David Fincher Tony Scott Steven Spielberg

Don’t go signing any old contract just because you’re desperate to sell one of your scripts. I just avoided getting fleeced by some dodgy producers. Be cautious. It’s better to lose money on an entertainment lawyer than on a bad deal.

Re-reading an old script of mine to do an update/refresh and it's actually better than I remember. Is this what it's like to be proud of your writing? This is a way better feeling than the hypercritical self-loathing I usually bring to re-reads of my past work. 😂

You don't have to be paid or published to call yourself a writer anywhere other than the occupation line on your taxes. Everywhere else else, if you write you are a writer. Full stop.

PSA: Remember to put your name on the title page of your script. I know that seems obvious, but as someone who deals with arbitrations regularly, it's crazy how often I see revisions where the current writer forgot to list themselves, or attached a blank title page template.

I often convince myself that I'm too busy, too tired, too [insert excuse here] to write on any given day. I still find myself doing that if I'm not diligent. In truth, it's usually fear and/or laziness that keeps me from writing, and you don't level up if you don't write.

netflix 2 days after a new show comes out: "the show has already been watched for one trillion minutes, making it the most successful entertainment property in human history, which is why we're sharing the news with a heavy heart that it has not been renewed for a second season"

After watching @ShowrunnersFilm with my wife, we turn to each other and say at the exact same time: Her: "I'm so glad you're not a showrunner." Me: "Showrunning is my dream job."

I haven't written a script in a *very* long time and I'm trying to decide whether to get back into it by revisiting one of my existing unwritten concepts or start fresh with a completely clean slate. What would you do?

thank you for saying it out loud @therealKripke

Great episode of @UntitledFemale this week with one of the most important pieces of screenwriting advice out there... if someone isn't paying you to write it, they should at least be agreeing to let you retain the rights to whatever is developed.

The power of two podcasts combine as @ChildrenofTendu join @UntitledFemale for special crossover episode! This is one of my personal favorites (and not just because I got to hang out with @JoseMolinaTV and @OKBJGM ) - don't miss it!

As I get older, I've come to the sad realization that "carrying in the groceries from Costco" and "getting the Christmas decorations down from the attic" can very easily sub in for stacking washers and dryers.

One of the most surreal experiences of having a day job in the industry is seeing from the other side of the table how hard it is to make it as a screenwriter, or to even make movies/television at all... and then going home and plugging away on my own scripts anyway.

It was great spending time with you tonight on #scriptchat! I'm going to make dinner for the kids, but I'll be back later tonight to make sure I didn't miss anything. If you're a little late to the party & still have questions, post 'em! I'll be back in a bit. :-)

That said, I have worked with entertainment contracts for the better part of twenty years and have signed a number of them myself as a writer, so I'm happy to answer any of your general business and/or writing questions tonight! #scriptchat

I should preface tonight's #scriptchat by saying that I'm not an attorney (nor a CPA) so nothing I'm posting tonight should be construed as professional legal/financial advice. Always talk to an attorney or financial advisor about your specific situation.

Hi everyone at #scriptchat! Sorry I'm a few minutes later. Great to be spending some time with all this evening!

#Scriptchat this Sunday 5pm PT we have guest @jwillis81 talking about contracts ... or anything #screenwriting biz related. It's gonna be full of #writers wisdom you need to know before ever signing on the dotted line! #pipelinewriters #screenwriters