Written Interview: Allan Loeb

Today’s interview is with screenwriter Allan Loeb (21, The Dilemma, Just Go With It) who had the unusual distinction of having two scripts on The Black List simultaneously. Interview with Deborah Schoeneman at the Huffington Post:

DS: How much importance do you place on the list now that you are an accomplished screenwriter? Do you find scripts you want to produce or people you want to work with on it? Do you feel competitive with people who are on it? You don’t have to name any names, but are there any writers that you get riled up about if they are ahead of you on it or make it more times than you do?

AL: The Black List is a point of reference for me. Whenever I get a chance (which is very rare) to read what everyone is talking about, I’ll ask my friends or a VP or creative executive which Black List scripts they love and then get my hands on them. It’s not a competition at all and should never be looked at as one. I’ve written scripts that I’ve been very proud of that never made it on the list many, many times. A script that makes it to the top of The Black List may not make a commercially viable movie and vice versa. Most of all, The Black List is a wonderful vehicle for introducing new voices to the community.

DS: Any advice to aspiring Black Listers?

AL: My advice to anybody trying to make it on the list is the same advice I give to all trying to make it writing for Hollywood:
A) They will make you rewrite it. All of it. All the time. Even what they loved yesterday. Get over it. Write poetry if you want to be precious. 
B) Don’t write a script because you’re an actor hungry for a good part, don’t write a script because you’ve got what you think is the best idea ever, don’t write a script because you think it’ll be easy money — write a script because you want to dedicate your life to becoming a screenwriter. Anything less than that will fail. 
C) Marathon not sprint. Process not result. Get better with each one and everything else will come eventually.

“Marathon not sprint. Process not result. Get better with each one and everything else will come eventually.”

Great advice.

For more of the interview, go here.