Screenwriting 101: Bill Holderman
“Having worked with and been on both sides of those meetings, I think it’s really important for writers to not be defensive and to be open…
“Having worked with and been on both sides of those meetings, I think it’s really important for writers to not be defensive and to be open to the collaboration, whether you think the notes from development executives, from studio executives, or from actors, wherever you’re getting notes, do not be defensive about them. Find the truth in the note that works for you and go for it. If you’re hearing the same note over and over again, it probably means you have to really do something and go take a hard look at it. Writing is a solitary craft, but the way that the film business works is there’s a solitary part of it, then there’s a very collaborative part of it. You have to fine‑tune the skills in both of those arenas because, ultimately, you want people to want to work with you. It’s a really important component to having a long career.”
— Bill Holderman