Bob Saenz

When I turned 40, I'd been a salesman for 20 years. After 40, a SAG actor in film & TV, a radio DJ, a talk radio producer, did documentary & video game voiceover, in a working rock band, and a multiple produced screenwriter. All because I was told I couldn't. Learn from this.

@TeaRoseKent I pitched a game show and nobody wanted it. Million Dollar Bobcat. It’s like Deal or No Deal except one of the cases has a live Bobcat in it. I don’t understand why it failed.

I'm lucky. I've met a lot of screenwriters. But I don't remember any one of them mentioning they've pitched a game show or reality series. Have you?

@SirArminius I use Word. Works for me.

Authors - I have been using Word to write my book because it is familiar and easy. What do you use? Should I switch or is it a case of if it ain't broke, don't fix it? #writingcommunity #indieauthors

@jayson_smiley @LisaLueyLutes It’s 00.02% in reality. And you are spot on.

@LisaLueyLutes Hold up. Let’s describe “win.” Win, like dating means “closed.” Ring or Deal. 😂 My point is; they want everyone, but your one person, to fail. 99.99% failure rate is their goal. All they need is 00.01% to claim victory.

Why would a SERVICE want you to win if that means losing a “paying client.” It works exactly like the dating apps. Mic drop. 🎤 Debate me… especially if you run a service. I’ll smash you, all in good fun. 🫵🏾😂

@jayson_smiley @HwoodScrptReadr I peeled an orange for her once, can I get paid for pitches, too?

Technically that’s what he said (behind the sleight of hand), you know that, I know that. The issue is, new writers don’t parse that. For many of them it reads “I was integral.” Just frame it as what it is “She prefers her coffee black. That much I can tell you with the utmost confidence.” That’s not development. 😂

SERVICES: How they trick you with their BIOs. Sidebar: Maybe I should pay to pitch him. Seeing as he was involved with that film enough to lead his bio with it. Do people get mad when I show you the truth? Probably, bruh. Do I care? Nah… 😂 Good luck.😘

@stepha_henson I didn’t write anything until I was 40. Not a thing. Nowhere on a title page does it show your age. Consider the source then ignore comments like that. You can succeed. I did. You can.

“Why, at your age, do you think you can become some real author?” Not gonna lie guys, that one stung. Yes, a real comment - in real life, not just online …. but to my face. It’s not pretty sometimes when you chase a dream.

@FinishLineScrip Nope. First drafts are hard. Rewriting is fun.

Writing is hard. Rewriting is harder. Who agrees?

@jakethornton A film I never get tired of.

I loved this movie growing up…

Write what moves you. What inspires your creativity. That’s where your best work comes from. In order this year for me? A Christmas film. A big animated adventure. An inspirational fantasy / comedy. A big animated musical. A historical drama / adventure. A horror film… write what you want.

I understand the advice ‘stick to one genre’ making you easier to market. But, as someone with 4 different genre scripts, I’m hoping showing diversity is also a plus for some managers.

@MenachemSilver I’m not that lucky.

@BobSnz Does it rhyme with “Nick Cannon Biopic?”

The worst thing about signing an NDA? Not being able to tell anyone about the awesome project you’ve gotten to work on. Yet.

My week. Send assignment rewrite script in on time. Left for a short vacation in Savannah Ga, where it absolutely cemented itself as the quirky party town I thought it might be, got another rewrite job, producer read my rewrite… “Wow! I love it.”, all before I got home. I love my job.

@andreaberting Hand everyone you see a copy of one of your scripts.

Going to a film festival tomorrow, what should I know about networking as a screenwriter? Wrong answers only

@jakethornton Without any doubt.

Facts.

@LukeBarnett Absolutely.

I am a proud union member but the fact that the WGA/SAG are even threatening a strike right now is absolute insanity.

@HwoodScrptReadr Yup.

Do we need yet another post on loglines? Apparently we do. Crafting a logline is crucial at two different times during the process. First before you write the thing. Next when it comes time to sell it. If you can't come up with an idea that grabs people you're wasting your time. And also mine by the time it gets to me but I get paid either way. The logline is like a stress test. It forces you to distill your concept down to its most basic essence and can help you sharpen up an otherwise fuzzy storyline. You're trying to write the very best version of your premise. Might as well try to figure that out before you open up that pirated copy of Final Draft. If you've done your job well, you can use that logline to put in a query email to a potential agent or manager who in turn will reuse it again to get read requests from an exec or producer. A great logline puts your script at the top of their virtual pile. A bad one lands you at the bottom. A logline is a tool. You can try to drive a nail with the heel of your shoe but why not use a hammer? Use it or don't. The choice is yours.

@SPMJM Exactly.

Some of you seem to regard screenwriting as a chore. And like, if you aren’t having fun then why are you writing screenplays?

@spyderdobro Story of life. One script opened every door for 18 years.

A great screenplay is currency. It is currency for opportunities. It gets you meetings. It gets your storytelling abilities in circulation. A script is never dead. Could’ve been written 25 years ago and still sell. It is forever of value. Keep writing.

@jeannevb I just finished an assignment rewrite on a big animated film. I start a rewrite on a cool comedy script a week from Monday.

So what are you all working on and where are you in the process? Idea phase, outlining, first draft ... pages in the trash? And if you're stuck in that spot, what would help you move on? #scriptchat

@jakethornton You are only as good as your last job.

So true. You must never stop fighting.

@BobSnz Let’s go! Congrats Bob! Love to hear it. We just got hired on a rewrite job as well 🙌

Turned in a page one assignment rewrite today. A 5 week job. Tremendous fun. Tonight… got hired on a rewrite from a producer I’ve known for a while, but have never worked for. Read the script a few weeks ago, gave him my ideas, timing is everything. Taking a week off first.