Hey Scott - I'd add another route to all of this -- find like minded fellow filmmakers in the city where you live. If you are writing quality scripts that can be produced on microbudgets, and you are able to get something off the ground with other talents in the rough, not only will you do what we are all ultimately wanting to do -- make movies -- but you will also become a produced writer, which in my opinion has more value and cache than any number of well received spec scripts. Particularly if what you produce is good.

First time screenwriters are constantly looking to win the Hollywood lottery. But those of us who aren't in Rome need to take advantage of the technology that's available to us. You probably won't make a Paranormal Activity (although you might) but you will build a credit list and you will work and you'll see what works on the page may or may not work on the stage.

Make films. Write a lot. Make more films. Don't just hope and dream of hitting it big off the page. Build a career as a filmmaker.

I used to work with Neill Blomkamp when he was a 17 year old VFX artist and it was obvious to everyone who knew him that he had to drive and the vision to make great films. He got his break with Jackson and took full advantage of it. AND he brought the people who believed in him from Vancouver to Hollywood -- he used the same DP he'd shot his shorts with, the same editor and many of the same VFX artists he grew up with. He cowrote District 9 with his long time girlfriend, who also worked in the Vancouver film industry. Now they're up for a Golden Globe.

Not that all filmmakers you hook up with will be as decent and loyal and TALENTED as Neill (not by a longshot). But it all started with him wanting to make movies and finding like minded people to work with. And doing everything - commercials, rock videos, making shorts on the weekends.

IMO.

James, that's a great point and I've lifted some of it and updated the original post with it. Indeed, I talked just this week with some young filmmakers based out of Oklahoma who recently finished a feature length movie. I'm forwarding them some questions which they've agreed to answer for a GITS post. I look to feature more folks like that in 2010. Invaluable learning experience from everyone I've ever talked with who's done it. Now if we can figure out a marketing and distribution approach to create a sustainable model...

Thanks again for your comment, James. Well noted.

Great post, Scott, and a terrific addendum from James!

"Like minded fellow filmmakers."

YES!

What's interesting is, after years of doing this, these people, locally, found ME. It goes in cycles and everyone has differing goals but suddenly, as of a month ago, I've been offered to direct a film off one of my scripts. Micro-budget, to be sure, but I have the support of at least 2 backers, a very keen cinematographer/videographer who is in the bullpen, ready to go, and potential cast and crewmembers keep multiplying every week.

So yes, I can't agree and stress this enough, it CAN happen locally, wherever you live! Sheesh, if it can happen in Wisconsin, it can happen ANYwhere!

(the Governor here keeps trying to impose tax breaks for film production and they've tried on numerous occasions to instigate a Film Council but it always crashes and burns. Still, the fact that they are trying is significant.)

As for the backside of it all, distribution and marketing, well, that's not something I'm giving too much thought to right now. As Scott would say, make the best script/film you can, let the rest take care of itself.

James those are great little factoids on Blomkamp,very inspiring.

I have a friend who wants to be a director that I met in Freshman year of college in my film 101 class. We soon discovered that we each had the passion and drive, more so than anyone else we'd met, to make it in our respective fields, and as such have collaborated on a handful of projects. What is most brilliant is that he loves every single thing I write, to where I have given him carte blanch permission to use any of my scripts (with proper compensation) when he breaks into the business like I know he will. He's been working on every set he can as a PA (I think he's done 10, now), and just a few months ago got his first IMDb credit as Misc Crew. I know he'll make it, and I am well aware of how good a position that puts me in.

We should work on something more soon. Something much bigger. I'll of course write.

This is a really great article - thanks for writing it.