I just finished watching the documentary, Dreams on Spec (2007.) Several years ago I donated my DVD to a local library, but it never appeared in their catalogue. Fortunately, I recently found it listed on the video streaming service Tubi. Dreams on Spec follows the lives of three aspiring screenwriters as they attempt to get their scripts produced, interspersed with commentary on the profession by screenwriters working in Hollywood.

You don’t have to write screenplays to relate to the experiences of the three screenwriters profiled in Dreams on Spec. All writers have been on the same emotional rollercoaster, from dreaming of success, to the reality of rejection.

Throughout the documentary two questions dominate: How far are you willing to go to succeed as a writer? and Is it worth it? Two writers put everything on the line, risking their family relationships and financial stability, but their scripts aren’t produced. The third writer keeps his day job, but his screenplay is produced.

As Dreams on Spec demonstrates, devoting your life to writing full-time doesn’t guarantee success as a writer, but writing part-time doesn’t necessarily prevent you from enjoying success as a writer either.

Considering how much time and effort these three writers invested in trying to find success in Hollywood, was it worth the sacrifices they made? I think the best answer is: If you love writing, keep at it, because you never know where it might lead, and regardless of the ultimate destination, you’ll appreciate what you learn on the journey.

Copyright © 2024 by J. Paul Cooper