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"Every story worth telling has been told"...of course, as a screenwriter, I don't quite believe this, though it seems that the trend in modern cinema has been to remake something ten times, each time adding a little more in way of special effects to dazzle an audience. The "good story" seems to have fallen by the wayside.

Why are there no new ideas in mainstream cinema? The answer is simple...studios and production companies are not willing to take chances when it comes to new writers, independent films, etc., as they would rather make the fourth installment of "Bat Man" simply because they KNOW it will draw people into the theater no matter how good it really is.

Film making is a gamble from the start...will the new screenplay you have taken under your wing make it to the silver screen, and from there, will it make it on the "hit list"? It's a tough choice for productions companies when they are looking at a very new, vibrant and inventive script from a nobody writer versus a not so wonderful script from a well known writer who already has stars and teams attached to the film via contacts in the business. Most companies are going to go for the "easy money", and sadly all too many great screenplay end up being shelved.

This very question is one of the reasons that we are seeing a trend toward edgy independent films...films like "Crash", that push the envelope and have the star power to back them. Mainstream cinema is on a downward spiral in my opinion, and in the opinion of many others...soon those who are in the "know" will realize that a good script, an innovative script from a fresh face in the business is what is really going to make the difference.

Learn more about this author, Sarah Williams.
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