie becomes a blockbuster, a new trend is created. If you follow that trend, your script will become marketable. For example, Karate Kidopened this past summer with a $56 million dollar box office it’s first weekend. The studios are now clawing for stories about little kids fighting the odds.
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Michael’s last tidbit of advice was “don’t quit.” He recalled a time in his career, where he was struggling to enter the business. Ready to pack up and ship out, a friend urged him to write one more script. That script was the script that sold and changed his life forever.
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To hear what Michael had to say about dealing with studios when they want to change your script, the challenges for African-American screenwriters in Hollywood, and how to pitch to sell, listen to the show below.
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