Recently, I’ve been finding myself writing more and more projects with increasing variety. There have been ideas for children’s shows, late-night comedies, horror films, political dramas, the list goes on.
I’ve heard from a number of colleagues and writers with more seniority that it’s always good to just stick with a genre, or at least a specific style that lends itself to a certain format. That way you can associate your brand to a certain aesthetic or mood. It’s what allows a viewer to watch something you worked on and instantly think, “Oh! This is so-and-so’s story/production/work!”
While there is always a truth to this notion, I personally believe that growth requires trying new things. Perhaps after you get a good foothold and people start to know your name, regardless of what they’ve seen by or heard about you, you can decide to buckle down and pick a style or genre that really works with your creative process. But, it may simply just be an outdated mindset that people are living with or considering changing. I don’t know – it’s just something that’s been on my mind recently.
It’s no secret that the increase in streaming services and other outlets through which projects can be seen has destroyed a lot of the status quo within the film and television industries. While variety remains the spice of life, maybe it’s finding its way to being the essence of a good writer in the new world of entertainment, as well.
Scott Duvall 