Will it matter?

Many folks out there seem to think that writing a screenplay is about balancing your need to express yourself creatively AGAINST the needs of the market. Is giving the people what they want the opposite of giving yourself what you want? Do you have to sacrifice your creative principles to be successful?

To me, a movie is about establishing connections between people - and that starts with the screenplay. On the one hand, the screenplay forms bonds between the various people on the cast and the crew. Even more importantly, it is the foundation of the connection between the filmmakers and the audience.

While money is a consequence of that connection, there is something larger going on.

To me, a screenplay is ultimately for the audience. Considering what the audience wants or expects is critical, whether or not you choose to play it safe with those expectations. When a producer looks at the commercial viability of a script, considers the creative merits, and decides whether or not to proceed, what they're really asking is this:

"Will it matter?"

Write scripts that matter to people, and you will succeed - both commercially and creatively.