Why Most People Fail At Screenwriting by John Truby

BUY THE BOOK - THE ANATOMY OF STORY:
22 Steps To Becoming A Master Storyteller

MORE VIDEOS WITH JOHN TRUBY

CONNECT WITH JOHN TRUBY

CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE

BUSINESS INQUIRIES

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL

LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST

SUPPORT FILM COURAGE

Stuff we use:

AUDIO

*These are affiliate links, by using them you can help support this channel.

#writing #screenwriting #screenplay

[OliverWitherspoon]

*How to fail at **_anything_** : listen to pessimistic conjecture and take it to heart*.

[albertibass]

I wrote and edited a novel, formatted it for kindle, created my own cover and publishing co., and marketed it without anyone's help.
It was picked up by a major Hollywood agency. They tracked me down and offered a licensing agreement in order to shop it to film production companies. I took one writing course in my life and left after a week when I realized the instructor discouraged everyone (somewhat like this guy) because he saw us as competition. Many writing instructors want to help you, and others want to discourage you because they hate competition. Caveat emptor.

[alishaokeeffe]

So you're going to tell me how important it is to know all these techniques and not even scratch the surface of telling me what they are?

[WyvernX_]

I swear all these older screenwriters always put themselves on such a high pedestal. Couldn't make it through the whole video. I could already see where this was going. They're so pretentious it hurts. Its funny too because its usually these guys that only ever got one movie they wrote made. Screenwriting has always been fun for me. I've grown to love the fuck out of it. Its a learning and fun process. Why do they have to try and discourage everyone? Always listen to the advice that motivates you from actual filmmakers that want others to succeed. Being pessimistic and negative especially when it comes to something in the arts is a horrible place to start.

[fabersoul_beats]

"screen-writing is the most difficult craft in the world" right off the bat im thinking this guy isn't anywhere near as clever as he thinks he is. he knows how much he knows but he doesnt know how much he doesnt know.

[miaroscfala]

Why Most People Fail At Screenwriting - By watching videos like this

[Kazooka]

On IMDB, John Truby has a grand total of 7 writing credits, comprised of 5 episodes of '21 Jump Street, ' a documentary called 'African Cats' and as story advisor for a Spanish/German feature film called 'Among Wolves.' The majority of his career has been selling software and training for screenwriting to aspiring writers. You do the math.

[weirdshibainu]

This guy has probably destroyed more talent then he has encouraged with his condescending approach.

[tmac]

best way to make money writing is to write ransom notes

[chungdha]

Funny thing is Wiki pages says so little about him, only that he wrote over 1000 scripts plus no links any movies, then checked IMDB and only see documentary and tv series and no script for any films that had touched a silver screen. This guy has least credentials to be talking about screenwriting and should be talking about writing sitcoms. And this guy is cashing in giving lessons to people how to write.

[petertahoe]

The screenwriter being the low man on the totem pole in Hollywood is absolutely upside down. Screenwriting is VERY HARD. Praise to the writers. Without them, you have no stories, no movies, and therefore no industry.

[ernestojmenendez]

Well, that was an amazing speech of no information.

[nicholasdickens]

Ironic how there are so many bad screenwriters there are out there. Especially if they are listening to this. To be a good writer you just write, write, write and write again.

[totalroar]

People like this are so funny to me. I am a 'newcomer' and my first, yep my first screenplay has been optioned by Amazon Studios. I am unaware of professional techniques and have had no 'training' other than A-Level English literature. Yes, I have a flair for literature and have had since I was young but more importantly than that I love watching movies and reading and I guess I learned a lot from that! Keep your head up, don't give up and forget advice like this which talks a lot of shit about mastering craft and things being so difficult. If this guy found it such a struggle maybe he should have done something else! :D

[fandangoshots]

My own method and advice to young screen writers is to forget about the screen writing software and even the format -- at first. Write your story in the way you're comfortable writing (personally, I work with notes I've taken over a certain time, until the story starts to really take shape in my head. Then I sit in the bath and write the scenes long hand on to a notebook). When it's done, I put it into the conventional format (though my shooting script is nothing like the conventional script, because it's only for me. I hate the way conventional scripts read.).

All businesses have conventions and protocol they expect to be respected. But don't saddle yourself with all the text book instructions right from the start. Don't tether your imagination, it needs to run wild. Then, after the creative process, adapt what you've written to the format -- not the other way around.

I say this because I think a lot of young writers sit in front of a computer with the screenwriting software staring at them, with maybe a couple scenes in mind, and think that the rest will just flow. Maybe some people can work like that, Not me. So, if you're struggling with the format, put it aside and come to it only when the film is already written.
.

[jkatulak]

What a discouraging video from a screenwriter with little work to back up his talk

[DeadBunny]

The moment you realize an individual is making a living off of convincing you they can teach you how to write instead of actually writing anything significant themselves, run. That person is the kiss of death of creativity. Especially when it comes to the unique voices which are at the vanguard of any art.

[JAZJ]

This video is such a downer. A lot of negativity; I get it, new, up and coming screenwriters should hear the truth, but damn this guy is depressing.

[laddieervin]

I've studied John Truby's book and gone through a few of his classes. In my opinion, he is a very good teacher. Learning technique(s) from him, and any other teacher, does NOT kill originality or destroy a writer's instincts any more than learning music theory destroys a musician's ability to create.  Truby has studied film and story telling for decades and created his own theories. Studying theory can expand one's understanding of craft. It is not limiting, but liberating.

[creativesoul]

Storytelling is definitely a difficult craft... but it's so rewarding when people are entertained by what you write.