I want to option a script for...

When it comes to promoting a screenplay I personally won't let ambiguity or lack of specifics on anybody's part keep me from pitching a story or having a screenplay read somewhere.

The way I see it, I'm never going to get a call directly from Spielberg asking to see my script. It simply won't happen. What could happen though could be that you show your script to a little known producer in LA or NY who hasn't produced anything recently, and they happen to be friends with Dakota Fanning's agent who knows that some producer in LA is looking for a "launching pad" for some A-lst star's little brother.

In this industry its all about who you know, and when you know nobody, you can't be choosy trying to start and build a network.

If your material isn't a smoking turd and you work your ass off, it may some day land in front of someone who can help it along a path that moves it somewhere. You never know. LOTS of deals have started that way.

I personally submitted to Sean and I was fortunate to actually have a story where the lead character is both female and 14. I even have some financing attached to the story I submitted. It's not a summer tent-pole flick so MOST people aren't interested in it. It's kind of edgy, has a message, but isn't cheesy either. With enough budget to attract some A or B list talent I think it could go theatrical.

I don't know if Sean is the right person, but he's part of my marketing plan. Get it out all over to people who will read it. I'm pretty sure I'll get a read there. If its not a good fit, we both move on.. no loss.
 
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Jennzababe said:
When it comes to promoting a screenplay I personally won't let ambiguity or lack of specifics on anybody's part keep me from pitching a story or having a screenplay read somewhere.

The way I see it, I'm never going to get a call directly from Spielberg asking to see my script. It simply won't happen. What could happen though could be that you show your script to a little known producer in LA or NY who hasn't produced anything recently, and they happen to be friends with Dakota Fanning's agent who knows that some producer in LA is looking for a "launching pad" for some A-lst star's little brother.

In this industry its all about who you know, and when you know nobody, you can't be choosy trying to start and build a network.

If your material isn't a smoking turd and you work your ass off, it may some day land in front of someone who can help it along a path that moves it somewhere. You never know. LOTS of deals have started that way.

I personally submitted to Sean and I was fortunate to actually has a story where the lead character is 14. I even have some financing attached to the story I submitted. It's not a summer tent-pole flick so MOST people aren't interested in it. It's kind of edgy, has a message, but isn't cheesy either. With enough budget to attract some A or B list talent I think it could go theatrical.

I don't know if Sean is the right person, but he's part of my marketing plan. Get it out all over to people who will read it. I'm pretty sure I'll get a read there. If its not a good fit, we both move on.. no loss.
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Good luck! I hope it works out for you. Keep us posted.
 
Screenplay Guru said:
Just to clear up a couple of things. I did not mean to set off a debate in this forum. My company's name was on my profile the whole time. My request was vauge because I needed a script quick to prevent the loss of my base financing of $300,000 and was willing to consider almost anything. I already explained that my attitude was out of fustration and not meant at anyone in paticular. Very quietly while you guys have been asking me questions senior (and well respected members) of this forum have been e-mailing me their scripts.

In my opinion, and you are all welcome to yours, once a writer gets paid for his/her script nothing else should matter. If you believe your script is worth $40,000 and you sell it for $40,000 does it really matter what happens to it after?

I come from a place where writers have to write to pay their bills and eat and clothe their kids. I did not mean to offend anyone in this forum I just didn't understand the mentality.

My company recieves dozens of query letters everyday and since I have been working for them I never had to go look for a script before just choose which ones I wanted sent to me. I apologize if I offended anyone in anyway.
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No one was offended, that I can see. You did open up a healthy debate. That's hardly a bad thing. It's what the forum is for. Otherwise there wouldn't be a "reply" button below every posting in a thread.

I would say, however, that you just didn't market your request very well.
 
Just one more point.....I promise. :)

See, I do have a script for a feature with a very strong teen female lead. But it's such a solid and marketable story that I feel it deserves the full treatment -- major budget, shot on film, A-list actors, etc. It's in the vein of 'High School Musical', but not really a musical. (Girl becomes lead singer in a band.)

Because I want "Soundtrack" to have the best of everything, I'm not going to send it out for reading unless I feel confident the people I send it to have the connections, financing and ability to do it justice. If I send it out to everyone who wants to read scripts, I run the risk of someone 'borrowing' the idea and doing their own script from it. So I'm very selective about who gets to read this one, and I qualify them accordingly.

That's my marketing plan for this particular script.

Again, best of luck to Guru and everyone who submitted.
 
Can I just say one more thing then Chapel. The only way you are probably going to get those things you want for your script is to submit it to either the 6 major studios or the big six agencies. If that was the screenplay you were considering sending there was almost no chance that any of them would come looking on a forum for a screenplay. Even a 10 million dollar budget would not get you most of those things. One A-List actor or director could cost that much alone.
 
Guru, you don't honestly think I sit around waiting for someone to spot me on a forum and come asking for a script, do you? I come to the forum primarily to discuss screenwriting, not to look for work.

Also, I prefer to shop 'major' scripts through actors' agents, rather than directly to studios. But that's just me. :)
 
Screenplay Guru said:
How many 'major' scripts have you sold doing it that way?
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What's your point?

My point was that there are legitimate reasons why a writer might not want to send certain of their scripts to just anyone who may ask. Are we just going to degenerate into a "you don't know what you're talking about" argument? That seems pointless to me.
 
No, I was just asking a question. But maybe you should ask yourself why you thought I was saying you don't know what you're talking about. BTW I'll take your previous post to mean you have sold exactly zero that way. Strange that you would prefer one method over another when you have yet to have success with either. It seems to me you do a lot of talking as though you are an informed expert. Maybe you should try and open your mind a little.
 
I guess my point is that I don't think you know what you are talking about. And since you are making low budgets out of south carolina ( a huge movie hub BTW ) maybe you shouldn't discourage talented people from pursuing their dreams with truly bad advice.
 
Screenplay Guru said:
No, I was just asking a question. But maybe you should ask yourself why you thought I was saying you don't know what you're talking about. BTW I'll take your previous post to mean you have sold exactly zero that way. Strange that you would prefer one method over another when you have yet to have success with either. It seems to me you do a lot of talking as though you are an informed expert. Maybe you should try and open your mind a little.
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There it is! I knew this was coming. That's exactly what you were saying -- "You don't know what you're talking about."

God, this is so silly. But okay. So no screenwriter who hasn't sold a script to the majors is entitled to have any opinion about the best way he or she wants to approach that aspect of their business? That's ridiculous.

I'd advise that it might not be a good idea to challenge someone's credentials unless you're prepared to have your own challenged as well.
 
Screenplay Guru said:
I guess my point is that I don't think you know what you are talking about. And since you are making low budgets out of south carolina ( a huge movie hub BTW ) maybe you shouldn't discourage talented people from pursuing their dreams with truly bad advice.
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North Carolina. Not South.

Four hours from Atlanta -- three hours from Wilmington, NC. Both pretty active filmmaking areas.

I haven't discouraged anyone. Heck, I wished you LUCK! If you insist on trashing me here, I'm going to have to respond. That makes no sense for either of us.

So I'll say it again. I wish you the best of luck with your project.
 
I'd advise that it might not be a good idea to challenge someone's credentials unless you're prepared to have your own challenged as well.
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Mine and my company's credentials include being in a spike lee movie. Talking to him about independent film writing versus the studio process. It includes working for BBC America as a producer (the ceo of my company) having members of my board of directors being players in stage, film, print and news. It includes sitting in a room and having Martin Scorcese willing to do an interview with you about film and the process. It includes talking to real actors and actresses... working on Sydney Pollok films and a million other things I cant think of right now because i am angry at having to defend myself to a guy who has no idea how the industry works. Tell me about your credentials again.. because I read what was on your website and in between laughing at them I guess it is possible I missed something impressive. Like North Carolina and it's relative position to my ass. And my personal favorite "Other future projects include yet another unique webcam-themed suspense/thriller.' * please note the use of the phrase 'yet another' followed by the word 'unique' and just try and forget about the word webcam *

I said it is strange you would prefer one method over the other when you haven't had success with either and that maybe you should open your ears and stop the diarrhea of the mouth. And not because I care about you (because I am certain that you are as untalented as you are uninformed) but because I want to stop you from infecting young writers with the total B.S. ego trip crap that you keep spewing.
 
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Screenplay Guru said:
Mine and my company's credentials include being in a spike lee movie. Talking to him about independent film writing versus the studio process. It includes working for BBC America as a producer (the ceo of my company) having members of my board of directors being power players in film and print and news. It includes sitting in a room and having Martin Scorcese willing to do an interview with you about film and the process. It includes talking to real actors and actresses... working on Sydney Pollok films and a million other things I cant think of right now because i am angry at having to defend myself to a guy who has no idea how the industry works. Tell me about your credentials again.. because I read what was on your website and in between laughing at them I guess it is possible I missed something impressive. Like North Carolina and it's relative position to my ass. And my personal favorite "Other future projects include yet another unique webcam-themed suspense/thriller.' * please note the use of the phrase 'yet another' followed by the word 'unique' and just try and forget about the word webcam *

I said it is strange you would prefer one method over the other when you haven't had success with either and that maybe you should open your ears and stop the diarrhea of the mouth. And not because I care about you (because I am certain that you are as untalented as you are uninformed) but because I want to stop you from infecting young writers with the total B.S. ego trip crap that you keep spewing.
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Okay, this has become abusive and will be reported.

"Interesting game. The only winning move is not to play." (Joshua, War GamesI)
 
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