“Freshman writers on a tear”
Nice article in Variety (subscription required):
It’s always extraordinary to get an Oscar nomination, but it’s especially unlikely for a first-time screenwriter to find himself or herself on Oscar’s shortlist for penning an adapted script. Historically, freshman screenwriters have more often landed in the Oscar race with originals. In the last decade the only first-time screenwriters to win the adapted screenplay kudo were either experienced writers, such as novelist John Irving (“The Cider House Rules”), or working with experienced writers: “Brokeback Mountain’s” Diana Ossana wrote with the well-established Larry McMurtry.
But this year three scripts in the adapted category — “District 9,” “In the Loop” and “Precious” — were written by newcomers.
That’s Neill Blomkamp (District 9), Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche (In The Loop), and Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious). In the case of the first two, the movies are based on previous material which the writers had helped to create. Fletcher got his shot at Precious based on a 23-minute short he wrote and directed that impressed a producer.
Takeaway? Produce something — write a script, write and direct a short — that demonstrates your professional and creative chops. It can be your calling card — and yes, that includes spec scripts that don’t sell if the writing is great enough.