87. The following appeared in an ad for a book titled How to Write a Screenplay for a Movie.
Writers who want to succeed should try to write film screenplays rather than books, since the average film tends to make greater profits than does even a best-selling book. It is true that some books are also made into films. However, our nations film producers are more likely to produce movies based on original screenplays than to produce films based on books, because in recent years the films that have sold the most tickets have usually been based on original screenplays.
Discuss how well reasoned... etc.
This advertisement for How to Write a Screenplay... concludes that a writer is more likely to be successful by writing original screenplays than by writing books. The ads reasoning is based on two claims: the average film tends to be more profitable than even best-selling books, and film producers are more likely to make movies based on original screenplays than on books because in recent years the films that have sold the most tickets have usually been based on original screenplays. I find the ad unconvincing, on three grounds.
First, the mere fact that ticket sales in recent years for screenplay-based movies have exceeded those for book-based movies is insufficient evidence to conclude that writing screenplays now provides greater financial opportunity for writers. Ticket-sale statistics from only a few recent years are not necessarily a good indicator of future trends. It is possible that fees paid by movie studios for screenplays might decrease in the future relative to those for book rights. Moreover, the argument is based on number of ticket sales, not on movie-studio profits or writers fees. It is possible that studio profits and writer fees have actually been greater recently for book-based movies than for those based on original screenplays.
Another problem with the ad is that it assumes a writer must make an either-or choice from the outset between writing books and writing screenplays. The argument fails to rule out the possibility that a writer engage in both types of writing as well as other types. In fact a writer may be more successful by doing so. Writing in various genres might improve ones effectiveness in each of them. Also, writing a book may be an effective first step to producing a screenplay. In any event, the ad provides no justification for the mutually exclusive choice it imposes on the writer.
A third problem with the ad is its ambiguous use of the word successful. The argument simply equates success with movie ticket sales. However, many writers may define writing success in other terms, such as intellectual or artistic fulfillment. The ads advice that writing screenplays is the best way to achieve writing success ignores other definitions of success.
In conclusion, this quick pitch for a book is based on simplistic assumptions about ticket sales and writer fees, and on an overly narrow definition of success in writing. To better evaluate this argument, at the very least we would need to know the number of years the cited statistic was based on, and the extent to which ticket sales reflect movie studio profits and writer fees.
让人民有更多“获得感”
快递企业泄露用户信息将受罚
国际英语资讯:Putin urges strengthening Russias military might in next 10 years
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Japan govt confirms intel-pact with S. Korea to continue after Seouls 11th ho
一周热词回顾(10.17-10.23)
国内英语资讯:President Xi meets IMF chief to advance cooperation
“衙内经济”为害尤甚
国际英语资讯:Greater efforts urged to revamp central African economy: Cameroonian president
一周热词回顾(9.7-9.11)
如何用英语高大上的聊体操
美共和党参选人又提“定锚婴儿”
Facebook推出新“反应按钮”
一周热词回顾(11.14-11.20)
国内英语资讯:President Xi meets Kissinger
被查官员如何“对抗组织调查”
北京成“10亿美金富豪之都”
奥运赛事分类词汇-游泳[1]-游泳
体坛英语资讯:Wildcard Lily Zhang makes upsets to reach ITTF Womens World Cup semis
公共场所“秀恩爱”,你怎么看?
一周热词回顾(8.17-8.23)
北京迎阅兵各项关停举措
一周热词回顾(10.30)——
2020年逐步消除“马路拉链”
体坛英语资讯:Pascal Ackermann claims stage 3 victory of Tour of Guangxi
一周热词回顾(10.1-10.9)
五维黑洞“黑环”可能存在
国内英语资讯:Political advisors discuss advancing public interest litigation
体坛英语资讯:Wang Shuang says Chinese players need support to play overseas
国务院加快“僵尸企业”重组
四川试点住房“地震险”
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |