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The Screenwriter in Cyberspace
By Charles Deemer

Column #10 - Making Waves in Cyberspace

Every screenwriter who enters cyberspace goes through a number of phases: the first combines wonder and stress, as the newbie surfer struggles to become comfortable with and come to grips with the overwhelming array of information that is the World Wide Web, which is the area that increasingly represents the very heart of Internet activity.

Next, as the writer becomes comfortable with navigation, there's an exploration into personal participation, as the writer begins to exchange regular email with other writers, joins in on newsgroup discussions, and perhaps even writes a webmaster or two about a particular site.

Finally, many (but not all) screenwriters decide to participate more actively by creating a web page of one's own.

An Interview with Bill Johnson

In the short span of a year or so, Bill Johnson has jumped through each of these hoops. Bill and I chatted about his experience in cyberspace in my virtual office at the University of Hawaii's ATHEMOO.

[note: Bill registered as a guest at the MOO, and the host program let him be the guest of the Bard]


CharlesD says, "Bill, the thrust of this column will be how being on the 
net can help screenwriters. So I'm using you as a success story." 

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "Okay"

CharlesD says, "For starters, when is the FIRST time you ever got online - 
to a bbs, or whatever."

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "AOL, just over one year ago." 

CharlesD says, "Describe your first experience with that - were you lost, 
impressed, what?"

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "Not so much lost, but when I found the 
screenwriters area, I felt excited. That I'd found a community of writers 
who would always be there. Before that, I felt isolated." 

CharlesD says, "Were you immediately welcome into this community?" 

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "Yes, I started almost immediately posting some 
of my thoughts on story structure, and very quickly I became someone known 
in the community."

CharlesD says, "Was there any kind of pre-existing hierarchy of influence 
or power there that resisted a newbie jumping in like that?" 

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "Not so much a hierarchy that prevents people 
from joining in, so inexperienced writers jump right in and often come 
across as inexperienced, or misguided. Just like in life, there are 
successful writers, and people who would like to be. Who's who quickly 
becomes apparent."

CharlesD says, "At this point had you been on the Web yet?" 

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "No, I saw AOL as a bike with training wheels." 

CharlesD says, "How did you get courage to take off the wheels?" 

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "Listening to you, your encouragement, and what 
was happening for you as a result of being on the web. At the time, I 
didn't quite know what it all meant, the web, etc." 

CharlesD says, "Did you not also make important connections right on AOL? 
Talk a little about that."

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "I met a dramaturg in New York, and very quickly 
I met a man who'd founded and run a film college. He offered to edit my 
essays in return for seeing rough drafts of my work, and hearing my 
thoughts on story structure. There was no other way I could have EVER made 
that connection."

CharlesD says, "Why get on the Web if all this is happening at AOL?" 

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "AOL is like an enclosed lake. The web is the 
ocean. There just comes a time when being on the lake isn't enough." 

CharlesD says, "When then did you first get on the Web and what was that 
like?"

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "The day before Thanksgiving [1995]. It was very 
draining, getting my web page constructed with approx. 15 essays and 
approx. eight other pages. I got feedback immediately, because I was 
announced on your site."

CharlesD says, "But BEFORE you put yourself on the web, when did you first 
get on and surf?"

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "In October, when I hooked up with Teleport. That 
was unpleasant. New computer, new to Windows, Teleport support hard to 
reach. I kept wanting to call. I learned it's better to e-mail. So I began 
surfing very slowly. GOD it's easy to see several hours go by." 

CharlesD says, "When you FINALLY got on the web - were you impressed, 
disappointed?"

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "I was impressed. It seemed our world had changed 
in a fundamental way. It seems so vast and never-ending in terms of 
information. Always something around the corner, some new and interesting 
link."

CharlesD says, "How did you learn HTML?" 

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "LeMay's book, practice. In 
hindsight, basic HTML is easy. It's just getting to the point that it's 
hindsight."

CharlesD says, "Okay, so your site goes up. People respond. Then what 
happened?"

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "I met a producer in New York and critiqued a 
script that's to be shot this summer, 4-f. We've also talked about my going 
out there this summer and long term being the story consultant for his 
production company, Point and Click. They have an office in the Trebeca 
building that DeNiro owns."

CharlesD says, "Quite a leap from feeling isolated, hey?" 

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "Yes, a quantum leap. He's offered to take my 
essays in edited form to some publishing contacts. We've talked about 
making a CD rom. I feel part of the world, now." 

CharlesD says, "How did you get connected to the Hollywood Network?" 

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "William Snowden, my contact in New York, wanted 
me to go to Hollywood On-line. I thought he meant Hollywood Network. At the 
network, I saw a request that screenwriters with helpful information on the 
web should contact the Network about having their material mirrored."

CharlesD says, "Bill, there are still a lot of screenwriters and wannabes 
out there who haven't taken the leap into cyberspace yet. What would you 
say to them?"

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "That it's a whole new way to connect with the 
creative community that produces movies. If you're not in LA or New York, 
and you're not online, you're missing tremendous opportunities." 

CharlesD says, "Yes, it is a very new world - especially for us non-LA/NY 
folk. Bill, I want to thank you for spending time with me." 

Shakespeare's_Guest says, "Thanks for inviting me to your virtual office." 


You can find Bill Johnson's page of essays, Essays on the Craft of Dramatic Writing, mirrored here at the Internet Screenwriters Network.

Are you a screenwriter with a cyberspace "success story"? I'd like to hear it. Email me at cdeemer@teleport.com

--Charles Deemer



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Originally appeared at the Hollywood Network.