“Say who you are.” It stuck with me and has stayed with me to this day. It goes back to something the inimitable Charlie Kaufman said at a BAFTA screenwriting lecture.
What does he mean when he say, “I think the danger of craft is that it needs to be in second position to what it is that you’re doing. It’s seductive to put it in first position,”
Craft is likely meant as the discipline, the structure, everything you can learn about in books from your various screenwriting gurus. But while that is often good ideas, it can absolutely limit you in your creativity if you then start to think "well I can't do this because of xyz" - truth is you CAN do whatever you want - it is that exploration into any and all strange places that will give you those audacious stories that people like Kaufman have created. I've once written some more about the value of how-to books and seminars etc. here > https://danielmartineckhart.substack.com/p/learning-the-craft-of-screenwriting
Thank you Daniel for this insight not only into sceenwriting but into being a person. Happy to hear you moved to the US. Best, Martin
What does he mean when he say, “I think the danger of craft is that it needs to be in second position to what it is that you’re doing. It’s seductive to put it in first position,”
Craft is likely meant as the discipline, the structure, everything you can learn about in books from your various screenwriting gurus. But while that is often good ideas, it can absolutely limit you in your creativity if you then start to think "well I can't do this because of xyz" - truth is you CAN do whatever you want - it is that exploration into any and all strange places that will give you those audacious stories that people like Kaufman have created. I've once written some more about the value of how-to books and seminars etc. here > https://danielmartineckhart.substack.com/p/learning-the-craft-of-screenwriting