Do what you love. Work hard. Pursue excellence. These alone should bring happiness and and a sense of satisfaction. Money and fame? A jedi craves not these things.
Photography Credit: Dave Green
A little fact about myself? In addition to being an associate editor for Grassroots Motorsports and Classic Motorsports, I’m also an aspiring screenwriter.
I picked up a class in college–my minor was in creative writing–and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Before you ask, yes, I do have a handful of finished scripts–and about a hundred more ideas–but I wanted to talk about one of the best pieces of advice I heard about writing TV and movie scripts that I think can be applied to any sort of project or hobby.
I follow a working screenwriter named Michael Jamin (his work includes writing for “King of the Hill,” “Tacoma FD,” “Rules of Engagement” and much more), and he gets a common question: How do I get my screenplay in front of an executive/producer/etc.?
His response? Stop worrying about finding the right person to read your script. Instead, focus on writing something so good that it doesn’t matter who sees it.
In his reasoning, if your script is really that good, then anybody “in the business” will be compelled to show it their boss, and so on and so forth, until it gets to some bigwig studio executive.
How does that tip for writing a script relate to cars? I have a real-world example to illustrate it.
Daniel Cummings–better known as nocones in these parts–won our 2022 Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack with his unique “LMP360,” a custom-engineered creation that turned a humble Subaru 360 microcar into a Le Mans prototype-style racer.
More recently, the LMP360 has been making rounds on the internet, garnering the attention of racer Bucky Lasek, Donut Media and pro motorsports photographer Larry Chen.
How did Daniel get all that attention? He built something so awesome that it didn’t matter who saw it. Those who liked it felt compelled to share it.
Need another example? I started at GRM in the back office answering the phone and packing orders. I got promoted to my current role at GRM simply because I wrote a car review well enough that it caught the attention of our editor, David S. Wallens.
So, if you’re looking to make a name for yourself building cars, writing screenplays or doing really any sort of hobby you enjoy, don’t worry as much about meeting the “right people.” Instead, put your effort into your craft. If it’s really that great, the people will come to you.
Do what you love. Work hard. Pursue excellence. These alone should bring happiness and and a sense of satisfaction. Money and fame? A jedi craves not these things.
It has been really awesome seeing the LMP360 show up more and more in my social media feed at different events.
Also, when are we turning on of your scripts into a short film? I think I know someone with some video gear.
This is great. I always enjoy seeing the varied ways this project can inspire people in different ways. I just set out to make something I thought was cool, and it has managed to resonate with people in amazing ways.
Colin is spot on here, If you focus on your passion, people tend to see that and find you. If they don't the worst outcome is that you satisfy yourself.
ChrisTropea said:Also, when are we turning on of your scripts into a short film? I think I know someone with some video gear.
I'm embarrassed to admit I hadn't made that connection in my brain until now.
Who do I know that has a bunch of video gear and the ability to edit video? Try your co-worker in charge of the YouTube channel, you ding-dong.
nocones said:If you focus on your passion, people tend to see that and find you. If they don't the worst outcome is that you satisfy yourself.
I couldn't have said it better myself. That satisfaction is the main driver behind my writing.
If something becomes of it, even better.
Yes, Colin, we need to make a movie.
Several years back, Dex Romweber played a show here in Ormond Beach. This was back when he had the duo with Sara, his sister. (Sadly, she has since passed away.)
Back in school, Dex was a legend as half of Flat Duo Jets. Some vintage footage here:
The gig was outdoors at some biker bar on US-1. Totally not the place.
Maybe a dozen people were watching the stage. We were the only ones who got it.
He killed it. Totally delivered. 100%. A+.
When I told the story to a friend who also played, he was like, Yep, a sign of a true pro.
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