Q&A: When I watch movie credits, I notice that screenplays are often written by two people. Is there something about screenwriting that lends itself to collaboration?

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When I watch movie credits, I notice that screenplays are often written by two people. Is there something about screenwriting that lends itself to collaboration?

Nov 16, 2011

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samreveley: On Collaboration

at Nov 17, 2011 - 12:17 PM

I think another reason many writers work collaboratively is because it's always helpful to make sure an idea will work by stating it in simple terms to someone else. Very often, an idea may pop into a writer's head, and they think "Damn, this is the greatest stroke of genius I've ever had!" and they hold onto it, and develop it in their story. But as it turns out, it might be a nebulous idea that's actually getting in the way. By being forced to explain that idea to another person in a way that makes it just as exciting to them, all the ideas put into the script are more likely to be solid.

That jives with your point about fighting, Mr. McKee - the collaborators have to be willing to be brutally honest, or it won't work.

However, I would submit that almost every great work of fiction has been done if not by collaboration, than by springboarding. It always helps to "pitch" your story idea in clear terms to another person, just to see if it gets them as excited about the story as you are. I'd wager that most, if not all, great writers have done that - whether screen, stage, or page. It's what the people on the "special thanks" list are really there for.