I don't have to say it but I will anyway. Being a creative artist
is tough. Making a living out of it can be downright impossible.
Let's take the example of a screenwriter who hopes to write a
script that will actually be made into a feature film.
First, the writer conceives an idea; a story he would like to
tell. (Note: I use 'he' and 'him' instead of 'she' and 'her' because
I'm a 'he' and it's easier for me to write that way. No sexism
is intended.) If the writer is savvy, he may watch the market
and create a concept which is both artistically pleasing to himself
and commercially viable. This is tough. Many writers have a problem
just being artistically pleasing to themselves. Some writers may
only think of what they want to see and then hope like hell that
other people will want to see their work made as well.
Anyways, however the concept is generated, the writer usually
starts by writing an outline: a brief two to three page summary
of the story idea. He may need to do some research to come up
with a convincing outline. Or, if he's very familiar with the
subject material he's chosen, he will not have to research.
When finally pleased with his outline, he works on a treatment.
Basically, a treatment is a prose rendering of the eventual script.
Each scene is described in a straightforward manner. All important
structural elements of plot and character should be easily discernible
from a treatment. After working and reworking the treatment until
he's happy with the whole story, the intrepid writer can then
proceed to the actual script.
The treatment has laid the groundwork. Now, the writer must use
dialogue and action description to convey the story. When writing
the script, the writer must consider several factors. The script
should conform to one of several standard formats. The dialogue
must be believable, it must help advance the plot, and it must
help to display character. The writer may take several cracks
at it before a satisfactory draft is completed.
Next, the writer must find an agent who will attempt to sell his
script to a studio or an independent producer. In real life, the
deals and the participants in the deals can get very complicated.
For simplicity's sake, let's assume a three tier system of agent,
producer, and bank.
The agent cultivates relationships with producers to get a feel
for their preferences. Also, the agent must keep his eye on the
market to see what is likely to sell. Actually, his job is to
figure out what the producers he knows well thinks will sell.
Then, he chooses whether or not to represent a script based on
this assessment. Once the agent decides to push a script, they
stop at nothing to get a producer interested.
The producer will go through a similar process. The producer must
discern what story ideas are likely to sell well to the public.
He must look ahead at least a year or two because it will take
at least that long to get a movie completed and ready for the
theaters and/or video. The producer cultivates relationships with
agents whose judgment he trusts. They are to screen ideas for
him and bring forth only those scripts which are both marketable
and fit the producer's abilities and preferences. If the producer
likes an idea, the agent may haul the writer in to pitch the idea
to the producer. Then, the writer may be asked to rewrite the
script to suit the producer's needs.
When the producer decides to go ahead with the project, he must
raise money from the bank. (I'm using the word 'bank' as a general
substitute for any source with enough money) The producer must
hype the project to unbelievable lengths. To give the package
more appeal, deals may need to be worked out to bring certain
directors and/or actors on board to make the project more attractive
to the bank. If the deal is good enough, the bank will either
loan the money or they'll take a cut of it.
The above is a very simplified version of the process and it's
certainly not the only way a feature film is created. But it illustrates
how tough it can be. What are a writer's odds? One in a million?
On average, probably worse. Depressing? Let's consider something
else.
The intrepid sperm cell. Millions upon millions of sperm cells
are produced in the male testicles where they await their big
day. During sexual intercourse, several million sperm are ejaculated
from the penis into the vagina. Once there, the sperm attempt
to wriggle into the uterus and some of the more gung ho ones enter
the Fallopian tubes. If a sperm finds an egg in a Fallopian tube,
it must get through the outer covering of the egg. Only after
completing this arduous journey can it do its job of fertilizing
the egg.
It only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg. The other millions
of sperm die and are absorbed into the female's body. Furthermore,
the ovaries only release an egg once a month and the egg only
lives about 12 hours. That means, the timing of the sperm must
be right. Otherwise, it's hopeless.
Think for a moment. If you're reading this, you are that sperm
cell. Just by being alive, you've already shown that you've beaten
far greater than a million to one odds. Already, you have a history
of achieving the near impossible. So, if you really desire to
make the creative arts your livelihood, buck up. The odds are
tough but they're a lot less tough than the odds you've already
beaten.
Until next time, as always, stay happy and don't take no crap!
Yours truly,
Happy.
