Twitter Rant: Brian Koppelman on Writing Advice and the Courage to Risk Failure

Brian Koppelman is a writer, director and producer whose movie credits include Rounders, Ocean’s Thirteen, and Runaway Jury. He is also known for his excellent podcast “The Moment” and a popular Vine series on writing and the creative life.

Recently Brian went on a Twitter rant in three parts. It is reprinted here in its entirety by permission.

https://twitter.com/briankoppelman/status/609543799099006976

1b) the fact that every EVERY agent in Hollywood passed on the Rounders script and on repping us. Only to all, ALL, beat down our door…

1c) the week after Rounders sold, with excuses and lies about not having really read it. In an instant, I knew that the lemming thing

1d) wasn’t for me. And same thing happened, in a different way, on Solitary Man. We were told that it could not get made unless we

1e) changed the ending. We refused. Found a way. The conventional wisdom is only right, and only sits in final judgement if you let it.

https://twitter.com/briankoppelman/status/609819795593297920

“How do you know your talented enough?” You’ll hear this one too. Say: I know I love doing it. That’s enough for now.

“Do you have an agent yet?” This one’s just another way of saying: I’m jealous that you have the courage to try what I have always wanted to

“Nobody sells orignal material.’ This means: if you try and succeed at it, I will hate myself for settling.

“If you don’t move to LA, you’re not serious.” Translation: I believe there are hard and fast rules for success. Don’t make me think.

“Hollywood wants you for only one genre.” This means: I will hate myself for abandoning the great 10 pages I wrote out of fear.

“If you get an agent, do exactly what they say, or they’ll stop taking your calls.” This means: I want to be a child again.

“Well, sure, you got lucky. You knew someone. Were related to someone. Are pretty.” I have to blame someone for the fact that I’m a coward.

https://twitter.com/briankoppelman/status/609822943917510658

“Stoop to conquer. Smile. Do the notes.” This means: My relationship with the studio/producer is more important than mine with you.

“Come on. Be realistic. You’ve been at this for years.” Means: Please quit, so I can feel better about never trying.

— —

1) We tried to get I Smile Back made for 4 years. All agents said no way. Too dark. This was a script my wife and her partner wrote from…

2) My wife’s novel (@AmyLKoppelman btw). It had taken Amy 7 years to write the novel. No publisher ahead of time. Many publishers passed.

3) all said, it was too disturbing and dark and unrelenting. Finally one said yes. Then Amy and Paige wrote the script. And nobody would

4) finance it. Same reasons given. It is too dark. Too disturbing. At least three agencies said no one would finance it even w cast.

5) but we found a way to make it, for little money, with the great @SarahKSilverman. And it got into Sundance, got distribution…

6) is coming out theatrically. There were 15 times Amy could have quit. Everyone told her she was crazy. Didn’t seem that way at Sundance.

https://twitter.com/briankoppelman/status/609827128188751872

— —

A) Here’s a true thing I don’t think I’ve said publicly. I love to write songs. Country songs, mostly. It’s something I do to blow off steam

B) the odds of me selling a song, getting a cover by a country artist, are supremely small. But I have taken songwriting trips to nashville

c) I demo the songs and send em out. It is scary and embarrassing each time I try. But if I don’t try, that’s worse.

D) because not trying feels like something dies inside. So I do it. And someday, maybe I beat those odds and hear a great sing one.

Brian is co-creator and producer of the upcoming Showtime series “Billions”.

You may follow Brian on Twitter: @briankoppelman.

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