Eric Boellner
Well-known member
Kind of a "Part II" of the Writing for 2014 topic, if you will.
I know there are a few writers on here who've had spec scripts produced as indie films, and who've written "on assignment" for indie productions. I was wondering if any of you indie vets (incl. indie directors who've worked with other writers on their films, instead of the infamous writer/director) would care to give some kind of insight or insider's look at this part of the writing world. Some questions I have:
- How do you get "jobs," or get your specs produced? Do you cold call/email indie directors whose work you've seen and like? Do filmmakers approach you? How many of these jobs come from "Looking for writer" ads/posts on indie film forums, or sites like Mandy.com, etc.? How many are just filmmakers you know/knew from college/film school?
- Is there a living in the indie market for a writer? I think I already know the answer to this one, but I'm curious if any vets have actually made anything back from their projects, or have actually been *gasp* paid upfront for an indie writing assignment.
- For those who HAVE written for indie productions, is there a desire to get away from the limited market? Or do you enjoy the financial limitations and artistic freedom that's associated with the indie scene? Obviously, at some point you have to pay the bills, but is that selling out to you, personally, or is that the dream?
- For indie directors/producers, how do you find your writers? At what point do you say, "This needs a fresh voice," or do you look to work with writers from the ground up? Are you looking for a writer to develop your idea, to rewrite something you can't get "all the way there," or someone with ideas and specs of their own that they're willing to trust you with?
Any other insight from writers or directors would be much appreciated. I'm in a curious mood this morning, and while a lack of responses in these threads isn't going to stop me from doing what I do, it's a particular dynamic of the filmmaking world I'm not well-versed in, and is not often discussed. I'd love to know more about it.
-EMB
I know there are a few writers on here who've had spec scripts produced as indie films, and who've written "on assignment" for indie productions. I was wondering if any of you indie vets (incl. indie directors who've worked with other writers on their films, instead of the infamous writer/director) would care to give some kind of insight or insider's look at this part of the writing world. Some questions I have:
- How do you get "jobs," or get your specs produced? Do you cold call/email indie directors whose work you've seen and like? Do filmmakers approach you? How many of these jobs come from "Looking for writer" ads/posts on indie film forums, or sites like Mandy.com, etc.? How many are just filmmakers you know/knew from college/film school?
- Is there a living in the indie market for a writer? I think I already know the answer to this one, but I'm curious if any vets have actually made anything back from their projects, or have actually been *gasp* paid upfront for an indie writing assignment.
- For those who HAVE written for indie productions, is there a desire to get away from the limited market? Or do you enjoy the financial limitations and artistic freedom that's associated with the indie scene? Obviously, at some point you have to pay the bills, but is that selling out to you, personally, or is that the dream?
- For indie directors/producers, how do you find your writers? At what point do you say, "This needs a fresh voice," or do you look to work with writers from the ground up? Are you looking for a writer to develop your idea, to rewrite something you can't get "all the way there," or someone with ideas and specs of their own that they're willing to trust you with?
Any other insight from writers or directors would be much appreciated. I'm in a curious mood this morning, and while a lack of responses in these threads isn't going to stop me from doing what I do, it's a particular dynamic of the filmmaking world I'm not well-versed in, and is not often discussed. I'd love to know more about it.
-EMB