Video: 2021 Beyond Words

The annual event presented by the Writers Guild Foundation and Writers Guild of America West featuring WGA nominated screenwriters for both original and adapted script awards.

This year because of pandemic restrictions, the event was held online via Zoom. The participating writers:

Original Screenplay Panelists are Will Berson & Shaka King (Judas and the Black Messiah), Darius & Abraham Marder (Sound of Metal), Andy Siara (Palm Springs), and Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7). Moderated by Jenelle Riley, Deputy Awards and Features Editor at Variety.

Adapted Screenplay Panelists are Ramin Bahrani (The White Tiger), Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm), Paul Greengrass (News of the World), Kemp Powers (One Night in Miami), and Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom). Moderated by Clayton Davis, Film Awards Editor at Variety.

Here are the videos:

The thing I zeroed in on I thought would be of most interest to Go Into The Story readers: Every single one of the Adapted Screenplay nominees loathe and fear writing a first draft. Some comments:

Paul Greengrass: “I’m sure all of us here in the writing process had to wrestle to get the first draft and then the second draft and the third and the fourth, and and you can’t possibly solve all the problems of a screenplay the first go.”

Kemp Powers: “I have this thing with my first drafts where you work so hard to pitch an idea, then you have to sit down and write it. And I go through this period where I’m like, “Oh my god, I lied. I don’t know how to tell this goddamn story. Ireally am good at avoiding getting that first draft done.”

Ramin Bahrani: “When iI sit down, I’m like I have no clue how to write a script. Those other ones appeared magically, like I went to sleep and someone just put it there for me. I’m always terrified with the next one because i just feel like I don’t know how to write.”

These are all established professional screenwriters. And THEY are terrified by the first draft of their projects.

What’s my point?

Maybe we should cut ourselves some slack about OUR OWN FEARS when we start a new project.

Check out the videos. A lot of interesting insights into the craft and some fun — and funny — anecdotes about their film projects.

Consider subscribing to the Writers Guild Foundation YouTube channel. They have dozens and dozens of videos ranging from one-on-one interviews to filmed panels with screenwriters and TV writers. It’s a great way to learn from the pros.

Twiter: @WritersGuildF, @WGAWest.