I thought I'd share this to inspire. Yesterday, I signed the contract and sent the invoice for my first big job. This will be feature film number five for me, and this time around, my fee will be the equivalent of a year's full-time salary. It's the largest sum of money I will have ever dealt with in my life and will, of course, make a huge difference to it. When I got the offer, I was flawed floored. I'll also be getting a producer credit and have all my expenses covered to be on set during filming.
Hopefully, hearing this, especially during this downturn in the industry, inspires you to keep going, but I want to highlight a few points:
- I started going at this in 2012. It's been thirteen years at 100%.
- I'm heavily dyslexic.
- I'm based in an old mining town in the UK and started with no industry connections.
- I once had a script rated 2 on the Black List.
- I've never gotten past the semis in a script competition.
- I stopped using comps and eval services within the first two years of trying to break in.
- I've had harsh feedback and been called a "bad writer" by peers.
- Querying has netted me something like three reads, which I never heard back about.
- This nearly broke me, multiple times. I've tried to give up at least twice. I've been suicidal.
- I studied the craft like crazy, reading countless books on writing, art, and filmmaking.
- I found my feet starting at the bottom, writing shorts and giving them away for free on Simply Scripts.
- It took me six years to get my first feature option.
- It took me seven years to get my first paid feature assignment.
- I was found via blogging.
- I've made four films thus far, all of which are low-budget indies. One has been #1 on both Amazon Prime and Netflix.
- Since breaking in, I've written four specs for producers for free and subject to funding.
- When I queried agents and managers a couple of years back, I got three responses and one invitation to submit.
- I have lots of other irons in the fire.
Make of this what you want. There's going to be some stuff there that many may find challenging and causes others to suck in their teeth.
My hope is that writers in the same place I was when I was at my lowest see hope and direction. I used to read so many comments about typos, formatting, and ratings that would terrify me. I used to think that I needed to win a competition to break in. When I was told I was bad, I believed it, but I couldn't quit. Even now, I feel like an oddball (and sometimes even wrong) when I give my opinion on craft and career building.
Read the books. Learn the craft. Get your head down and practice. Network now, not tomorrow. Do your due diligence on who's giving you advice before you take it. Hone your authentic voice unapologetically and wait for alignment. Don't spend a damn penny you don't have to and try not to fall prey to gambling. Most importantly, though, see this as a marathon and not a sprint, because far too many see it the other way around.
Hey hey, from one "long-timer" to another, I can see your determination and perseverance as clear as day! Being here from the early days, I can emphasize that you deserve and will reach heights greater than even this. So I'll say "congrats", yet I will take it back immediately, because while satisfaction and validation are deserved they are also fleeting. Time to get back to work and pile on to this victory, ha ha!
Oh, I guess it's all right to take a moment to celebrate. And of course, being you, part of your celebration is to share with others, as you're doing today and have done since you started ScriptRevolution.
As to your journey, I'll bring out my favourite trope on the topic. You know, like Goldman's "In Hollywood, nobody knows anything" or my own version of that, "In Hollywood, nobody wants to 'read' anything" (but instead works from referrals), but here goes, for you today CJ:
"The only loser is the one who quits"
Atta go, CJ! Congrats. I first met you back in the old Simply Script days and delighted to hear of your success.
PS = this may be an auto-correct with your post:
When I got the offer, I was flawed. I'll also be getting a producer credit and have all my expenses covered to be on set during filming.
Think you meant floored - Very ironic auto-correct :)
Congrats, CJ! What an exciting time for you! Your dogged perseverence is an inspiration. I also like to believe that good things happen to those who are generous with their time, knowledge, resources, etc. Thanks for sharing, and cheers to continued success!
This is such great news!! I have one movie in development and if that happens I'll tie you at 5 features (two of those thanks to your amazing website, for which I will be forever grateful) -- though I have yet to hit the "big one" as you just did -- and honestly -- I can't think of anyone more deserving than you. Every path is different when it comes to getting a script sold, and I think your story is an extraordinary one. Raising a glass of Jack here at my desk to you, my friend -- cheers!
Thanks so much, guys. I'd love to say that error was auto-correct LOL!
Huge congrats, seems like as well earned a success as I've seen. Enjoy!
Congratulations, CJ! Well deserved.
Well done, CJ! Superb news. Look forward to hearing more about it.
Congrats, CJ, and continued success. Your perseverance is paying off.
Congratulations! It's good to see tenacity pay dividends.
Props brudda.
Congratulations, CJ, always good to know someone worked their ass off to get somewhere and see them rewarded for it. Here's to more!
Congrats CJ! Well done!
I wish you the very best and continued success.
That's fantastic news!
I'm currently in LA for a week and have been told by three different "industry pros" that there is no work out there for unestablished writers and that the spec market is dead. We need stories like this to keep us from getting jaded and giving up.
I can't wait for when you're allowed to share what the project is!
Matt
Congrats, dude.
I don't check in very often so I'm late to the party - but congratulations, I hope you are enjoying the gig!!!
to repeat what Chris said:
i don't check in very often so i'm late to the party – so congratulations and i hope you enjoy the gig!
Cheers again guys. I got the script written within my usual schedule.
That's great to hear. Glad to see the hard work paying off. Good luck with it!