Many years ago in New York I took and Introduction to Screenwriting Class at the New School. One day our instructor brought in a friend of hers who wrote for the one of the soap operas filming in New York. Although I can't remember his name, I'll never forget what he said. He told us, "Writers do get treated poorly by actors at times. But remember, actors are a dime a dozen. Writers are not a dime a dozen. Nothing happens until you turn in your screenplay."
There's an old joke in Hollywood about the starlet that was so dumb she slept with the screenwriter. But writers matter. Until the screenplay is written, there's nothing to shoot. If your screenplay is good, you have a chance. If it's not good, you have no chance no matter who is directing the movie and acting in it. To be clear, by 'good', I don't mean something that critics will love. I mean a screenplay that has a believable and compelling story that allows the movie to be made. If you can write a compelling screenplay, or television show, or novel, you will have a good
career in entertainment.
But, I hear you say, what about reality shows -- they aren't written. Reality shows may not have a writing staff, but they are not an exception to this rule. They're planned as meticulously as possible to make sure that the cameras are in the right spot to get the reactions they want from the participants. Much more footage is shot than is ever used, and narration is written after the fact. The drama and the comedy don't just happen; they are planned.
To make your program idea come to life, you need to learn to write a good script, or work with someone who can.
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