Wednesday, Feb. 10

Interview with Screenwriter Ben Ripley

A couple months ago I said to read Source Code. Now go read the interview with the writer of this awesome spec, Ben Ripley and his advice for aspiring screenwriters:

I would tell him to keep faith, that it’s all going to be okay. I would tell him that the reason I’m a screenwriter today is that I believed in my talent and made the sustained sacrifices to become one. I eschewed other career paths. I worked day jobs to support myself. I wrote on weekends when maybe I would have had more fun at the beach. I started and finished scripts and then started new ones that were better. I kept at it. There are no shortcuts. The dues-paying process can be bewildering and lonely, but its job is to separate out the professionals from the merely curious, and when it’s over, you’re oddly thankful for having asked a lot of yourself.

Don’t know about everyone else, but it sure is comforting to hear that it took him several drafts over a couple of years to craft this kick-ass sci-fi story. VERY inspirational interview.