Ideas are great, in fact I have a concept for an idea right now. And it’s going to be big. Huge. Just as soon as I can figure out how to pull it off.
Remember when two series launched in the same season both with the same premises: behind the scenes at sketch comedy TV series? The ideas behind Studio 60 and 30 Rock were very similar. One series succeeded and one tanked — not because of the idea, but because of the execution.
As writers, we’re in the execution business. Through experience, practice and talent, we hone our abilities. Our job is to take the idea and make it win.
So I’m not wearing that button.
Tiggy
Agreed! A guy in one of my writing classes came up with a very commercial TV idea that I GUARANTEE he’s going to butcher through poor execution… but meh, what can you do?
Ideas are great, but execution makes all the difference.
Denis McGrath
To be fair, an earlier button I made up and passed around said, “You could always try shooting a blank page.”
As I said last night, the concept behind this button is a phrase referring to the platonic ideal of the story room process — where many ideas can be born, and tabled and poked and prodded and then, killed. In favor of the best one. Which is how you go forward.
In the spirit of that room, that best idea isn’t always the showrunners. It’s not always the most experienced writer’s. It could be the one that comes from the story coordinator or the soaking wet, wet-behind-the-ears newbie. “Best Idea Wins” is an exhortation to let a thousand concepts bloom, and to be egoless and merciless in choosing which ones you pursue.
Sadly, that button also presupposes the context is understood — that it’s a bunch o’professionals sitting around and taking it to that point. It’s the call to the group to decide on the best execution, collectively.
It should be assumed that it is always the execution that is most important. That goes right to the core of even the philosophy behind copyright. You can’t copyright an idea — only its execution.
So while I understand your moral choice in declining to sport the friendly yellow shiny, I would just like to point out two things:
30 Rock actually was the better idea of the two behind-the-scenes shows. Sorkin’s premise — sketch comedy in its own way is as important as the behind the scenes machinations at the White House — was actually rather dumb.
And “Best Execution Wins” would be a way, way scarier button, that I would probably have to refuse to wear, lest I found it gaining support among the Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh crowd.
admin
Hilarious, Denis.
And that right there is the beauty of great writing. You can find many layers of meaning in it, even some that the writer never thought of.
We were talking about that last night (before you ran out of bullshit) vis-a-vis interpreting Mad Men. Who knew it would go for your button too?
Now that I understand it, maybe I will wear it. Because I agree most wholeheartedly, when you’re in the room, working out story, all ideas are equal and source matters not at all.