idea sis one in a million but not this one

S

skunk45

New member
hi I'm new to this website, and i need some advice. i am a media student at college. i have a an idea for a science fiction movie/play that i think with the right amount of nurturing could develop into something productive and profitable. however i do not have the resources to develop this idea, i do have some experience directing. i am looking for a like-minded person to help me develop my idea into a script, i already have a proposal of my idea, as well as a short character description/ a daft of what happens at the beginning/center and end of the movie. i don't know who to approach with my idea as i don't have any networks or contacts.


i really need some advice....
like for instance which media companies to approach and what demeanor should i take when approaching. also i wondered if there are any media students that want to gain some production experience outside of class and wanted to be apart of my project that lives in London, then don't hesitate to email me. and i will send you a brief description of my idea because i am considering making a very low budget movie if necessary.
 
You are like every hopeful in Hollywood who thinks they have a story that is probably the best concept ever. There several things that you need to do:

1. make lots and lots of friends on the Internet through, dvxuser, cinematography.com, donedealpro.com, twoadverbs.com, facebook, myspace, etc.

2. learn to pitch your ideas in front of others

3. use the Internet as your resource for information and contacts

4. write your own script, film your own script, then market your own script

Hollywood is a place for you have to make it happen and in order to do that you have to go out there, make your own contacts, learn about the business, and have what it takes to be trampled on if necessary.
 
It's probably best to collaborate with another student in your media studies program for now. I'd wait a little while before approaching media companies and production studios with your idea. You want to hone your craft before confronting Everest.

There are three tried-and-true tips for aspiring writers and storytellers:

1. Read lots of screenplays. (Reading novels helps too)
2. Read screenwriting how-to books.
3. Write. Write. Write.

If you do a healthy mix of those three, you should be well on your way to becoming a solid writer.

Hope that helps and welcome to the forums!

skunk45 said:
hi I'm new to this website, and i need some advice. i am a media student at college. i have a an idea for a science fiction movie/play that i think with the right amount of nurturing could develop into something productive and profitable. however i do not have the resources to develop this idea, i do have some experience directing. i am looking for a like-minded person to help me develop my idea into a script, i already have a proposal of my idea, as well as a short character description/ a daft of what happens at the beginning/center and end of the movie. i don't know who to approach with my idea as i don't have any networks or contacts.


i really need some advice....
like for instance which media companies to approach and what demeanor should i take when approaching. also i wondered if there are any media students that want to gain some production experience outside of class and wanted to be apart of my project that lives in London, then don't hesitate to email me. and i will send you a brief description of my idea because i am considering making a very low budget movie if necessary.
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Pointing this sort of thing out is usually a good way to make one's self unpopular, but...

...I know that this is just an internet forum, and I understand that conventional wisdom suggests that spelling, grammar, capitalization and punctuation are all totally out-the-window when it comes to posting on interet forums, but...

...you're looking for a writer. Someone whose primary professional and/or artistic instrument is written English. And considering the quality of the text in your OP, I think that you might as well say that you have brilliant ideas for fashion design, and a line of clothing to develop with the potential to make great waves, and you're looking for an experienced and/or gifted person to work with you to make that happen...

...and you're wearing a dirty paper bag with cut-out leg and arm holes, while saying so.

A certain number of people will dismiss you out-of-hand as a writer - or prospective writer - if you don't even bother to offer a competently-written invitation to writers, to work with you. Some of those might be people with whom you actually would want to work.
 
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Sad Max said:
Pointing this sort of thing out is usually a good way to make one's self unpopular, but...

...I know that this is just an internet forum, and I understand that conventional wisdom suggests that spelling, grammar, capitalization and punctuation are all totally out-the-window when it comes to posting on interet forums, but...

...you're looking for a writer. Someone whose primary professional and/or artistic instrument is written English. And considering the quality of the text in your OP, I think that you might as well say that you have brilliant ideas for fashion design, and a line of clothing to develop with the potential to make great waves, and you're looking for an experienced and/or gifted person to work with you to make that happen...

...and you're wearing a dirty paper bag with cut-out leg and arm holes, while saying so.

A certain number of people will dismiss you out-of-hand as a writer - or prospective writer - if you don't even bother to offer a competently-written invitation to writers, to work with you. Some of those might be people with whom you actually would want to work.
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thats kinduf harsh. hes looking for a writer, so clearly he is admiting he cant right. Give him a break. i didnt think it was wierd his post. give him a brake.
 
lol max, have you ever read one of George Lucas' outlines or the transcripts of the Raiders Story conference? He definitely wasn't a good writer but he had visions. that's why he hired writers like Kasdan.
 
Yeah, I figured that arguments in favor of skill-less-ness and ineptitude would come right on the heels of my post.

Whatever. When everyone's mis-spelled and mis-punctuated their way to Lucas' level of success, I'll be persuaded.

I work with tv and feature writers on a more-or-less daily basis, and I know what their response to a message composed like the OP would be: a chuckle, then toss it aside and on to the next worthwhile thing.

Good luck.
 
True. In order to reach even the lowest rung of low-end tv writing, one needs to be able to spell.

Or at least run one's text through a spell-checker.

It's interesting that a lot of people seem willing to argue that one can be considered a writer - or even a seriously aspiring writer - without being able to handle the most basic tools of writing. I bet the same people would immediately grasp that one is not a DP if one can't find the focus ring on the camera, and that one is not a sound recordist when he can't figure out how to find the volume controls on the deck, and that one is not a director if he is incapable of communicating with actors...but that one can still expect to be considered a writer without displaying an ability to competently apply rules of spelling and grammar in one's work.
 
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I agree with Max on all accounts. I might not have the status he does (and he has status, look at his IMDB), but I'd like to think I know a thing or two about the way things work from speaking with a good handful of professionals.

I am a college student as well. I don't know it all. If I did, I'd be directing very serious projects. But, what I do know is the sheer number of projects that go through development in the real world.

Here at Ithaca College, per each production season (1 per semester, 2 seasons a year) almost 300 different films go up. On top of that, an additional 50 - 100 different scenes are rehearsed, directed and shot. And that's a college with a touch over 6,000 students in the undergraduate program.

Do the math.

Thousands of films are produced independently, many more screenplays are written that never see the light of day. Honestly, a production company or a studio isn't going to team up with a college aged kid with an idea.

There are exceptions: One being the SAW franchise, but, it was scripted, they shot a few scenes, they set up meetings, and by sheer chance, the SAW franchise was born. [One of the producers was pulled into a meeting to take a look, within 24 hours it was optioned - that producer was just walking out of the building from a meeting - luck]

Your best bet is to start the development cycle on your idea. Hammer it out. Write the script [find a screenwriter on campus] go through the development cycle again. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Do that until your story is solid, the dialogue is meaningful, and there is honestly something there. Then market the idea. Shoot a trailer. Profit.

Unfortunetely the following model doesn't apply, and by the sounds of it, it's how you think the system works.

Write Script
???
Profit

You gotta fill in the question marks.

Best of luck.
 
I don't mean to discourage skunk, by the way. I mean to encourage him (her? probably a 'him') to develop some of the more basic skills on his end that will at least make him look like a reasonable potential partner, to someone with the skills to help him develop his property.

^ Ah, the wisdom of the Underpants Gnomes. Can't tell you how often that gag comes up, on shows I work.
 
i stil think u missed the point. did he evar say he would be a righter? now he didnt!!! he said he has expirience directing so that would meen he wants to be a director. Me on the other hand wants to be a righter.:dankk2:
 
Skunk, I just noticed that this thread started with your very first post to this site.

And you got jumped on.

I apologize. Without getting specifically into my reply, I just want your first thread here to not put you off the site. And if someone treated my first post that way, I guess there's a chance that's how I'd feel.

DVXuser is really a remarkable site frequented by some very creative and supportive people, and I hope that you'll stick around and participate.
 
i wanna right and derect muviez.

Mattykins said:
Unfortunetely the following model doesn't apply, and by the sounds of it, it's how you think the system works.

Write Script
???
Profit

You gotta fill in the question marks.

Best of luck.
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I say ??? is jump in front of a producer's car with your script!
 
I think Sad Max did a great job of getting this thread back on track -
His last post is a perfect example of the kind of sentiment we could use some more of around here.

So let's keep this focussed on the original question that was asked, please.

Thanks.
 
I love the underpants gnomes' wisdom. It applies to nearly everything. :)

But in all seriousness, you are a student. Now is the time to go and make it ultralow budget with other students. If it works, sweet. If not, figure out why and try it again.
 
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Sad Max said:
True. In order to reach even the lowest rung of low-end tv writing, one needs to be able to spell.

Or at least run one's text through a spell-checker.

It's interesting that a lot of people seem willing to argue that one can be considered a writer - or even a seriously aspiring writer - without being able to handle the most basic tools of writing. I bet the same people would immediately grasp that one is not a DP if one can't find the focus ring on the camera, and that one is not a sound recordist when he can't figure out how to find the volume controls on the deck, and that one is not a director if he is incapable of communicating with actors...but that one can still expect to be considered a writer without displaying an ability to competently apply rules of spelling and grammar in one's work.
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lol, I agree with everything you wrote. I was thinking that about the OP's post as well. You need to take the time to write properly when you're trying to approach professional people, that's for sure. It's a huge advantage to me when I write someone a professional business letter and know how it's done versus someone writing, "Hey, I really like filmmaking and I no you guys do filmmaking sense your a studio and stuff so what I was going to do was to send you guys my real and hope that you like it so that maybe I can do work for you and make money because I have student loans and bills to pay so if you could check it out that'd be good. Thanks!" Not exactly going to get the job done.

I can only conclude that most people are seriously retarded, I mean I think stupidity doesn't even quite explain it, surely it's just retardation at some level. How many people send me on craigslist with something like, "hey dude saw your add for an editor i can edit what you need edited? Just let me know i edit good got a computer with final cut here can finish anything fast thanks right back!" No reel. No attached work. No resume. Not even a well written e-mail. How can anyone be so stupid? Do they think they're the only person in the world who responded to my post? The very first thing you should do if you want a job on craigslist is put yourself in the opposite shoes. You want to be an editor? Great, you need to post an ad "Looking for Highly Professional Editor" and come up with a bogus project. If you don't do this before you start sending off, you're officially an idiot. You have to see what you're up against, and you should take those 50 to 75 responses you get, find the 5 best ones, and ask yourself why they are the best. What did those 5 do right that everyone else did wrong? And let me tell you I've used that site to find everything, 90% of the people are eliminated just by being idiots. It shocks me how people in general can just not "get it." I really don't understand what is so difficult about life that people can fail at it so miserably. lol
 
Skunk,

Before you can get into the nuts and bolts of what it takes to do what you want to do, you need to know that the somewhat tough advice above should be taken as constructive, experienced observation from industry-insiders.

What's been written here regarding grammar, spelling and the proper formatting of a sentence is gospel. A writer must have these rules mastered before he can make the choice to disregard them.

In the age of Twitter and Facebook and texting, everyone has learned to make concessions to the rules and that shortcuts pay in time. While that may be good and true in casual interactions, the sloppy disregard for the written word has no place in a serious writer's toolbox.

Anecdotal evidence that Lucas or Scorsese "can't spell" or that Spielberg "cannot draw" are very incidental footnotes in the biographies of their larger works. By the time the later was making laughable stick figure storyboards for Raiders, he'd already (and almost single-handedly) invented the summer blockbuster.

Okay, so... stay in school, don't do too many drugs. Learn to write, edit and revise your words so that they can communicate what might be a very good creative concept. Ignore the rules and you and your ideas will be largely discounted.

e
 
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