Twitter Rant: @MysteryExec on the Importance of Screenwriters

Yesterday @MysteryExec went on a Twitter rant in response to a profoundly dumb article in Variety penned by Peter Bart: Are Screenwriters Becoming Obsolete in Hollywood. Rant reprinted by permission:

https://twitter.com/MysteryExec/status/557226313820299264

Audiences are realizing it as the process becomes more evident, folks recognize the fundamental importance of storytelling.

Superhero movies can say even more than they already are — and I think they will.

Elevating a genre is a skill. Crafting a story is a skill.

Hitting the beats is not a skill. Audiences are bored of it.

Action genre needs to subvert 3 act storytelling. Dramas need to inject more humor. Comedies need to have a purpose for existing.

https://twitter.com/MysteryExec/status/557227117805445120

On an exec level, fostering new talent w/ fresh take that hits = $$$$$$$$

So, if you think screenwriters are a non-essential part of the process, I’m sorry. But you are mistaken.

No one is disowning screenwriting as a profession.

Is it one of the hardest goddamn professions to crack? Absolutely.

Is the money a whole hell of a lot less than it was years ago? Yep.

Knowing how much creative control ppl have in the digital space scares many of us. Especially b/c we know the quality is mostly inferior.

But a personality can only go so far.

Imagine if digital work ethic was honed into storytelling instead of mugging.

Throw whatever buzzwords around — point to any successful franchise.

https://twitter.com/MysteryExec/status/557228468237107200

This business has always thrived b/c of reinvention and subversion while others stay the course. Now is no different.

Reap the benefits, creatives. And if your reps aren’t hip to it… fuck ’em. Find a kindred spirit and go, go go…

PS. SCREENWRITERS: When an industry shitrag asks, “Are screenwriters becoming obsolete in Hollywood?”, the answer is — to go and write.

Thanks, @MysteryExec for taking this on yesterday when Bart’s article hit. I have some thoughts which I’ll put together in another post.

If you are on Twitter, follow @MysteryExec who is in my view the Dean of the Whole Damn Hollywood Mystery Crowd.

To read all of the Screenwriting Twitter Rants I’ve aggregated from screenwriters and development execs, go here.