For those saying writers (most of whom hold 2nd jobs, btw) are "rich," let me put it in a way that may make more sense to you: 1 script made into a film creates btwn 200 & 1000+ jobs. A successful film brings in 100s of millions+ in revenue, $0 of which is shared with the writer. In my case, films I wrote have generated over $2billion. Studio accounting has us believe NOT ONE is in profit even though they've spawned multiple sequels. Thus I've gotten exactly $0 of my 5% of net points. The residuals I get are only cuz 50 yrs ago writers went on strike.

If you don’t vaccinate, you are an incubator for the variants PS: this was told to me by an epidemiologist who’s been studying this. And who, by the way, does not “profit” from people having Covid. In fact, many of her closest friends have died on the front lines. No (sorry, small but vocal minority), I am not a “shill for Big Pharma.”

Garry Shandling died 5 years ago today. In thinking about him this morning, I realized the very first - and last - time I saw him involved the same kind of restaurant and the same exact joke. "The Cow Joke." Which became a 35 year running mock "argument" for us (well, for him). We met 41 yrs ago this week. March 20, 1980. I was a student stand-up in The UCLA Comedy Club. We'd each do a short set, then a professional headliner (we paid $50) would close. Garry was the headliner. He saw my set and asked if I wanted to try writing with him.

In August 1985 I was awakened by a call saying "Are you the Night Stalker?" I hung up, thinking it was a weird prank. But it kept happening. That's when I learned - from a reporter on the other end - that I was a prime suspect in that grisly RIchard Ramirez murder spree. The reporter explained that my car was found at the crime scene, which made no sense because I looked out my window & saw it was still in the parking space of my Westwood apartment. I had to hang up because the police were walking up my driveway - but weirdly slowly.

Let's be clear: Biden was WAY up in the polls. Trump TOLD his supporters NOT to vote by mail (even though he did). And even if he hadn't, more D's believe in science than R's do, so even if Dems didn't traditionally vote more by mail (hence Trump trying to dismantle the USPS).. ..there were going to be more D mail-in votes this year. There was always talk of a "Red Mirage" (with R's going early and in person) and then a "Blue Shift" (as all the ballots were counted. This is not a surprise. I'm sure the shock of many on the right comes more from..

BISHOP MARIANN BUDDE: "The President just used a Bible - the most sacred text of the JudeoChristian tradition, and one of the churches of my diocese - without permission - as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus & everything that our churches stand for. "And to do so... he sanctioned the use of tear gas by police officers in riot gear to clear the church yard. I am outraged. The president did not pray when he came to St Johns, nor... did he acknowledge the agony of our country right now, and in particular that of the people..

I keep trying to find good news & can't. So here are a few of my own personal silver linings:
1. I now realize most meetings I travel to are a waste of time.
2. I like seeing into the background of people's homes.
3. Air quality! Companies should adopt more days of teleworking. 4. I'm enjoying hanging out w family at home and just.. talking.
5. Less stressful choosing a movie in the evening.
6. I like having an excuse to *not* go to stuff.
7. Realizing there's folks I've been taking for granted.
8. Realizing there's folks I don't really need in my life.

This may be controversial, but I think the belief that one must be "passionate" about what they're writing screws up more people than it helps. First of all, it's difficult to maintain. And it sets an unrealistic expectation. Try CURIOSITY. That will take you farther.

https://twitter.com/MartinM84109297/status/1218583122016645121

Being *curious* (as opposed to feeling you need to be "passionate") will lead to something deeper: like intimacy, even love for what you're writing. PLUS, when you feel like you have to be "passionate" all the time, it puts you in a mindset that makes you miss the little wisps...

When I’m around people who are wealthy &/or famous &/or successful I like to ask “When was the happiest time of your life?” And I invariably get one of two answers. Either in childhood before responsibility, or in adulthood, but before they became rich/successful/famous. Not *one* person has attributed their happiness to their success.

Additionally (and this is anecdotal), but around my own friends/peers I’d say to the extent there is *any* correlation between wealth/fame/success I’d say it’s a negative one.

At the cafe where I'm writing the people next to me were disagreeing about the origins of Men in Black & I said "If you'd like, I could clear that up for you" & one responded: "I'm sorry, we do not need an old white male's mansplanation." So I apologized and that was that. (And by the way - it's not like that was the first thing that was said; we'd actually exchanged small talk about various things over the course of their meal and my work.)

The same way you don’t stress when you write a simple tweet like the one you sent me. In other words, when you’re not thinking of it as “Writing” (capital W) it’s easier to convey what you’re thinking.

https://twitter.com/lizmulheron/status/1164615421544169472

Here’s a tip: text your thoughts/ideas to yourself. In a few - or many - texts. No stress. Just as if it’s casual notes you don’t wanna forget. Next: do it as an email. A little longer. But with the same notion: super casual; just recording some brain droppings. Nothing big.

For sure. Other tricks that work for me:
Try standing. Try writing with your opposite hand (seriously). Try writing on the wall (I use a whiteboard). Try writing *about* the problem - like a journal entry. The point: USE OTHER PARTS OF YOUR BRAIN to get out of familiar channels.

https://twitter.com/gennhutchison/status/1124007730740715520

Also: Meditation, often w a simple suggestion at the end. Along those lines: actively *not* working on it - w the key being ACTIVELY, which means take time off while giving yourself an intention (Ie, “When I return tomorrow at 10 I will have an answer - whatever it may be”).

I've never told this story about Garry Shandling because I felt like it would violate some weird vow I made to myself 25 years ago. But here, missing Garry on the 3rd anniversary of his death, I'd like to tell it.

https://twitter.com/JuddApatow/status/1109908699345096704

Several years after we worked together on his 1st TV show, I was outside at a cafe on Beverly Blvd( (I was working on the outline of Men in Black, so it'd have to be be early 93). And I happened to be wearing a crew gift t-shirt that said: "It's Garry Shandling's T-shirt."

In 30 days it'll be 30 years (!) since Bill & Ted opened. In honor of that (& to keep some promises), I'd like to share a few things over the month. The image below is the first (and ONLY) time Chris & I did Bill & Ted in front of an audience - early 1983 at the UCLA Comedy Club. (I'll let this stand as rather painfully obvious evidence as to why @Winter & #KeanuReeves have since carried the performing torch..) The photo's from a show in Dykstra Hall (a dorm) at UCLA. We were answering audience questions *as* Bill & Ted. (I don't remember who was who.)

A lot of truth in this. My goal with description is to write in the rhythm of the thing I'm trying to convey. And to convey only what I see - AS I see it - and NOTHING MORE. Writers often get bogged down in excessive facts, or details, or (gag me) shots - especially new writers.

https://twitter.com/GoIntoTheStory/status/1078436627008155648

Here's an exercise that helped me enormously: Take a film in a genre or style similar to the one you're writing. Run it (w the ability to pause). Now, TRANSCRIBE it, word for word. All the dialogue, all the action - EXACTLY AS YOU SEE IT. Here's what you will learn:

Dear New Screen & TV writers:
If I were to hashtag this thread, it'd be #ThingsYOUwillDoThatWillKeepMEworking. And no matter how much I stress that these things can help you make serious strides, you still won't do them. So I don't mind telling you, cuz my job'll still be safe. Because here's the reality: EVERYONE WHO HIRES WRITERS WOULD RATHER HIRE *YOU* THAN ME. This is fact. You're cheaper. You're (usually) younger. You have (at least, you'd *better* have) a fresh voice. YOU are what they YEARN for: a "discovery" they can hitch their wagons to.

Found while cleaning: My last Men in Black outline, in the form of a letter to Barry Sonnenfeld, from mid-way through the (arduous) 4 yr process. (Purple scrawl is Barry's notes in my writing.) I'd just been been rehired - after having been fired for the 1st (but not last!) time. Creatively it was a joy, & the film was one of those rare things: a ton of super talented people working at their prime, all of whom elevated the script beyond what I (literally) could have imagined. But the process itself was tough - for a lot of reasons, many of my own making.

It saddens me that Michael Avenatti is considering running for President. It underscores something I’ve seen way too much of: fame & power corrupt a person’s ability to think clearly. This is because the world colludes to give them a false sense of who they are within it. 1/ Imagine walking down the street & random strangers literally tell you they love you. People in grocery stores light up just cause you’ve walked in. You get the best tables at restaurants - at any hour. And your opinion - for some reason - seems to actually weigh more. 2/

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You apparently forgot a little decades-long thing called the COLD WAR.

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1018738368753078273

And you seem to be WILLFULLY IGNORING the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea, and a little thing called the HACKING OF A US ELECTION, or, as some refer to it, THE SINGLE GREATEST ATTACK ON US DEMOCRACY IN ITS HISTORY

Okay this is very very very important. A few hours ago, as I sat down to write in the lobby of this Galway hotel, a certain man (I don’t know him other than he described himself as “an Irish screenwriter”) said he was leaving to go to a screening. But it was raining. 1/ And he didn’t have an umbrella. I told him I packed one in my luggage and would be happy to loan it to him because I don’t need it till this evening. He said no problem. I told him to leave it at the front desk when he’s back (he said he’d be back by 6). 2/