Screenwriter SCOTT ROSENBERG: Tricks of the Trade

[normalguyable]

hes also a vegetarian

[jazz4]

This guy's pretty arrogant.

[MrFrankBullitt]

Do you really want advice from the guy who wrote KANGAROO JACK???!!!

[alhotti]

i don't like this guy , the way he behaves makes me wanna punch him in the face

[detroituntilidie]

fuck boston

[vapid1000]

I like him.

[mrjcfromcalifornia]

Scott had some great advice in the book The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters.

[TheWorksful]

Be patient. Just write specs in order to gain confidence and learn the structure. You need to know the basics before you go looking for work.

[roninfilmer]

Practicing is a required important part of learning anything , however when you look deep at the structure of learning it is not sufficient. What first must come is the principles and tools you wish to use. Then create a ability to make sense of those ideas. Once you know (what to practice), you are then ready for the practice stage. The practice stage includes your ability to reflect on where you are being ineffective and then being able to revise and conclude. Now you have learned.

[ghostmanlostsoul]

Alien, Blade Runner, SILENT RUNNING, WALL-E, what do you think of those?

[ZachClooney]

An inspiring interview with Scott Rosenburg.

[DrMBA28]

didn't he actually graduate from USC film (MFA)?

[23Babybell]

Even if you don't like a movie like Armageddon....writing a blockbuster means the writer not only got amazing talent and knows exactly what he is doing but also the writer has been working his or her ass off to get to that point....it's funny how easily films like that get disrespected by some smartasses who probably couldn't even write a single piece of dialogue...

[fatnathan]

...and its nice to hear that I have ended up with the same methods that this guy uses. Thanks, Good stuff.

[fatnathan]

I met your mother and I have a script that would shatter your fucking mind.

[teknoarcanist]

...wait. The guy who wrote Armageddon is giving screenwriting advice? How's that now?

[filmfeline]

Beautiful Girls was a mini gem, I love it.

Shows the guy has depth. Everyone has scripts that suck, but having one fab is not easy.

[Chitownrunthis]

Scott your the man I can really relate to you - I'm on my ninth script and it finally all clicked I moved to Cali this year and Im broke I actually have 3 dollars on me and I never graduated Columbia - God bless screenwriters.

[normalguyable]

@Chitownrunthis i got broke in cali too, do you think its time to give up the dream, i really love screenwriting but cant find anyone to raed them in l.a.

[Chitownrunthis]

@normalguyable My comment was from two years ago, let me tell you what's happened since, I work production in TV to pay the bills and my first feature is being made this December, so guess what my answer is? HELL NO!!! Make it happen everyday, breath, eat, sleep writing, no days off, it's going to be hard, but once it happens its the greatest feeling the world.

[Trelli28]

he's wrong. It was the very first script for the girl who wrote "my big fat greek wedding" . He simply wasn't very good. he's probably only half decent now.

[PeterDaScriptGuy]

My Big Fat Greek Wedding girl only made it because she's friends with Tom Hanks's wife.

[augustmoon0004]

Plus... the "Fat Greek" script was re-written by others.... doesn't mean it was good when she finished..... she just had connections & someone liked the idea... btw... I thought that movie was overrated anyway.

[rawkus1167]

Like a lot of major Hollywood screenwriters, some of the shit he does is okay and some of it sucks. "Con Air" and "Gone in 60 Seconds" are typical Bruckheimer trash, but "Beautiful Girls" was a good movie and this guy also co-wrote "High Fidelity" - which was a AMAZING movie. You cannot deny this guy is successful though so if you are an aspiring screenwriter like myself, this kind of advice is important. Rosenberg seems like a down-to-earth cat. This interviewer needs a personality implant.

[wbennett09]

is he aware he wrote con air?

[hiimfletcher]

keep in mind that this guy wrote gone in 60 seconds and kangaroo jack....the former a mediocre film at best and the latter was just awful

[iscorpio]

great interview and advice i think.

[tdsipes]

What an ignorant thing to say. Dialogue can be learned just like every other aspect of screenwriting.

[fastfoodclowns]

take what SR says with a big grain of salt. There are well-established "tools" and formats (especially nowadays) that screenwriters use. He's totally ego-tripping in this interview.

[Trelli28]

agreed.

[TheBlaspheme]

I don't buy that for a second about not being able to learn dialogue. Why should screenwriting be different from learning any other art form. Just practise.

[Tones4me1]

@TheBlaspheme I agree with you about being able to learn writing skills but dialog is based on your own communication ability. Example: A very shy personality might have a hard time writing believable dialog for an out going character. If they can't carry on a conversation with all personalities in real life then in may be a problem to capture it in a story. So part of the learning curve would be to expose yourself to many types of personalities and dissect what they are about verbally.

[bdbd]

the line at 7:27 was pretty damn funny. good interview ..

[PeterDaScriptGuy]

He cusses too much & looks like a mixture of Andy Kaufman & Will Ferrell

[okiefilm]

Deluca looks like he's totally disinterested and about to fall asleep.

[donlongdong]

Con Air sucks balls

[nrbattista]

Pretends he has "love making skills"?

[hecklongtree]

Are this guy's scripts any good?

I don't think I want to watch a movie written by someone who thinks "plots are for pussies."

[diminy72]

You're clearly a moron. He is suggesting that some of the best stories do not need to rely on technical plots, but the study of characters and the conflicts they go through.

Read a book.

[hecklongtree]

Your comment contains a "sentence adverb" and a sentence that ends in a preposition.

I suggest that you read a book on proper English usage.

[naiproductions]

well....he Has written Con Air & Gone in 60 Seconds....I think those were pretty AWESOME...hahaha

[sethers24]

omg thats my moms cousin

[darthk20000]

terrific...good stuff