Hmmmm...I love ya', Gummly, but I have to disagree.
I don't think you can learn how to write at all, sure you can become better at writing from writing, but you can't offically learn how to write a screenplay and I ultimately think that's his point.
That depends on what you mean. I think writing, like virtually all skills, is a combination of talent and effort (or, in cases like this, education). If you're a naturally scrawny guy, professional weightlifting is gonna be tough for you...but not impossible. You'll just have a harder time making up for your natural shortcomings in that area.
I've always felt that with talent, you can be good. Very good. With effort/education/practice, you can, technically, also be very good. But you can be
great if and only if you have talent and effort/education/practice. So, I'd modify the statement: you cannot learn to become a GREAT writer. You can learn to become a good writer. If the talent isn't there, though, you'll hit a wall.
You learn from writing, you learn from experience.
"Experience" is a very, very, very, very, very vague word. It sounds to me as if, in this context, it refers to "interesting things," basically. Heartbreaking things, inspiring things, etc. I don't think these are required to write well. I think there are all sorts of things that can inspire, and that no one is anywhere near required. It depends on who you are. Many people can become wonderful writers simply by reading a great deal, even if they haven't had their heart broken, or contemplated suicide.
...you need experience in one way or another to write a screenplay. And that's true. It is, no matter what you want to argue, that's the truth.
Well, yes, but what is "experience"? Sounds to me like it just means "life," and it's sort of a no-brainer that you need to have lived a little bit of life before you can write.
Regarding his pomposity, I'm all for it. It makes it a far more interesting read, and I love that sort of harshness in what he's saying. Reminds me of someone.
Who? You, or me?
I'm not all for it, personally. Being good and knowing you're good is just fine. If Larry Bird is telling me my grip on the basketball is all wrong, I won't think of him as pompous. If some guy I've never met tells me the same thing, though, I'm going to doubt him until he shows me somehow that he knows what the hell he's talking about. The person you quoted has given me no solid reason to believe he's a good writer or knows what he's talking about. I don't hand credibility out.
You've got to earn it.
I want to bear witness to his knowledge...or at least get some friggin' credentials.