I need advice...

[Dan]

Most of you know I'm an aspiring writer, and I was recently approached by a very low-budget film company about possibly writing a script for them. While it would definitely be great experience and it would be cool to see my name on a movie, I have some hesitation. In all honesty, this company makes what looks like some pretty crappy movies (stuff with titles like "Deadly Prey") and I'm not sure if down the line that'll hurt my chances at a career. So what do you all think I should do?

 

[Semper Fi]

Well bud, everyone has to start somewhere. If you do a good job then biger businesses will start looking at you. If not, you will have still written a script for a motion picture, pretty prestigous in itself. I'd say go for it, climb your way to the top the hard way. Which is in all reality the only way. Good luck.

 

[gaffer]

You need to get a contract together and specify that the director can't change your screen play to suit his artistic nature. They could still make a crappy movie but at least you would have some control over the story. It could always be remade later into a good movie just because its a good story.

 

[Annie]

I think Semper Fi and Gaffer are both correct. Go for the best contract you can get, but go for the project! You really need to build a professional portfolio and that is how one begins, unless you are a Caroline Kennedy.

 

[Said1]

Most of you know I'm an aspiring writer, and I was recently approached by a very low-budget film company about possibly writing a script for them. While it would definitely be great experience and it would be cool to see my name on a movie, I have some hesitation. In all honesty, this company makes what looks like some pretty crappy movies (stuff with titles like "Deadly Prey") and I'm not sure if down the line that'll hurt my chances at a career. So what do you all think I should do?

I'd do it (with above noted advice). It's better than a kick in the head.

 

[Nienna]

I know nothing about the movie industry, but it seems to me that some experience is better than no experience. And just because it's low-budget doesn't mean it can't be a great story. Star Wars was originally a low-budget production (I have heard).

 

[Dan]

Yeah, I e-mailed the guy and sent him my ideas, we'll see what happens.

And, definitely, I will get a contract made if it goes that far. I also need to get the script copyrighted before I even let him read it. This is a long shot, but does anyone know how to go about copyrighting something? I heard you can just mail it to yourself and the postage date counts as a copyright, but I'm not sure if that's true.

Thanks for the support, guys, hopefully someday you'll see my name on a movie and say "hey, I talk to that guy on the internet all the time.... This movie sucks."

 

[Annie]

Yeah, I e-mailed the guy and sent him my ideas, we'll see what happens.

And, definitely, I will get a contract made if it goes that far. I also need to get the script copyrighted before I even let him read it. This is a long shot, but does anyone know how to go about copyrighting something? I heard you can just mail it to yourself and the postage date counts as a copyright, but I'm not sure if that's true.

Thanks for the support, guys, hopefully someday you'll see my name on a movie and say "hey, I talk to that guy on the internet all the time.... This movie sucks."

I prefer to think that I'll KNOW, that at one time this writer asked me to read some of his 'trials' and criticize. I did. He appreciated. Now he sends me enough for cat food in my old age!

Btw, I'll see what I can find out on copywrites.

 

[Dan]

Update! I just got an e-mail from the director saying he liked one of my ideas and wants to take a look at the script. I think it may be a problem that he's in California and I'm in South Carolina, though. We'll see...

I prefer to think that I'll KNOW, that at one time this writer asked me to read some of his 'trials' and criticize. I did. He appreciated. Now he sends me enough for cat food in my old age!

Ah, yes. I need to send you the new draft of Sunflowers when I finish it, it's totally reworked now, you won't even recognize most of it.

 

[Annie]

My preface, GET A LAWYER!

With that said:

http://directory.google.com/Top/Bus...iting_and_Editing/Editing_and_Proofreading/C/

http://breakingin.net/marketing_faq.htm

 

[Annie]

Update! I just got an e-mail from the director saying he liked one of my ideas and wants to take a look at the script. I think it may be a problem that he's in California and I'm in South Carolina, though. We'll see...



Ah, yes. I need to send you the new draft of Sunflowers when I finish it, it's totally reworked now, you won't even recognize most of it.

I will bet that's true. I hope I helped, even a little!

 

[Hobbit]

Don't worry if the movie sucks now. I once saw Charlie Sheen in an episode of MST3K, and yes, he was in the movie, not making a guest appearance (MST3K could never afford that).

 

[no1tovote4]

Most of you know I'm an aspiring writer, and I was recently approached by a very low-budget film company about possibly writing a script for them. While it would definitely be great experience and it would be cool to see my name on a movie, I have some hesitation. In all honesty, this company makes what looks like some pretty crappy movies (stuff with titles like "Deadly Prey") and I'm not sure if down the line that'll hurt my chances at a career. So what do you all think I should do?

So long as it isn't porn you are okay. Work in the porn industry is pretty much a black-balled carreer in regular film.

You could also write the script, use a psuedonym and only claim it if it's good.

 

[Mr. P]

My preface, GET A LAWYER!

........

Yep! Just look at how many musical artists, especially blank artists, ended up penny less after having big hits in the 60s. All they needed was a Lawyer for property protection.

 

[Dan]

So long as it isn't porn you are okay. Work in the porn industry is pretty much a black-balled carreer in regular film.

This is true. It's not porn, don't worry about that.

Actually, if you read the book Permanent Midnight, there was a writer (Jerry Stahl) who started out writing in porn magazines and eventually landed a gig writing for ALF in the 80's. Of course, as he says, "I was making $4,000 a week and spending $5000 a week on heroin."

It's a good book, if you wanna see all the gory details about drug addiction, check it out. It was made into a movie with Ben Stiller that's okay, but the book is the way to go.

 

[no1tovote4]

Yeah, I e-mailed the guy and sent him my ideas, we'll see what happens.

And, definitely, I will get a contract made if it goes that far. I also need to get the script copyrighted before I even let him read it. This is a long shot, but does anyone know how to go about copyrighting something? I heard you can just mail it to yourself and the postage date counts as a copyright, but I'm not sure if that's true.

Thanks for the support, guys, hopefully someday you'll see my name on a movie and say "hey, I talk to that guy on the internet all the time.... This movie sucks."

You can simply put that it is copyrighted on the bottom with the date. You need evidence that it is original work so if they attempt to steal it, it is yours.

There are several sites you can go to in order to file your copyright.

legalzoom.com

This site has a copyright wizard that will help you register your intellectual property as well.

http://www.benedict.com/

 

[Dan]

Well, I got another e-mail. The guy wants the script, but he said he's looking for a writer that can invest in the movie, too. I'll have to talk to him about that.

 

[no1tovote4]

Well, I got another e-mail. The guy wants the script, but he said he's looking for a writer that can invest in the movie, too. I'll have to talk to him about that.

We wish you the best, keep us updated.