Short Films (and the Screenwriter’s Journey)...

 

I’ve long believed that short films rarely move the needle for a screenwriter’s career. If the finished product has real quality, it might help the director, the cinematographer, maybe even the actors. But for the writer? Not so much. Sure, it’s nice to have the credit, and it’s fun to see your vision on a screen — big or small — but 99.8% of the time, that’s as far as it goes.

Several years ago, I had an idea for a short horror film. One location, a handful of actors, no elaborate effects. I told myself, Go ahead, Jim, just write it. So I did.

Eventually, I found a filmmaker willing to commit to producing my 15‑page script. I won’t rehash the details here — the ups, the downs, the near‑misses — because I’ve already told that story in my ebook A Beast Is Born! (Google sums it up this way: “A Beast Is Born! chronicles Jim Vines’s 11‑year journey to develop his short horror script Susie’s Beast into an award‑winning film. The book compiles emails, texts, phone conversations, and journal entries, showcasing the power of perseverance in bringing a screenwriter’s vision to life.”)

I can’t say I’m overly proud of the final film. The filmmakers’ hearts were in the right place, but the execution fell somewhat short. What I am proud of is the journey — the persistence it took to shepherd that script from idea to production. Because writing a killer screenplay is only half the battle. The other half is getting it out into the world, into the hands of someone who can make it real. And that means more than just hitting “send” on an email. It means knocking on doors, making phone calls, showing up at film events, and getting face time with the people who actually greenlight projects. Scripts don’t move themselves — writers do. 

So, if you want your work to live beyond the page, you have to be willing to champion it, to hustle for it, to put yourself in the room where decisions are made. That’s the part of the craft no one teaches, but it’s the part that makes all the difference.

Get your copy of A Beast Is Born!

A Beast Is Born!

The Doldrums...

Creativity has been my compass for as long as I can remember. My mom once wrote in my baby book that I was “a little comedian,” and decades later, I’m still chasing stories, shaping scenes, and finding ways to make people laugh or lean in. It’s not just what I do — it’s who I am.

There’s always a project in motion: a screenplay draft, a novel chapter, a blog or Substack post, or a street photography series (you can see some of my shots on Instagram @jimvinespresents). Creativity is my constant companion, the wind in my sails.

But every so often, the wind dies. The passion, the spark, the drive — gone. I drift into the doldrums, watching YouTube videos, doing nothing that looks remotely “productive.”

And here’s the truth: that pause isn’t failure. It’s fuel. Those quiet stretches are the hidden engine of the creative life. They’re the moments when ideas ferment below the surface, when strength gathers invisibly. Creativity needs silence as much as it needs noise.

Then, almost without warning, the breeze returns. The sails snap taut. Suddenly I’m scribbling notes, hammering out script pages, or writing the very words you’re reading now. The doldrums pass, and the voyage continues.

So if you find yourself becalmed, don’t panic. Rest is not the enemy of creativity — it’s part of its rhythm. The stillness is what makes the storm of ideas possible. Step back, recharge, and trust the wind will rise again.

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