"Corrado" - A production blog

Status
Not open for further replies.
taormina said:
Send your script off to an agent. Try and phone a couple weeks later. See if they even take your call much less tell you the story is good enough to have their talent in it.
Click to expand...

Sorry man, but I have to turn a full 180 from you here. All anyone in this business will EVER do is tell you how great you are. I can't even count on my fingers the number of times someone has told me "I though your script was great," when actually I'm almost certain they never even read it. It comes with the job. If you DO manage to run into someone who'll say straight to your face that your work sucks, or give you an honest critique, you should make friends for life with that person... because they are a rare and valuable breed in these parts. An agent's whole livelihood is based on being chummy with as many people as possible, and most of them sure as hell don't achieve that by being honest.

This may not have a lick to do with your personal experience, but I feel like your assumptions are wrong in this case and I'd hate to see anyone get misled.
 
Okay, so you mean to tell me the agents I submitted my scripts to, whom I ultimately hired actors from, who all said they loved the script were all bullshitting me?

Woooooow. I was so misled.

You know it's pissing contests like this that bug me about this place. Everyone has a voice, and god damn, they are going to use it. It isn't enough to state your personal experiences as they happened - no embellishment - just the facts.

I said that my script was well received - agents loved it. And they did. I got signed immediately for it. Before that it was on Triggerstreet for 4 months where is got consistently good reviews. That's what happened.

It takes a helluva lot of time to write this stuff and I try and answer every question but I think I'm going have to stop getting into discussions where i have to defend my work or experiences.

And Doug, please enlighten me on how an agent is supposed to be chummy. Pick up a phone and try and call Jim Osborne. Or Rick Nicita, or Richard Lovett. If you get through to them, which I highly doubt, you will not see chuminess, I guarantee it.

Chummy agents exist at no name agencies that represent no name actors.
 
Adam i think your are taking some of these comments a little personal.

No one has said your script was crap, it obviously is not it has to be a good script in order for you to have made it this far, Tom Sizemore and (cant remember his exact name at the moment) Johnny, would not be in your film if it was complete crap.

The point they are trying to make is that show business is full of BSers and especially agents are very wary to tell someone their script is garbage because you never know when the guy you just bashed turns out to be the next Tarantino or Shymalan then they look like a moron.

Your script is very good i am very sure of that and as an aspiring writer/director i cant wait to read your script and watch your film so i can get some pointers, but Hollywood is full of people that will tell you what you want to hear out of fear.

Again i cant wait to see your film and read your script you are an inspiration i eagerly run to the computer to read updates on Corrado's progress everyday and i will be sure to be one of the first to buy or snag a free copy of your dvd ha ha.
 
Thanks Topher....I suppose I really haven't run into any full on ass kissers in Hollywood yet. Most of the people I've met have been very genuine, oddly enough.

Also I've heard the "can't say no" theory before - as a matter of fact this theory is right from Dov Simmens' book. I don't really believe it though because my first two scripts were pretty poorly received by Hollywood a few years ago and they weren't particulary shy about telling me they were flaming piles of ****.

I'd love to show the script but Barry had a great point in not releasing it - a point I hadn't thought of.
 
I have yet to produce one of my scripts but i will tell you right now when i do i will not release the script until the film is released... I am very very protective over my scripts...SO i understand you waiting 100%.

But hopefully once you officially sell it the distributer will not mind you posting it...if not then i will just have to wait for the DVD.
 
No because I ran those past a producer I met on Bobby Z. His response was pretty much to quit writing for good. It was really heartbreaking. They were pretty bad, I'll admit, but hey, I was new and no one, I mean no one was "telling me what I wanted to hear".

I had a big producer who was worth $100 million at the time cut me off at the knees. It's what motivated me to do better.
 
You are, in fact, taking things a bit personal. Read carefully what I wrote.

dougspice said:
This may not have a lick to do with your personal experience, but I feel like your assumptions are wrong in this case and I'd hate to see anyone get misled.
Click to expand...

If the agency signed you, then I'm sure you're right: they honestly liked the work. That's fantastic; I wish everyone was so lucky. I also wish everyone was as lucky to get the education I did, where the very first and best thing they pounded into us again and again was how to take criticism. But the fact is that an awful lot of people can't take criticism, and an awful lot of people blow smoke up your ass just so you'll walk away with a smile. If me stating that opinion based on personal experience and the majority experience of everyone else I know in this business is a "pissing contest" then I don't know what to tell you. I just thought it might be a helpful perspective for others to hear.
 
I wish i met an agent willing to worship me. That'd be cool. I'd make them build a statue.

Moving on to what i wanted to say which is not entirely pertaining to this buutt...

Do you have anyone like friends or family read your script and make suggestions/revise? And when you made shorts, what did you do with them once you had the finished product?
 
Adam, do you think you'd get a different response when you passed around your first 2 scripts if you had 300k or 500k behind them? Do you think people's responses would have been different?

taormina said:
And Doug, please enlighten me on how an agent is supposed to be chummy. Pick up a phone and try and call Jim Osborne. Or Rick Nicita, or Richard Lovett. If you get through to them, which I highly doubt, you will not see chuminess, I guarantee it.
Click to expand...

Maybe Doug Spice is married to their daughters. Maybe he's been there and done that... or maybe he's a complete nobody. And maybe he's more advanced in the biz than you are. Maybe he's already sold a couple screenplays and is ammused by your naiveté. Just because he doesn't wear his credentials on his sleeve don't discount that.

And using Richard Lovett as an example is a little over the top.

You don't think anyone is kissing your A? That's a near sighted statement. I mean there's 100+ pages of people saying you're an inspiration and you're fantastic and this is a super sick thread. I'm one of the A kissers myself. I mean this is an inspiring and cool thread, but you could be yanking chains. That's why when i saw a couple things you wrote I posted my comments. It didn't sound... sound.

And If Doug was a nobody but he had money to burn... you don't think agents with out-of-work and working actors would entertain his calls? Of course they would. Would Richard Lovett? Probably not because he's running an agency and being chummy with the Cruises and Hanks and the Jolie-Pitts.

Don't post the whole script. Why not post the best 20 pages of your script so we can get an idea of the tone and characterizations? If it was already on TriggerStreet then what's the big deal?



As always... much success with your movie.
 
Last edited:
I think Doug is simply saying there are many that do lunch with sunglasses and just say, "beautiful baby, beautiful..." you know the type..........baby ;)
 
Last edited:
The first time I posted here I managed to get my ass banned for two weeks the only reason I come back is for this thread (And the Good Grace of Jeremy) ...I also got banned at Red for eternity for the same reason ( Lets just say I served up a taste of "Tough Love" to those who really deserve it = The dishers & PAB`s ) that burned deep and cost me a lot of hassle and heart ache...But it was all worth it because finding this thread and the generosity of this guy has been a life changer for me.

Every act has it context its cause and its effects. Its a bit sentimental but in the world we live in now with the knee deep **** we and our children have to cope with just to survive through it each significant act that resonates in a constructive and positive way should be protected and cultivated.

1. Jared`s Sites...( Yes Jared I still Love You! )
2. The people who contribute.
3. This thread and what it stands for = Sharing the knowledge that makes the
difference.

Adam for the record just so you know its not all in vain, you have not only excelled in your own life but had tremendous impact for others! I have printed out every entry and have it in a huge 500 page book that I underscore, just in case I get my ass banned again, but more importantly for the no holds bared blow by blow of this real world fight round by round and the inspirational message to keep fighting for what we believe in...No matter what.

Remember Adam when you feel over whelmed by the barrage of piranhas nibbling at your toes that you are a Hero & Mentor for many of us here...At least you are that for me.

Again Many many thanks for taking your valuable time to educate and create value not only for yourself.



Break a leg,


DogDay
 
Last edited:
taormina said:
Chummy agents exist at no name agencies that represent no name actors.
Click to expand...

Again, you're shooting your own self in the foot with these massive generalizations. You're saying that you're just stating facts, etc.
But dude that's not fact. And it's baseless.

It's comments like this that caused me to respond in the first place.

There's guys on here who are taking your word as scripture and you're feeding them erroneous information.
 
Aurantaurant-

With all due respect I think your so called critique is disguised negativity and sabotage...You made your point haven´t you?

Everything should be tested and taken with a grain of salt...And?

Start your own thread please if you want to demonstrate that your real world wisdom exceeds what is written here.

You are knit picking its petty and destructive and worst of all its distracting like a fly in a bowl of soup...

DogDay
 
I think it's been stated multiple times already, Adam's film and the story of how he made it are not the gospel of everything Hollywood. Everything he posts is exactly how he's seen it and it's extremely interesting to a lot of people including myself.

Is it likely there's parts of the the system he hasn't come across yet and agent stereotypes that he hasn't talked to yet? Possibly, but I've always been much more interested with his honest experience. I've read about people's bad experiences with agents, but they haven't had lunch with Sizemore either. The agents he's mentioned have all praised him AND put their money where their mouth was.

What I've taken from this is: His money was peanuts and many if not most of his main cast could've gotten better pay elsewhere. The agents and cast went with lower pay because they liked the script.

105k for a cast like Corrado has is absurd and, to me, speaks volumes about the writing. Part of the reason I want to see the script (but can perfectly understand the risks pointed out earlier)
 
Well put "Gohanto"

Without stroking Adam's ego too much, most of us at DVXuser are fortunate to have Adam be a part of this forum, and in debt to him for having giving us so much information regarding his project thus far. (and I for one, lucky to call him my friend)

That being said, and as Gohanto mentioned, this thread is mostly about Adam's experiences, not about everything or everyone's experience. So, if you think something he said is incorrect, why not ask him why he thinks that, as opposed to TELLING him he is wrong. (try rephrasing your statement as a question, and you will see how much more we all get out of that)

I think this is a much more productive method of approaching the thread. (coming from a place where we want to learn)

And if DVXusers take everthing they read from Adam as the ONLY PURE TRUTH, then they are smoking crack, and have not read close enough. He has stated many times that this is the way he has done it, that it will not work for everyone and to do with this information as people please. So lets give people credit and if they don't deserve it, the so be it.

Now how about more productive questions for Adam. I'm sure there are tons of things still left to discuss regarding post production. How he is handling sound, how he got a sound mixer, editor, etc..., where is he getting it color corrected, etc... I mean tons of things for all of us to learn.

Adam, once again, thanks so much.
 
These questions are for both Adam and Siniarch.

siniarch, so you were a camera man on Corrado?

How has Adam's project compared to other projects you've worked on, as far as size of cast/crew, budget, shooting schedule, etc.

How do you feel Adam handled situations/problems on the set? Did he ever seem like he was on the verge of a breakdown?

Any critiques you have for Adam directing-wise, since you were there first hand?

What kind of turn around time is there between scenes that involve shooting of guns?

Did Sizemore bring anyone with him to the set? How did he arrive? Did he have a trailer?

Who'd win in a no holds bared street fight? Messner or Sizemore.

How much profanity is in the script? And did Sizemore add any more?

Is there any nudity in the movie?

If things go really well with Corrado, can we expect a sequel?

Can I be a production assistant on your next project?

Coke or Pepsi?
 
Drunknbear, hahahahhahaha!!!!

Camera "B" operator.

This was one of the bigger shows I worked on and both cast and crew were very professional. I've discussed before how the crew was so specialized and at first were weirded out that I helped out G&E (grip & electric) and didn't just stick to holding my camera. Later they realized I was just trying to help and they were thankful and happy to receive help. But if I walked away from my cam and someone bumped it and dropped it. they wouldn't have blame that person. they would have blamed me for not being by my camera. (and they are probably right) That is why in big shows you stick to your job. (can't afford to drop a 250k camera) Shooting schedule was fast, but with good actors and an efficient crew it ran smoothly. (no to toot my own horn, but 2 cameras helped it move faster. just the nature of the extra coverage)

I thought Adam handled himself very well. Not even the day that we got shot down by the cops did he exhibit any signs of a breakdown. (and I can tell you that must have been a lot of money down the drain.) It might be hard to believe for some here, but he had no ego on set and was very accommodating to both actors and crew.

As far as directing. 1. Turn your Cell Off. (hahahha. Adam was producing, directing, etc.. etc.... and if he didn't pick up the phone when he did, we probably couldn't have filmed the next day. But it really threw some people off. including actors. I don't think they even had a clue of how much he was doing) 2. Don't direct and produce. This causes a conflict of interest. (but again, I understand it on the tight budget he was working on) 3. I'd like to see him on the next one, when he has more time to devote to only directing and has a feature under his belt. :)

Turn around time for scenes with shooting guns was not more than regular scenes if there were no squibbs. Maybe it added 10-20mins. Now with Squibbs, its a whole different ball game. We knew we only had one take with squibbs because clean up time would have just killed us if we had to do it twice. So another extra 20 mins for the squibb set up, and another 20mins for practice runs on top of the 10-20 mins cus of the gun. So those took much longer.

Sizemore had an assistant. (if I recall correctly, all of the time) Didn't have a trailer specially for him. (he was super cool about not being a Pre-Madonna) I believe someone drove him to set every day. (sorry wasn't waiting outside to get his autograph :) )

My instinct tells me that Messner would win, because he is younger and looks like he has lifted way more weights than Seizemore, but then again Tom was in prison. So I don't really know. Both are some tough MoFos.

There was profanity. I'd say a fair amount. I didn't get a copy of the script, so I don't know how much he added. Plus I use profanity daily, and are probably unaware of when people are using too much, unless perhaps they have Terre's syndrome.

If there is nudity, I wasn't invited. Mental note: get rid of the child molesting look of shaved head and goti. (Joking) (I did come in on the 4th or 5th day of shooting, so I'm not sure)

The sequel question is for Adam.

the PA question for Adam.

Pepsi One.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top