Support your Screenwriters

Every movie you've ever seen has someone behind the scenes, the person that made the movie possible. Some of them you've heard of like David Crane, the writer and a producer of the show "Friends" which started in 1994. We also have Jennifer Michelle, the writer of Frozen and its sequel, the first movie earning her an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Yet, even with these two writers, typically their names aren't in big bold letters in the credits like the cast, supporting cast, and producers. In some cases, this is wrong, I know, especially with animated films. Yes, the screenwriter is in the credits, but I feel they should be one of the first few names on it, even if most people don't stay until the end. For screenwriters, I feel like it would make them happier to be up higher, though this is also personal opinion, however they deserve it, much like the rest who made it happen.

Think of your favorite movie, now, answer me this. Who wrote it? And don't go looking it up right now, that's not the point of this, but who wrote it? Have you heard of them, does the movie you view as your favorite have that spot for a specific reason? Now that you have the answer in your head, ask yourself this, have you seen any of their other works? Do you even know if they had more stuff of theirs written, or were they a one-hit-wonder? What about possible interviews on tv, magazines, newspapers, do you keep up with them? You don't have to keep up closely, or at all, that's a matter of whether you want to or not, all I'm trying to say, is have you tried? Screenwriters feel accomplished when given feedback, be that feedback negative or positive, they(me) love feedback. We love knowing if someone liked or disliked what we put into the world, we love watching our own progress.

Now, let us take a step back, as I got carried away above. Let me take you into the life of a screenwriter because honestly, we're not that much different than anyone else. We go through the same day as almost anyone, we wake up, take a shower, make breakfast, get coffee, maybe pet our animals, all while having one to ten stories in our head at any given time. We're filled with movies that are wanting so desperately to come out, but just like others, we have our doubts on if they'll be good. Some screenwriters have a great support system that will give them feedback as they go along, but there are a select few who have a small support system if one at all. There are those who doubt their ability to the point that they don't even write, in fear that they'll never get anywhere. With the support of those, they aim to please, hearing someone tell them "Oh yeah, I'd totally watch this", sometimes that's all a younger writer needs to get their butt in gear and type away.