Uphill Both Ways

OR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, I HAVE BEEN IN THE ABSURDLY FORTUNATE position to work professionally as a screenwriter. I have written two movies that got produced on opposite ends of the spectrum—one independent and one for Disney—and several others that have not, or may still. Upon learning that one latter such project, which had occupied me off and on throughout 2018 but which was being developed as a speculative pitch as early as December 2016, was being swiftly euthanized due to departing executives, my wife remarked that this was a shame, since I had put in countless hours on it. This was true, but realistically I did not expect the script to get produced. Why would I, when common wisdom holds that nine out of 10 projects developed remain unmade? Which brings me to the question I ask myself when sitting down at the desk every day: why bother?