Why is it that everyone wants to do things how they want to do it and never want to share someone else's perspective? Now im not the kinda guy who's like "Oh but what about this" "No thats dumb let's do it like this" Now when im called for something I do it because I respect and appreciate their vision. But when I wanna do something its always "We will see" I believe in everyone and I want them to succeed and I never say anything because I want them to shine and express themselves but I feel they dont believe in me. They dont care about anyone else's vision but their own and I am so sick of it. Its like "If you get this roll im upset" I just want to direct my own scene that I pulled from my own screenplay that I composed the music for that I'll do the fight choreography for. I work hard, I do alot, and I sacrifice my time for them and its like "boohoo" sorry I want to work on my own project.
Filmmaking / Directing : Creative differences by Nakoa Cabatbat
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This is the path of a screenwriter.
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Collaborative creativity is a clash of egos and visions. All productions are subject to this, but I think more the more professional people are the more they stick to the job they're given or hired for, while offering limited on takes on things they're asked about.
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I’ve noticed this is pretty much par for the course. My closest experience is my table reads with the actors reading the characters in ways I didn’t expect. Sometimes it’s a pleasant surprise, sometimes I’m thinking “that’s not how s/he sounds!”
I feel like as screenwriters, or writers in general, we’re so used to being alone and therefore in complete control that we’re kinda allergic to everyone else coming in with their ideas :p it’s an exercise in letting go.
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Arthur Charpentier I guess so. I just was on a rant
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Michael Dzurak Yeah It just seems like everyone is fighting over everything. I would just ask why does it work and what could the response be. Then id offer my opinion and let them do whatever they want with that.
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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh Yeah that's something I've always been okay with. There are obviously core character traits that cant be changed but I've always been open to ideas. That's why I love writing. I love knowing that this could be an outlet for creatives alike. I wish people were more supportive of each other...
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although I found it a little hard to understand what you were saying, you're the only one I clicked on cause I felt you were saying something at least. egos will always get in the way because that's how life is. it's to remind us that we all have these ugly protrusions called egos that we want to believe are not there. so anyone trying to break into the party is going to get put to pieces but don't succumb to it. Just keep being yourself and singing your song until others start to sing along. Hollywood is set up very badly and we have to go through so much shit to get to the good stuff. so what the poor gatekeepers who are assigned to interact with the public do is read tons of first lines, like I did, until something clicks with them like your comment did with my mind. that's how connections are made. it's very much luck and then 99% persistence. take your feeling and turn it into a production, a story, a script. then one day you'll find yourself on Sunset Boulevard being hounded and forced into unsavory things by a has-been like poor Bill Holden did (the character he played in Sunset Boulevard when Gloria Swanson had him in her clutches.
3 people like this
Picking partners is important in any endeavor. If you're working on their vision but they don't have an interest in your vision, then you probably shouldn't be working with them. Be more selective in who you decide to help, and who you ask to help you.
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Like David said, finding your tribe can be hard, but when you do find it, it's absolute magic. A lot of it is trial and error and more than a few issues on set but when you have the people who can support and share your vision, just as you support and help in theirs, it's hard to let anyone else in.
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Nakoa Cabatbat Read about the production stories (you can find articles online) from the films Tango & Cash (1989) and The Last Boy Scout (1991). It was a freaking as sh!t show of... male member measuring, shall we way. Scenes were rewritten on days of shooting, people were fired, quit, rehired, lead actors hated each other, etc... And this was an A-list film.
Then in the case of Tango & Cash the film was only saved from doom in the edit when a third party editor with no involvement in the previous production got a pile of footage put together a working film. Funnily enough, both movies are cult classics now. The Last Boy Scout is a personal favorite of mine, it has killer one-liners.
Creatives are as wild as the weather but that's both a weakness and strength.
4 people like this
I hear you on this. Creative collaboration can be tough when it feels one-sided. It takes courage to voice that frustration, and it’s clear how much work and heart you put into your projects. Your dedication to respecting other people’s visions says a lot about you as a director and creator. Keep building your own projects too. Sometimes that’s the best way to make sure your vision gets the space it deserves.
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I like how passionate you are about collaboration. That's a strength in itself. Please don't let these experiences dampen that. Thank you for hustling hard and putting yourself out there. I hope things improve for you - just remember, you're part of the Stage 32 family now and there's plenty of people here to help you out!
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Some specifics might help. But really depends on who you work with too.
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To me, that's all about ego and insecurity. This whole film/tv thing doesn't happen in a vacuum. It takes a massive village and everyone in that village happens to be an expert in their field. My philosophy is best idea wins. It's served me very well thus far and I have no plans on changing it. That's just my three cents. Good post, Nakao. Well done.
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Nakoa Cabatbat To answer your first question: Because they're amateurs. For the same reason, they will never make a mark in the industry.
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Lauren Hackney Thank you! That's really sweet! Its hard to not be passionate about it. I want people to share their vision but still respect mine.
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Nakoa Cabatbat I think the truth is, we don’t know the full specifics of the situation you’re describing. Is it possible that something you pitched just wasn’t a good fit for the project—or wasn’t received well for valid reasons? Until you attain Martin Scorsese status, that likely happens to most at some point, not just you.
Of course, egos can get in the way too, and it’s not always about the quality of the idea—so I’m not dismissing your frustration. But as someone else already mentioned, in many professional settings, you often have to focus on doing what you were hired to do first.
That said, what you've described is not specific enough for anyone to fully understand the context. How often has or does this happen? Who’s involved—other writers? A director? What kinds of ideas are being rejected, and do you know why or what you were told was the reason?
Without the full picture, we can’t really jump to conclusions and public ventings like this may do you more harm than good.
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Nakoa Cabatbat It gets better as you get older, but perhaps you would want to sit down with collaborators before commencing a partnership to discuss your creative boundaries?