Actor and director Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who has acted in both independent and popular motion pictures, is renowned for his understanding of the screenwriting industry. He frequently expresses views that both seasoned pros in the field and aspiring authors can relate to.
Gordon-Levitt makes a noteworthy statement about the caliber of scripts he comes across. Those who are familiar with the film industry, where countless stories are pitched daily but only a small percentage make it to the screen, won't be surprised by this comment. The scriptwriting process can be compared to fishing in a huge ocean, where there is an overwhelming amount of water to sort through for each worthwhile catch.
Gordon-Levitt's observation is based on his career-long reading and analysis of scripts. Like any reader who has sifted through innumerable pages in search of the next great tale, he has experienced similar things. It's normal to find more unpolished or unpromising ideas than ground-breaking ones in such a competitive setting.
This emphasizes the sheer amount and variety of material available, not that good scripts are uncommon. It also emphasizes the value of perseverance in the writing process—just as an athlete undergoes intense training to hone their abilities, a writer must hone their craft via practice and input from mentors and peers.
Gordon-Levitt's viewpoint essentially exhorts aspiring authors to not let early rejections or subpar scripts deter them. The secret is to never stop aiming for greatness and to take lessons from both successful and failed storytelling endeavors.