Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Zeidman.
Hi Paul, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been a writer as long as I can remember. Writing and coming up with stories has always been a part of my life.
My love of writing and love of movies seemed like the perfect combination, so being a screenwriter made perfect sense.
I didn’t go to film school, and I’ve never taken a screenwriting class. Everything I learned about screenwriting came from reading scripts, watching movies, and writing.
Lots and lots of writing.
It’s been a long and tough journey, but I’m thrilled to have taken it. And to keep going
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Whoever said writing was easy was most likely not a writer, because it definitely ain’t easy. Screenwriting is very unique in how it’s done. It takes time to learn how to write a screenplay, let alone a really, really good one.
There’s always that nagging self-doubt. Am I any good? Is my script good? How does it compare to the pros? Am I wasting my time? There are so many ways to get discouraged. It’s not unheard of for a writer to just give up and walk away.
Another challenge is so many other writers are striving to achieve their goal – just like you – and some will see results faster than you. It’s tough not to question your abilities and your work. I like to use the running analogy that “Everybody runs at their own pace.” How somebody else does is no reflection on you. A lot of newer writers don’t realize that.
The biggest obstacle is finding that one person to say “yes” amidst an ocean of “no’s. And believe me, that is a mighty big ocean. They’re out there. You need to put in the work to find them and get them on your side.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I like to say that my brand is “a rollercoaster thrill ride you can’t wait to get back in line for as soon as it’s over.” The best way to describe my work is “fun popcorn adventure”, and what’s great about that is it can apply to so many other genres. Among my scripts are a western, a swashbuckler, a comedy, and a fantasy-comedy.
I like to write scripts for movies that would appeal to both 14-year-old me and present-day-me.
I’m not out to document the human condition or examine what it is that makes us tick. I just want you to have fun at the movies with a unique and original story that respects your intelligence.
It’s also important for a writer to have a “voice”, which means that the script comes across as something only you could have written. I can honestly say that readers who’ve read my scripts know that I wrote them because they sound like what I would write. Not just the story, characters, and dialogue, but the tone, how it reads, etc.
What does success mean to you?
To me, being successful is being able to make a living doing something I love, which in this case would be writing scripts.
It’s also important to point out that it’s not about big paychecks (which are still nice), but more about writing scripts and stories that really resonate with people. I would love for a movie (or movies) I wrote be something people love watching over and over again simply because they really like it.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://maximumz.blog
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pezscreenwriting/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pezscreenwriter
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pzeidman/
- Twitter: https://x.com/maximum_z
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeWritingLife
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/pezscreenwriting.bsky.social
