Don't Shoot the Messenger!

There have been several threads on social media lately about how we talk to one another. Some people find it disrespectful. Others find it comical. Some (trolls) get paid just to anger enough of the right people to chase them out of a certain social group.

Recently, I've been "attacked" for the way I communicate to some- mostly current clients, potential clients and TSM followers. Instead of issuing a blanket, unexplained "apology" void of specifics, I'd rather explain some of the reasons behind the way that I communicate, as it IS intentional on most occasions.

1. My age- I'm over-60 (even though I don't look it), and you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
2. I'm from New York- Not proud of this fact (in fact, I claim to be a Southern boy, which I am these days) as I personally detest NYC, but when you live there from birth- for 17 years- there are just some things that become part of your DNA.
3. I'm Italian- hard-core, NYC Italian, and all that it implies. There's a certain "way" we all communicated back there back then, and if you think it ONLY involved horse heads, your sadly mistaken.

There was a time in the 80's and 90's when I did a lot of performances- singing. I did tribute shows, 70's music, standards- pretty much from Sinatra to Meat Loaf. Now, performing live, without the vocal equipment they have today, you had to rely on being "in voice" or not, but we weren't going to NOT perform. Now, my partner and I were good enough to perform in Las Vegas at the Silverado for a time- a tribute to The Righteous Brothers- and we were very successful (Rest in Peace, Dennis). After a show, people would tell us how good we were, how wonderfully we sounded, and there were a few occasions when I agreed with them. Most of the time, I remembered the bad notes, the flubbing of the words, or being off rhythm.

Fast-forward to reading and critiquing a screenplay. Some people love the fact that I am direct, honest (in my estimation) and specific. I've NEVER told anyone not to continue writing. Like the way I've always worked- in business, in management, in law enforcement, in teaching, in owning small businesses, and production, in screenwriting- and in raising four children- I ALWAYS explain the "why", and not just the "how". When I was a kid, I had this nasty habit of talking back to my father, but I disguised it "Why do I have to mow the lawn NOW? We're starting a baseball game!" He never said, "Because I said so". He explained that it was going to rain the next two days, and he wanted it cut before that, or it would be another week before it could get cut. Now, I have all of the information, and it made sense. I wasn't DESERVING of an explanation- he's the parent, I'm the son, and I do what he says to do- but it showed he respected me enough to answer my question and explain. It was what they now call "a learning moment".

With screenwriting critiques, I can use some colorful phrases, basically saying the script isn't up to a professional standard- and few of them are- but I NEVER diminished the writer or their abilities. In fact, I honor anyone who has the wherewithal to sit down and write a full screenplay to conclusion, as 95% will start, but never finish. Additionally, most people don't know what they DON'T KNOW. You can't BLAME them.

I might express how this particular script is not good at all, but I also explain how I generally see light at the end of the tunnel and can tell they have writing skills. You can't teach "desire". If you want to learn to improve your writing, I'm there for you- as a paid mentor or someone on the side you can ask the occasional question or favor.

I am direct. I don't pussy-foot around the subject, the problem OR the solution. Life is too short to waste time doing that.

I am honest. My assessment is limited by my knowledge- both in life experiences and industry experience. If that knowledge exceeds that of your own, I am your "rocketeer". Those with similar industry knowledge are your "peers". Those who love you regardless of how you write, sing or pussy-foot around, are your "cheers."

I DON'T think I'm "better than" anybody. In fact, I am surrounded by friends, peers and rocketeers whom I somewhat worship and often wish I was "as good as"- and these people don't even know it.

Chuck Hustmyre enjoys a career I would someday hope to achieve.

Ken Lemm is not only a wonderful screenwriter, but he has friends that love and adore him deeply and have for years (count me as one).

Solange Ritchie, Ralph Griffith, Bill Sanders and Ed Borowsky are some of the finest novelists I've ever come across.

Nancy Newbauer, Brent Jones, Paul Ajaya, and Charles Andrew are some of the finest screenwriters with whom I've ever had the pleasure of working.

Meanwhile, people like Erica Starr, Pamela Millican, Sally Barnard, Brigham Sunday, Linda Sonnet Carlson and Paul Rapisarda have lived- and continue to live- lives that serve a higher purpose. They have overcome enormous obstacles- many of which would have defeated the rest of us. What's not admirable about that?

In conclusion, maybe I could use some work on my delivery, but if, in the end, I'm willing to take MY limited time and help you, doesn't that make up for the shortcomings of the way in which the message was delivered or received? How could me telling YOU that your screenplay isn't "close to being up to a professional standard" when, in fact, it's your first screenplay and you've never had one course, lesson, read a single book or attended one seminar on the craft of screenwriting? How can you be offended if you received TWO other reviews that, while dressed in polite platitudes, were really saying the very same thing?

WRITER'S BIO: Mr. Scala spent 24-plus years in the Hollywood community and was the Executive Director for the?72nd Annual Academy Awards,?as well as The Soul Train Awards,?The Grammys,?The Blockbuster Video Awards Show?and?The Saturn Awards Show. With three produced features- "Assassin 33 A.D.",?"Black Easter"?and?"The Tombs" (all are currently available on Amazon Prime and Tubi).

The Script Mentor continues to mentor over 550 new writers and authors and is available-for-hire for original screenplays, adaptations, ghostwriting, or rewrites.

Effective September 1, 2024, THE SCRIPT MENTOR organization will no longer be accepting any additional LIFETIME mentoring members. We have exceeded all possible imaginings on how successful this program has become- now close to 700 lifetime mentees- and we are truly pushing our limits. We will be offering 50% discount ($749.00 membership) for this final push to 700+ membership until end of business on 8/31/24.

If you have any interest in professional screenwriting assistance and guidance- to include writing spec screenplays, marketing, networking, et al- for all of your screenplays for as long as you are writing, contact us right away. We will send out an invoice and bring you on aboard. Our members have sold screenplays, been hired into studios, have had many produced into movies, have won screenwriting competitions and prizes of over several hundred thousand dollars, have had their books adapted into screenplays and have increased books sales a hundred-fold. Many have gone on to become full-time professional screenwriters in their own businesses or working right here with The Script Mentor team.

This article series is sponsored, in part, by TSM Screenplay and Novel Marketing Services. Recently, The Script Mentor partnered with Erica Starr Enterprises (Social Media Marketing Business Plan - Erica Starr Enterprises) and created TSM Screenplay and Novel Marketing to help screenwriters and authors publicize and market their projects and themselves.

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