he's talking about irony, when all I'm trying to be is funny

Shane Black, screenwriter of Lethal Weapon, Long Kiss Goodnight, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Last Boyscout, to name a few said this during a screenwriter's expo I went to this weekend while answering a question on the relationship he has had with some directors. The Directors was thinking up here, pointing to his head, when I was thinking down here, pointing to his heart, Mr. Black went on to explain. And the Director went on to mark the script up in red, taking out the heart, in Black's opinion, and Black went on to get $4 million for 120 pages.

One example of the pearls of wisdom I received. Another is that if I want to be a screenwriter, I am living in the wrong city. Of course, I know this. Right now, I am still becoming a writer.

So, why did I go to such a conference and better yet, why did I spend so much money to attend? Well, I thought I might pitch some of my ideas to a few hollywood producers and see what they thought. Maybe make a deal, maybe break in through the conference...then I received another pearl. The big-shot hollywood producer told us budding writers that if they don't have a script, or if there script is not registered/copywrighted, don't pitch. Why not, a fellow attendee asked?

What do I owe to you? I have no loyalty to you. You pitch me a great idea without a script, well, then if I like it, I'm not going to pay you to write it. I'm going to take it back to my bosses and tell them it's mine and find a retained writer to work up the script.

The honesty was much appreciated, but not from all the attendees. It appeared that most people thought they were coming to make it in the business rather than only it being a possibility, and a slim one at best.

I came home on Saturday night and knew that I had 4 to 5 great ideas for a screenplay and throughout the day, I learned what I needed to have prepared to go into a pitch session with a hollywood producer. What i didn't have were the scripts and the rights to them. This is what I will have next time.

Watch me and wish me luck. Because film is about pictures and breaking in is a game of chance. You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away, know when to run. You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table. There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.