British Scripts- Any interest?

[blacknorth]

As someone who has been given the runaround by theatre companies for several years I can say I have seen a lot of people do a lot of hustling, and it pays off.

For example a certain writer who had a script under consideration by a large corporation (ahem) and who went to several local newspapers and gave interviews announcing it was due to start filming. When he next met with said corporation he was able to point to the local interest generated by himself and asked them if they were prepared to disappoint people. He had a few other tricks too. Hustle, hustle...

I wouldn't have the nerve to do or conceive of anything like this.

There is also the practice of workshopping, in which a favoured writer is invited to attend a series of workshops - that way everything is seen to be above board. But the other workshop writers have no chance because they were not favoured to begin with and are only there to ensure a level playing field is seen to be applied. Needless to say the favoured writer wins through regardless of the quality of the other writers.

It's a system and they've been refining it for years.

[Moor Larkin]

I've written two outline scripts for two problematic Prisoner episodes.....

Fall-Out became Walk-Out
and
Do Not Forsake Me Oh! My Darling became A,C,D,C.

http://moor-fun.mysite.orange.co.uk/

I'll look forward to the e-mailed offers...........

With an eye to the current exchange rates....
Sterling rather than American Confetti please...........

[Panavision]

Gawd, it's awful hard, this writing lark! I can at least say I've earned a living by the pen. I've worked simultaneously as an advertising copywriter and author/scriptwriter - and guess which job actually paid the rent! In retrospect, I reckon that if you're sure you've got a really knockout script, you should overcome fear of failure and just go and bang on worthwhile front doors and push till it all happens! Not that I did, but I should have! Johnny

[homeguard]

OK. I said I'd keep you posted, and any info is worth passing on. Taking Penfold's suggestion I sent my script to the UK Film Foundation on the 5th March. They received it on the 6th, and on the 7th I had an e-mail from a lady, Michelle Franklin.

Thank you for your application to the UK Film Council Development Fund, received 06/03/2008. As you have adapted your existing original short story, this is classified as an adaptation. Therefore you will need to submit the items required for the adaptation of existing material, which are: - A copy of the underlying works (e.g. the novel, short story, play.) Writer’s adaptation notes Proof that you have secured/can secure the option to the rights on the material or that it is out of copyright. As you wrote the short story you wish to adapt and it has not been published, a cover letter stating this would suffice. I will keep your application on hold for one month or until we hear from you. Hope you have a lovely weekend. Best wishes Michelle Franklin

Isn't that a nice way to end an e-mail? I like her, and if I get no further I will appreciate her pleasant manner. Just a tip before you send in your script. Read the application rules, and know what 'beats' are. I didn't, and it is difficult to explain as I'm still not too sure how much of the script needs a 'beat sheet' before it interferes with the director's wishes. There is a chap who explains it quite well, so Google Script Beats first.
I've sent off the short story and adaption list (can't hang around), so fingers crossed again, oh, I can't can I? I had to cut them off!! Arghhhhhhhhhhh!
Keep you posted, although it takes hours to do one of these holding a pencil in your mouth.
Regards,
HG Lady Mboge.

[homeguard]

Still waiting!
Regards,
HG

[jamesharris]

Originally Posted by homeguard I'm just about to pay £250.00 to a company to read a script just to be able to use their contacts in the industry to get it to a production company who might then read it! Am I insane? No, just desperate. With a script written about an incident in the First World War, and with the 90th anniversary of the ending of that war in November, my despair increases daily. Is there somebody out there who is a pal of Sir Ridley Scott, or Sir Ben Kingsley, or Sir 'Dickie' Attenborough who could ask them to just look at it for me? It seems that British script-writers are so numerous that nobody is interested in their work. Help. Regards HG

I'm a publicist and have helped get a few things into production, so if I can be of any help.

[homeguard]

Yes please!!!
Regards,
HG

[Azanti]

I am writer of some experience I have heard much of what has been said here, before in one form or another. Copywriting is important, but if someone does steal your idea, what you going to do? Take them to court? If it's a big company thats done it, your the muse against the gorilla and you have no chance. If your already established, that is a different matter, but then it's alot less likely to happen. Copywriting a true story is notoriously difficult. I know, true life drama is my main subject and I have done 15 projects in this field.

On paying money to get your script appraised by someone, personally I would say, no way no how on that one - First of all, ask yourself who are these people, how qualified are they to read it in the first place. Do they have a track record of sucess of finding talent and do they really have the contacts they say they have?

In the first instance I would recommend asking your friends to read it, if you have no one who works in the business, just try two friends who enjoy movies and get their opinion, it might not count for much right now, but opinions are always worth hearing and people can pick up on things you haven't thought of., plus you need to get it proof read by a friend before you send it anywhere anyway.

Getting an agent of any kind, is a real chicken an egg situation. Do some research first, and find out who represents whom and what kind of material they deal with. This is more important with literature than with screenplays. In the first instance it is always better to send out a synopsis of your script than the whole thing, its expensive to do that and often they will not be read unless they come via an agent. Send an accompaying letter and state why you have chosen to send it to them in the first place. You can do the same with actors, though getting an actor attached to a project is no gurantee that it will get made, though he or she may push it themselves if they really like it, something which has happened to me recently, though again we are still a long way from getting it made.

If it does get made, be prepared to have you script bare almost no resemblance to the finished piece.

A good example of what can happen to a film in this context would be Granda's production of the Marchioness Disaster - the film will not presently be released because it is so poor interms of the way it was edited and structured. The original script was nothing like the final cut. So even when your film gets made, no one may even get to see it.

[homeguard]

I agree with all you say Azanti. I took Batman's advice about not paying, then Penfold's advice about contacting the UK Film Council. If they are interested then hopefully they will have an Agent on board who can take it on. I realise that there is a probability that if an Agent wants to get involved any script will be horribly mutilated in the process. That's the bridge I might not want to cross, but as wannabees I suppose we're all whores to a degree - willing to sell our souls for any chance. That was the reason I joined this fabulous forum. It seems I'm in very good company, and disappointment hangs heavy in the air. Perhaps we all ought to join together and form our own BritMovie Film Consortium. Reading the posts it appears all the skills are here, actors, producers, directors and script writers by the ton. But does anyone have any contacts with the money-men? The music industry is disintegrating with independents now on the ascendant, how about starting an 'Indy' film industry? Any interest?
Regards'
HG

[jamesharris]

The screening in Bradford this Saturday is to raise funds for post production after the Canadian investor fell through at the last minute.Take a look at the thread in dates for your diary.
I've financed a couple of projects that way.

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by homeguard But does anyone have any contacts with the money-men?

I've got an account with Northern Crock

[homeguard]

Still waiting.
Regards,
HG

[jamesharris]

doing my best..it doesn't happen overnight HG

[homeguard]

No, not you James. I'm monitoring the activity at UK Film thingy. You're my secret hope!!!! I'm keeping you to myself.
Regards,
HG

[homeguard]

Found out today, no luck with the UK Film Council. Ah well, what I need now is Peter Weir's address (Director/Writer on Master and Commander).
Regards,
HG