In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, Jason Hellerman, and GG Hawkins discuss their concerns over the insidious ways big data is affecting hollywood. They also unpack the benefits and disadvantages to entering screenwriting contests.

We discuss:

The scary way big data is now being used in the industry
How commerce is pushing back on creativity
The best way to approach screenwriting contests
Our worries about screenwriting contests and who actually benefits from them
Feeding into the “hope machine” in order to get into the industry
An anecdote about Triangle of Sadness
Why there are no rules to convey your message when it comes to screenwriting

Memorable Quotes

“It is interesting to think about the data that’s being tracked on what you watch and where it can go…Is this something they are selling to people?” [6:40]
“In an industry that’s already shrinking…putting A.I. behind it is a little worrisome.” [8:15]
“The safest bet is not the best story.” [9:25]
“There are things other than the checkboxes that make a movie what it is.” [12:52]
“As a writer, as a director, you can use whatever you want to get your point across.” [42:20]