The 40 Biggest Myths of Successful Screenwriters and Producers

And how you can attain a personally and financially fulfilling career by ignoring the b.s. and intelligently moving forward.

Courtesy of Pixabay, Creative Commons license

Let’s face it. The film and television industries are seductive. Breaking in for most who attempt it is a need, not a want, and the journey to get to where you need to be can be a soul-sucking endeavor. You will make mistakes but rest assured: As have countless others before, you too can find a way.

But to get there we’re going to need to cut through the bullshit and talk straight.

A bit about my bonafides first. I am a novelist, WGA-member screenwriter, and producer with over 25 years in the entertainment business. My fantasy novel series with Steve Hillard, “The Chronicles of Ara,” was an Amazon bestseller (aren’t they all), that was picked up as a miniseries by Ovation Network.

Though the miniseries is presently in turnaround, the acquisition represented not only a positive start for my book series, but a reality check as to the ever-evolving nature of the television business in general, considering the advent of streamers and smaller cablers.

Regardless of how long one has been in this game, there is always more to learn.

As a TV writer-producer, I’ve sold or set up projects to and with FOX Studios, TNT, CBS, Decades, Ovation Network, Cinemax, Hulu, Amazon, Warner Brothers and others, and have deals around town with several top production companies. My newest project as a writer, a three-episode miniseries titled “7 Hills,” is expected to air on Amazon later this year. For film I’ve written and/or produced several indies, which you can find on my IMDb.

My dream project, which is still being developed after … 25 years?

Projects do sometimes take forever to move forward. Spike Lee has been working on his version almost as long as I have on mine. We’ve come close, but “Louis vs. Schmeling” has yet to be realized. I’ll never stop, though. This business is built on starts and stops, and a great deal of money is spent by studios and networks on projects not made.

I’ve been there a bunch, too.

My biggest professional disappointment: TNT paid me for my pilot and format for M. Night Shyamalan’s proposed “Tales from the Crypt” reinvention, only for the program to be declared dead shortly thereafter following multiple rights disputes.

Welcome to Hollywood, and yes, all rights were cleared beforehand. Long story.

Regardless, now that you know a little about me and my “never say die” attitude about it all, and you can see I’ve been through both the highs and the lows and can speak with credibility on all this … let’s move on.