Help!!!!look down there,what should i write?

Breaking into Hollywood: Should I work a somewhat interesting job in the film industry if what I really want to do is write screenplays?

• This is a very long description.  If you want to skip the background, scroll down to "SO".  Either way, thank you very much for your help. Here's my dilemma: I'm in my early twenties and want to write screenplays. I already do write them, so I mean that I want to earn a living doing so.  Let's assume for a moment that, aside from all of the other crucial factors that play a role in selling a script, I write very good scripts (I've read for companies for the past year and mine are certainly way better than what they get, though that's not saying much). I've been unemployed and living with my parents for a while, shifting from unpaid internship to unpaid internship hoping I might be able to foster a career in development while I work on my own writing. That hasn't worked very well so I recently got in touch with a temp agency so that I could work random jobs to make some money while I write. Now, two things just happened simultaneously: (1) I just found a way to enjoy writing 100% of the time.  I have always struggled with motivating myself to write and liked the idea of writing more than writing itself (and so on) but something just clicked and now I can't stop.  For me, it was about letting go of a fear of criticism and writing for myself, writing to enjoy the process.  Incidentally, my stories are better now. (2) I found a listing for an UNPAID internship working in creative development for a production company. The company's site made them look a little iffy but I met with the producer and they seem pretty legitimate (very nice office, boss is sharp and name dropped like crazy- maybe I'm young and impressionable, but they seemed solid). So, I met with them, sent in samples, etc., and the producer just offered me the position.  Again, it's a four-month, unpaid internship. The producer is a hard-ass and if I work for him I'm going to be working very hard developing his projects.  He made it clear that I'd have to write the way he wants me to write, etc. His personal opinions about movies are very strong and narrow-minded, which differs from my own (he also doesn't seem to like the kinds of movies I write). SO, the dilemma is this: I might want to (1) work there because this is the first opportunity (paid or not) I've found that perfectly mirrors what I personally want to do with movies and I don't think I'd find another position like it.  It might be fun to have a creative position that's in tune with my interests (most people would kill for that, right?). ALSO, and perhaps more importantly, I feel as though I have to stay tied to the film industry to increase my chances of selling a script down the line (I.e., knowing this guy might help, at least more than working temp jobs where I'll be totally out of the loop). OR I could (2) Allow my writing and creativity to remain personal and seek out other work. Something tells me that writing the stuff this guy wants all day long might sap me of creative energy and make writing no longer that fun.  I just made it a fun and transcendent experience and I don't want to lose that. This is also, after all, an unpaid internship with no guarantee that he'll ever pay me or that he'll help me down the line. I'm torn, wondering if I should stay true to my youthful idealism and burgeoning love of writing (one that often transcends my desire to even sell a script), or if I should jump on board with an experience that I might not get again and that might help me out down the line. This was very long, but I'm really conflicted and truly appreciate your help. If you want some more info or details, let me know and I'll contact you in private. Thanks.

• Answer:

  Wait.  Stop.  Rewind. One thing stands out in your description here.  One thing that really concerns me. "He made it clear that I'd have to write the way he wants me to write, etc." You had said that this was an unpaid internship working in development, correct. So you are in turn saying that he is having you develop and WRITE these scripts?  If so, run away.  You never write screenplays for free in the film industry.  Never.  So if I am ingesting what you are saying correctly, this unpaid internship has you working in development and writing screenplays for free?  This is not a legit deal.  Before I move on, Iet me address a couple more things.  You said that you had some concern about this production company when you saw their website.  I'd love to see the website and learn of this producer's name, if you'd like to message me directly. Then you met with him and said that he had plenty of name drops, etc.  Okay, with those elements to the story, I would proceed with caution.  As I said before, you never write screenplays for free.  Secondly, we have to determine if this guy is worth the trouble in the first place.  In order to do that, you want to check his credits.  Venture over to http://imdb.com , look him up, etc.  If he has little to no legit credits with name actors, walk away.  It's not worth it.  It's fine if the company credits showcase B movies, Direct-to-DVD and such, but if he has no credits beyond shorts, no name amateur indie films and such, walk away.  I can also look him up via IMDB Pro which allows me to look further into his company. HERE IS WHAT A LEGIT INTERNSHIP ENTAILS    You work with a name company with credits.  You work as an unpaid intern, which will have you answering phones, being a go-fer, and best yet, reading scripts and writing coverage.  You generally work such an internship for a few months.  They will then either drop you or, if they are impressed with your work, they will hire you as an entry level assistant or more where you will likely be doing the same things but now getting paid for it.  Such internships are vital to your success as a screenwriter, namely the script reading and writing coverage part of the job.  My work in development at Sony as a script reader/story analyst made me a better writer.  I learned the general guidelines and expectations of the film industry.  I learned what to do and what NOT to do.  I learned how to break down the success or failure of a screenplay by writing studio coverage.  So if you stumble upon a job that lets you do this, JUMP ON IT. Beyond learning how to write, the networking opportunities are amazing.  You will be able to hone your writing skills and when the time is right you will be able to share that work with the powers that be that you've met.  But ONLY when you're ready.  Don't burn that bridge too quick by taking out your first script or anything.  And yes, by all means, take on any full time job you can get that places you in a better position to learn, or to network, or to just intake development, production, post production, marketing, representation, etc.  Any of those areas and more.  Prime example:  I moved across the street from Sony Studios in 2002.  I WANTED to be behind those walls.  I NEEDED to be behind those walls.  I walked up to a security guard and said, "How do I get a job here?"  Two weeks later I was a security guard.  I was moved to the VIP gate and talked to all of the executives on a daily basis (And got Christmas presents from them), as well as visiting A-List talent.  Then I moved into an office job, eventually becoming a studio liaison working directly with all incoming film and television productions, as well as on lot term deals including Escape Artists and Adam Sandler's Happy Madison company.  Then I got into development as a script reader under the late and legendary executive John Calley.    During this whole time, I was honing my writing.  I WAS WRITING.  That's the key.  No industry job or internship is just going to give you a screenwriting career.  Not going to happen.  They aren't going to suddenly tell you, "Hey, you've been answering the phones for awhile, want to write one of our scripts?"  That will never happen.  You have to be writing.  You have to be learning.  You have to be looking for opportunities.  You need to hone your writing skills.  You generally won't be ready until at least two or three scripts are under your belt.  Then you'll need that one marquee concept and script.  And yes, you ALWAYS need a script.  You will not be selling pitches or concepts.  That just doesn't happen.  So, that said, I want to go back to this producer guy.  It's very easy to name drop, talk the talk, and what not.  That's how people draw innocent ones in.  But if he wants you to be developing and writing his concepts?  And without paying you screenwriter fees?  And without likely giving you screenwriter credits in the end?  Run away.   You don't do that for free.  You answer phones, you handle emails and mail, you go get coffee/donuts/lunch, you read scripts, you write coverage, etc.  That's what unpaid interns do.  They don't develop concepts into scripts and especially don't WRITE screenplays.  That's a scam if I ever heard of one.  So please, message me the guy's name and company.  I'll look him up and check him out.  I'll then update this answer after I have done so but will keep him anonymous.  Hope this helps. Update:  The writer of this question messaged me with the guy's name and company.  He has no producer credits to his name.  As I  assumed, he has some  (two) minor technical credits as a location supervisor in  some less than noteworthy indies, and did some editing and sound for  some short films.  That's it.  I looked up his company's alleged  connections with those movies mentioned (American Psycho, Y Tu Mama  Tambien, etc.). There are no credits listed that connect his company  and those two films.  I'm thinking that at the most, they may have used  the editing facilities there on location and he likely exaggerates their  involvement beyond that. So run away.