Dispatch From The Quest: Brandon Cohen
Last week as we did here on GITS, the Quest writers focused on the subject of character. That seemed to have put them in an especially reflective mood as most of them used their journal entries to ponder where they were in the process of learning the craft of screenwriting. We start this week’s series of dispatches with Brandon Cohen:
The Quest is really rolling now. Not rolling on ecstasy you degenerate drug addict, I mean we’re really in the groove now and are having some great discussions. If the group were a relationship, now would be the time that we’re starting to feel comfortable enough to tell them how annoyed we are with their friends. We’re not quite “shitting with the door open” level yet, but Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Other than reading as many books as I can get my hands on, I’ve never taken any formal screenwriting class, so this has really been a godsend for me. But, as great as the lectures have been, I have to say that to me the best part of The Quest so far has been the community aspect of it. Being a writer can be a lonely business. Sometimes I say something out loud just to check and make sure that my voice still works. I’m fortunate enough to have a (sometimes) writing partner — Joe Epstein — which makes it a fun social process, but when I’m working by myself, as I am for my Quest project, I can start to feel like this lady:
The Quest has not only provided me with some structure and all of Scott’s insight, it’s given me a community of other like-minded writers who are in the same boat. Being able to bounce ideas off of the other writers, discuss movies, talk about the spec market, etc, has proven invaluable. Even though I quit my job three months ago to be a writer full-time, this is the first time that I’ve actually felt like a screenwriter. The workshop atmosphere just gets you in a completely different mindset.
When you haven’t sold anything, or actually been paid to write, it’s a weird thing to call yourself a “screenwriter.” Like, I might just start telling girl’s at bars that I’m a professional basketball player / screenwriter. When they ask what team I play for, I’ll just say “oh, no, I’m not actually on a team per se, but ya know, I’m working towards it!” At this point, I’m no more a basketball player than I am a screenwriter, but at least now with The Quest I feel like a screenwriter. I think there’s definitely something to be said for your attitude, especially in the early stages. If you surround yourself with other screenwriters, and talk about screenwriting constantly, your mind will be focused on it way more than if you spend all day chatting with your Call of Duty guild.
So, what am I trying to relay to everyone? Enter online contests until you win one and get to meet other writers! But also: there are thousands of other lonely souls out there just waiting for losers like you to commiserate with about this craft we all love so much! You don’t need a contest in order to reach out to some people in the dozens of online screenwriting communities, and get your own Quest going. The downside is that for The Quest, Scott did the heavy lifting in terms of weeding out potential serial killers and/or bronies. If you end up getting hacked up by some crazed brony in your screenwriting group, by reading this sentence you’ve released me of all legal liability. Good luck!
How about you? What are thinking and feeling about your process as a screenwriter? How are things going with the current script you are writing? If you have any thoughts you’d like to share or feedback for Brandon, please head into comments and post away.
Tomorrow: Another dispatch from The Quest.
About Brandon: NYC native, fan of all things comedy. I cry every time I watch Big Fish, Forrest Gump and Marley & Me. Don’t judge me. Twitter: @brandandco.
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