The Working Screenwriter

Who are yo ugoing to sue for not being in your fil...

2012-01-31T13:32:59.797-08:00

Who are yo ugoing to sue for not being in your film...Russell Crowe or Denzel Washington?? White guy or black guy.

Margaret! As always, so nice to hear from you! T...

2012-01-21T00:03:24.132-08:00

Margaret! As always, so nice to hear from you! Thank you for the kind words. Hope you are well. All the best to you in 2012...and beyond!

Jim: Congratulations on Kindle! and Nook! and anyt...

2012-01-20T21:03:35.277-08:00

Jim:
Congratulations on Kindle! and Nook! and anything else I've missed since moving in December. Looks like you have an exciting year in progress already.
Best is yet to come.
Margaret from Starbucks

Thanks, Jim. I've facebooked this.

2011-11-12T03:40:30.313-08:00

Thanks, Jim. I've facebooked this.

Nice post. I read total post and like your post. t...

2011-11-02T09:23:10.216-07:00

Nice post. I read total post and like your post. thank you for sharing........

nice post. Simple and very effective. this type of...

2011-09-30T04:15:25.330-07:00

nice post. Simple and very effective. this type of post really create interest to read. Thank you

"These sorts of extreme opinions, while seemi...

2011-09-24T02:51:49.300-07:00

"These sorts of extreme opinions, while seemingly crazy, do offer a counter balance to the majority thinking and I think they do have their place."

Justin, is that you?

He's got an answer for everything - until he doesn't. I know everybody and his dog was getting diagnosed with Asberger's Syndrome or borderline autism starting a few years ago, but Julian's way of articulating and thinking really make me wonder if he suffers from one of these disorders. He seems to be in his own world and operating by his own rules, and nothing can penetrate that. Whatever causes this, it's not serving him well.

People are angry, Ashley, because of the potential...

2011-09-23T08:56:48.108-07:00

People are angry, Ashley, because of the potential consequences of this delusional case. What if he fails (and Lord I hope he does), but inspires others to follow his path? Instead of one lawsuit, what if these agencies suddenly face five, 10, 50? There's a tacit understanding that agencies will read your script if you have a great logline despite their official policies (I know, because I have gotten reads at the top agencies off cold queries.) But what if this triggers a reaction where agencies won't even do that? That makes it even harder for those of us trying to break in the right way. JS very much deserves the backlash he's been getting because of the potential harm he can cause the rest of us. Screw him.

Justin says that his scripts aren't final draf...

2011-09-17T13:34:25.674-07:00

Justin says that his scripts aren't final drafts... so they need work... but still he queries people in Hollywood... or does he? Now he's saying that he's only queried a couple of times... so why is he querying people if his scripts are not ready as he says? What does he expect them to do even if they accept to read his queries and scripts?

"That's it, I'm starting a lawsuit against women. They are racist. They won't have sex with me because I'm black and poor and they only want to hang out with rich white guys."

"What have you done to make them want to have sex with you?"

"I went to a bar a couple of times during 10 years."

"Have you thought about online dating, speed dating, blind dates etc?"

"I don't know how those could help me. I'm not sure if people have really found people to have sex with from those avenues."

Blaablaablaa.

If Justin says that his unfinished drafts are worth 1M a piece, I wonder how much they sell for after he's done with the rewrites...

Sad but true fact, as my friend Scott will oft poi...

2011-09-16T08:09:36.161-07:00

Sad but true fact, as my friend Scott will oft points out ...

Writing doesn't owe anyone a living.

It just doesn't ... that's a fact.

Funny thing is, Mr. Samuels posted the following s...

2011-09-14T12:42:50.525-07:00

Funny thing is, Mr. Samuels posted the following sentiment on Done Deal in 2010 in reference to a writer who had sold something but was still having trouble getting representation:

"No one is obligated to do anything for someone who does business with them or works for them... If you find someone who's interested in helping you great. Probably most people you meet won't. That's just the way it is.

Simply knowing someone doesn't mean that they are going to help you with your career... To think that is just wishful thinking."

And yet, the entire basis of his complaint and lawsuit is that as a black man he's somehow locked out of social circles... of "knowing" the right people who can refer him to an agency. That's his whole complaint -- that if he was simply allowed to "know" the right people, he could get the necessary referrals.

Completely antithetical argument to his own words... Hmmm....

I'm speechless... again. In answer to Ashley&#...

2011-09-14T11:29:49.606-07:00

I'm speechless... again. In answer to Ashley's question of why your readers are so enraged over Justin's actions and opinions, I can only speak for myself. I suspect others feel as I do in that I can't stand someone making excuses for not succeeding when they haven't done the #1 task a writer should do..... KNOW YOUR INDUSTRY and understand how to navigate it successfully. Most queries are done via email or phone... they are colorblind. But I'm not going to reiterate the dozens of ways to break in that, if he cared about becoming a true professional, he would have researched himself. Instead, I'm simply going to applaud the courts for making the right decision and hope they continue to do so.

While I don't agree with his stance, I'm n...

2011-09-13T15:10:20.247-07:00

While I don't agree with his stance, I'm not sure why so many people feel so angry towards him. In this great country of ours you're allowed to do what he's doing. And it sounds like the courts are doing what they should be doing, too.

These sorts of extreme opinions, while seemingly crazy, do offer a counter balance to the majority thinking and I think they do have their place.

Again, to be clear, I think the courts did the right thing dismissing this and they'll probably dismiss the appeal, too.

For all the people out there busting their ass to get ahead be glad that one person is wasting their time with something like this, it's one less person to compete with!

Now get back to writing!

Re: Talent Agencies as employment agencies. Calif...

2011-08-26T12:17:06.926-07:00

Re: Talent Agencies as employment agencies.

California law has specific regulations regarding 'talent agencies'. In particular a 'Talent Agency' is required to have a license for the purpose of representing a person in regard to employment opportunities in the entertainment business.

Furthermore, from that law:

1700.47. It shall be unlawful for any licensee to refuse to represent any artist on account of that artist's race, color, creed, sex, national origin, religion, or handicap.
-------

Justin... Nine years??? you tried for 9 years??? A...

2011-08-25T19:34:01.711-07:00

Justin...
Nine years??? you tried for 9 years??? Are you SERIOUS? Not really any contest entries...Just a couple handfuls of queries.
Wow - you've really worked hard.

SMH. thanks for making things harder for the rest of us.

A previous post suggest changing your name - i agree.

@John Clark: Talent Agencies are not Employment A...

2011-08-25T11:20:11.772-07:00

@John Clark:

Talent Agencies are not Employment Agencies.

Sour grapes? Wow. Someone who really believes a ...

2011-08-24T12:18:11.301-07:00

Sour grapes? Wow. Someone who really believes a contest really says whether a script needs work or not? What an ego! First of all, all scripts need work. They're never done. Second of all, contests mean nothing on the quality of a script. Lousy scripts win, great scripts win and great scripts get passed up as well as lousy scripts. Happens all the time. Total crapshoot. I know people who have terrific scripts who didn't even place and then optioned the piece or sold it. Some moron didn't get it that read it and passed on it. Means nothing. Has a lot to do also with the concept... TREE OF LIFE, brilliant movie, would never win a screenplay contest. LIAR LIAR would. Not to say that independent SMART pieces don't win, just that it's such a crapshoot and has everything to do with the reader you have. I've read excerpts from Nicholls winners that were terrible... too much dialogue, typos etc. Why did they win? Who knows. Spoke to someone somewhere, and good for them. But you're kidding yourself if you believe contest winning or not winning is a say of how good the script is. Contests are good for two things - EGO AND MONEY. If you get some work out of it GREAT. But guaranteed you probably could've done that without the contest. Enter them for the money and ego boost. Not to judge whether it needs work or not. Get in a class for that.

What is this suit about? Some seem to ask this que...

2011-08-24T11:09:43.599-07:00

What is this suit about? Some seem to ask this question, perhaps rhetorically, to then show that 'how can the representation of the agencies be 'racist' if know one knows the race of the writer'...

First things. The agencies listed are employment agencies. As such Federal and various State laws, where they operate, are applicable in discrimination cases. Perhaps writers don't like to think of themselves as employees, but that's what they are by the time they are graced with an invite into the WGA. The WGA as a union can not represent anything but employees.

So, the suit is about how certain employment agencies obtain qualified referrals. The agencies don't take a writer's submission directly, but only take those who are referred by those in the industry that they chose. Studios and leading producers have been mentioned as qualified referrers.

The suit, as far as I can read it, claims this process of referral preferentially selects white males over any other class of individual, such as 'minorities who's racial group can be identified at 50 paces', or women, again who typically can be identified at 50 paces... unless wearing camouflage.

The suit, afaicri, that the agencies make little or no attempt to change this method of preferential selection, and therefore engage in discriminatory practices by it.

A few studios do have minority programs. The WGA does not really have anything going for it at all in this regard.

Whether Sammuels work is up to the quality of the major studios, or not, is not the issue. The issue is the system of referrals that effects a bias for a specific group of candidates, over other groups of candidates, and makes no attempt to correct that bias.

Whether you, the writer who has finally obtain representation, or currently struggling, is also immaterial.

The system is broken, and requires changes.

Eh, so what? You're the only one in the room....

2011-08-23T21:16:16.496-07:00

Eh, so what? You're the only one in the room. Ask yourself this, do you want to be in the room because you deserve to be there, regardless of what color you are or what you've got in your pants? Or do you want to be in the room because it's required they have diversity. Most every person in that room is there because they earned it. Black, female, white male, whatever. This is what drives me crazy because it's completely racist. Some of you will consistently diminish the accomplishments of white males because you think they get some sort of special treatment and that's complete bs. If you suck and you're white, you'll be out. And there's no diversity net to catch you. So get a clue and follow the ranks of some of your predecessors who are talented, hard working and refuse to whine. Quit feeling sorry for yourselves. Half the freaking execs I sit across from are women or black. My agent is a woman. A recent producer on one of my projects is a woman. All of them are there, not because they're women or black, but because they refused to fail. Fact: If you aren't in a room, it's because your work is not good enough to get in the room. It isn't because you are black. It isn't because you are a woman.

I'm a male Jew from the lower end of the upper...

2011-08-23T17:54:01.205-07:00

I'm a male Jew from the lower end of the upper classes of society, so I guess I need to track down the doctor who delivered me and ask him why he didn't also hand me my WGA card.

Great interview but Mr. Samuels comes across as a ...

2011-08-23T16:29:13.261-07:00

Great interview but Mr. Samuels comes across as a hypocrite and this may be used against him in the lawsuit.

First he states, this is about race but then he states that in no time that no one asks about his race in query letters.

Second, he states he could not network because he isn't in the right social class yet, he did not try to network because of the long commutes.

Third, he says that people have been told his scripts are great but he's only entered one contest or even mentioned consultants.

I would like to know one thing though. If his lawsuit is based on racial discrimination, then isn't he saying that he should have a screenwriting career because he's of race? Isn't that then reverse discrimination?

To all the white, male screenwriters who excuse th...

2011-08-23T13:01:52.191-07:00

To all the white, male screenwriters who excuse the status quo by claiming that women and minorities simply don't WANT to be in the business: How many organizations are you part of where you're the only man or the only white person in the room? How many have you EVER been part of? How many times in college did you see a cafeteria table full of black students and sit down to join them? None? Then you don't have what it takes to make it as a diverse writer.

Women and minorities not only have to be good enough, they have to have the nerve to be the only woman/minority in the room. If you've never had the nerve to do that yourself, then you should stop patting yourself on the back about how you've made it in an industry where everyone is just like you.

I've been in LA for six years; I moved out her...

2011-08-23T12:32:01.608-07:00

I've been in LA for six years; I moved out here without a job, found a roommate to help make rent affordable and started looking for work. My dream job: Writers' Assistant.

I was here 2 1/2 years and still hadn't landed a single industry job -- which puts Justin way ahead of me -- when I got incredibly lucky and through a combination of a community college internship course and referencing a screenwriting class I had taken, I was able to get an internship on a TV show's writers office.

That internship lead to another -- during which time I was almost killing myself trying to make ends meet -- and then the writers' strike shut down the industry and both my internships.

I was dead in the water for 6+ months, and then someone I had interned with at my first industry job called me: Did I want to be a PA on his show?

That was three years ago. I have finally become an assistant and work with writers. Finding time to write is a constant struggle, but I am learning from people who write for a living, so I think of it as subsidized grad school.

Since that first internship, a number of the assistants I've worked with have gone on to become junior development executives, agents, staff writers. When I met them, we were all making $450 a week (some of them were actually interns, and thus unpaid), but they've each pursued their goals.

And here's something that Justin might like to know: They've all offered to help me, read my stuff, get me read, put me up for jobs, because they know me, they've worked with me, and they know I am a decent, hardworking human being.

I know, it would be great to get read by an accomplished producer, but fyi, it's not such a waste of time to start at the bottom and work your way up. What you lose in the time it takes for your friends to move up the food chain, you gain in loyalty and honesty.

More power to Mr. Samuels. Idiot or not, Quixote o...

2011-08-23T10:53:41.505-07:00

More power to Mr. Samuels. Idiot or not, Quixote or not, the 'entertainment' industry is ripe for this sort of action. The 'old boy' network has produced a 'system' where by we the viewers are 'treated' to the same-old-same-old year after year; cries and lamentations about how 'expensive' films are to make, and that no film ever makes money; and an ever narrowing number of offerings.

Some of the posts sound like, "Well I was whipped as a child, why shouldn't everyone else be treated the same'. Other posts seem to be along the lines of 'yeah, there discrimination, but heck, I made it, so what's the problem'.

Should I also put in here 'some of my best friends are...'... what lame posts from people who are (well presumably) trying to be writers...

I'd probably have a different opinion on some things if entities like the WGA had general coverage for 'all' writers. It doesn't and further doesn't have much in the way of getting 'new writers' in to writing positions until they 'sell' to one of the signatory companies.

Which leads to conditions Mr. Quixote speaks of. The Catch 22 of the writing for Hollywood industry... where extended family nepotism is ok.

Heck, even baseball players don't have to 'live' in New York, LA, or where ever to get 'recruited'... Then again, perhaps Baseball makes better entertainment... since at least someone wins at the end of the game.

A. Non E-moose

It is not relevant to Justin Samuel's lawsuit ...

2011-08-22T19:53:37.205-07:00

It is not relevant to Justin Samuel's lawsuit whether he has the talent to thrive in the field. Disparate impact claims are generally about the class of individuals being allegedly adversely affected and not about the specific "talents" of the individual, just so long as the claimant and the class he represents is qualified to do the job.

That's what renders this interview and other blogs and comments (like over on John August's site) all but unintelligible:They are generally off topic; they focus on the stalled screenwriter at the center of this controversy instead of industry standards and practices, which may be systematically biased.

Samuels is an easy target and, worse, he seems hell-bent on throwing fuel on the fire. His lawyer should be telling him to shut up while his lawsuit is pending.

Disparate impact claims are not frivolous, idiotic, or indicative of entitlement or employment discrimination claims gone haywire. It's one way plaintiff's counsel has of re-balancing the scales of power, which are generally tipped in favor of companies.

Individual writers -- both established writers and those trying to break into the field -- may have more in common with Samuels than they realize. But please don't blame the lawsuit. Good things may come out of the discovery process that will shed light on the whole industry, assuming that Samuel's lawyer knows what he or she is doing.

But, Justin, please, consult your attorney before posting any more comments.