Invasion of the Naysayers
A brash case against those who never could
In a spirit of giving, online forms have been a wonderful place to find answers to niche questions like How to write a query letter? Or When to cold email agencies? Personal blogs and Reddit posts have been there to give me different perspectives on all aspects film industry and screenwriting. I’ve found that online answers are varied, but often have uplifting nuggets of wisdom. It’s a beautiful thing where people are able to list their pitfalls in order to help an unknown. But in recent times, I’ve become more attuned to a very specific type of person. In order to warn the more hopeful creatives, I think it’s important to spotlight these enemies. You’ve probably seen them. A person that elicits pity and ire, lurking in the murky bogs of comment sections. I speak about the scourge of the earth; Naysayers.
Consider this a warning to all the insecure failures out there, if you have the urge to be a naysayer, don’t.
Naysayers, Misanthropes, and Pessimists are everywhere. With sugar coated defenses of “meaning well”, these individuals usually add nothing of value when asked about their experiences in the industry. Instead they offer absolutes to dampen the wings of novice filmmakers. Instead of explaining why their methods didn’t work for them, they simply state that it won’t work for anyone. These answers are what we call nothing burgers; empty words designed to take up space. I started to come across a handful of these people on Reddit. Faceless profiles whose comments are unceremoniously downvoted to the bottom. Profiles that begs to be seen regardless of their lackluster answers. How frustrating these people are. As I pondered the Naysayer’s motivations, my scorn turned into pity...
Keeping things the same is often a great motivator. If I wanted to be nice, I could say these Naysayers were once like us; ambitious, delusional, talented, and wide eyed. I could also say hard times probably fell on them, and for one reason or the other they couldn’t reach the heights they hoped. But that isn’t often the case. Naysayers relish in avoiding solutions. In an industry where problem solving is a top requested skill, they never stood a chance. Instead of accepting their fate (or stubbornly trying again) they believe their time is better spent shooting the foot of others, exaggerating obstacles so that they can confirm their failure had nothing to do with them.
No experience is an end all be all. Putting yourself out there, in any capacity, is hard enough as it is without someone’s snide comments. How sad it is to find importance in tearing someone down, and to find solace at such a low level. I think we should call it what it is, bitterness. A self-important bitterness that wraps itself in a statement that is simply, “telling you how it is”. Perhaps every university in the world has met its quota on washed up filmmakers and this Reddit form is the only place you can spout your nonsense. These people should be left to their own death roll.
Of course not everyone’s going to “make it.” Thousands of hopefuls flock to L.A. to switch places with the ones sucked dry. And people should have a clear understanding of the risks. However, as one of the hopeful, I think we should have enough discernment to tell good advice apart from useless commentary. I’m hyper-delusional (and the greatest person ever) so ignoring comes naturally to me. But, unfortunately, some great artists were never able to fully try because of these problem-oriented Naysayers. So to those people out there, in the most disrespectful way I can say it, fuck off. No, really.
If you can’t offer guidance, let your claims be as silent as the dreams you let die. <3 ***
