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I often say that a lot of my job, as a screenwriter, is…

“I often say that a lot of my job, as a screenwriter, is sort of being a stock picker, in that I need to figure out what movies are probably going to get made because otherwise I'm spending a lot of my time on something that's trapped in 12-point courier. So, having Tim's interest in doing a movie…” quote by John August
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“I often say that a lot of my job, as a screenwriter, is sort of being a stock picker, in that I need to figure out what movies are probably going to get made because otherwise I'm spending a lot of my time on something that's trapped in 12-point courier. So, having Tim's interest in doing a movie is a huge asset. But, not everything shoots. I'm always grateful when those things do happen.”

John August

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Screenwriting involves predicting which story ideas will be produced, treating scripts like stock picks, and navigating uncertainty.

In simple terms: Writing is like picking stocks; you guess which stories will get made.

Key Takeaway

Focus on marketable ideas while staying adaptable.

Themes

creativity industry risk prediction adaptability

Mood

pragmatic hopeful reflective

Type

advisory motivational

When to use this quote

  • film pitching
  • script revisions
  • production meetings
  • career planning

Key Concepts

script selection market analysis story development networking

Questions to Reflect On

  • What criteria do you use to gauge a script’s marketability?
  • How do you handle rejected ideas?
A Different Perspective

Not all promising scripts get produced despite effort.

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