I am one of life's continuous students. I regard everything as an opportunity to learn something new, big or small. And screenwriting is no different.
When I originally felt the call to be a screenwriter, I was in high school. I looked into programs for college and university, despite not having the marks, but there weren't any programs in Canada at that time (we're talking the 80's people).
They had technical programs at places like Ryerson or some of the colleges in Ontario, but nothing specific to screen writing or film making. There was no Toronto film school, no Vancouver film school, and most of the colleges were very technical programs. Film school was only available in the USA, in New York or Southern California (USC and UCLA). I had neither the money nor the grades to go to either place.
So, I graduated high school, took a business course in college (a couple of months long, that now would be called administrative assistant and take several semesters), got a job through a temp agency and then started looking around to find out how to be a film maker.
Initially, I wanted to direct. Well, not knowing the first thing about it, that clearly didn't happen. Then a friend got me involved in community theater. Good idea, I thought, a great way to learn about directing and such since it's a skill that can be transferred over.
I spent 15 years in community theater and did direct three plays. Loved it but had my fill of community theater politics and left. But, I learned.
During that time, I also started writing plays, thinking that was a great way to learn about writing scripts. My first efforts were, well, let's call them interesting ideas. They never amounted to much and still linger in some form or another in a box somewhere. But, I learned.
After a few years, I remembered I preferred film. So, went and got some books on screenwriting and film making from the library, bought some very expensive screenwriting software (no freebies back then either, as the interwebs was still in it's teens) (Final Draft if you are wondering and it was great but it didn't convert well to other programs such as Word, so limitations). All in all, didn't amount to much. But, I learned.
Then I actually wrote my first screenplay, THE PERFECT WOMAN, while bouncing from temp job to temp job and then from full time job to full time job, never fitting in, always dreaming and hoping and working my way towards the dream of being a screenwriter, director and film maker. THE PERFECT WOMAN was so flawed, but I even tried to get it made. That didn't amount to much. But, I learned.
A few more years passed, more screenplay ideas and scripts actually written. Read some books from experts like McKee, Snyder and Goldman. Bought some screenwriting/film making books and continued to practice. Almost had two other films made, but again, that didn't amount to much. I still kept learning.
Now, in 2018, I'm about to turn 53. In the last two years, I have taken courses and webinars that have taught me much. I just recently took a webinar from STAGE 32 on how to pitch a screenplay and another one from SCREENWRITING U on screenwriting success for over 50's. Both great courses and one very very valuable piece of information; WRITE, LEARN, CREATE every day!
So, what's the moral of this story? Well, you should never stop learning. There are lots of great courses out there to help you achieve that dream of being in the film industry. College isn't for everyone. Self taught is fine, so long as you keep learning and remain flexible and open minded.
You are never too old to learn and if you think you are, then you are done!
So, dear readers. Though I haven't amounted to much, yet, I learn every day.
So should you.
Carry on!
Ciao
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