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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Discussion of...    Things you are looking for  ›  Production Co $ Question...
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SAC
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 9:42am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


… but some dreams do

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Okay, so I sent a feature to a producer. He read it, liked it. This all happened within hours of me sending him a query. Then he asks me if I want to help produce it. I say sure, give me more info. He send me a contract for me to look over - and it all looks on the up and up. He’s got IMDb credits and appears to be legit - a quick google of his name produces many hits, none negative. The cost of start up is between 3-5 thousand, after which the prodco will secure additional funding, and includes back end points and a hand in casting, limited rewrites, etc. Anyway...

What do you all think about this? I mean, it seems like a fair enough model and an opportunity to get something of mine out there with someone who appears to have the experience and the features to back it up. But it all seems kinda quick - a red flag, IMO.



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SAC  -  November 28th, 2018, 10:16am
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SAC
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 10:30am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


… but some dreams do

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Also if anyone has any ideas for questions I can hit this guy with that’d be great.


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eldave1
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 11:11am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from SAC
Okay, so I sent a feature to a producer. He read it, liked it. This all happened within hours of me sending him a query. Then he asks me if I want to help produce it. I say sure, give me more info. He send me a contract for me to look over - and it all looks on the up and up. He’s got IMDb credits and appears to be legit - a quick google of his name produces many hits, none negative. The cost of start up is between 3-5 thousand, after which the prodco will secure additional funding, and includes back end points and a hand in casting, limited rewrites, etc. Anyway...

What do you all think about this? I mean, it seems like a fair enough model and an opportunity to get something of mine out there with someone who appears to have the experience and the features to back it up. But it all seems kinda quick - a red flag, IMO.


He wants you to put up the initial $3K - $5K? or us he doing that?


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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SAC
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 11:40am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


… but some dreams do

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We both put up an equal amount, between 3-5k to cover development, which would make us partners.


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eldave1
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 11:47am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from SAC
We both put up an equal amount, between 3-5k to cover development, which would make us partners.


I would not do it.

1) What kind of Producer can't put together $10K of start up money on their own?
2) What assurance do you have that he's just not going to take your $$ and run.

Most importantly, if you are front funding yourself, there is no reason for you to be compensated in back end points - which you'd probably never see. You would want to be compensated on the same basis is the Producer is. You are both putting up equal investments and you are also putting up a script.

I could be wrong, but it smells like a scam to me.


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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khamanna
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 12:05pm Report to Moderator
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What does he need your part of the start-up funding for? To shoot a teaser maybe?
I don't understand it.
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Matthew Taylor
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 12:26pm Report to Moderator
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I have no experience in such things - but what struck me was you said it happened within hours of sending a query letter.

How many hours? how long did this guy have to first read a feature, decide if it's viable, and whatever else producers need to consider before deciding on a project - A feature, I imagine, takes a lot of consideration - and then to decide to bring you in so quick, AND have a legal contract in front of you...

Maybe I'm sceptical, or maybe I've just got my accountant hat on too tight, but this would send alarm bells ringing for me.

I hope it is legit though.

What kind of due diligence can you do? contact the writers for the films he has credits? maybe he has done this kind of arrangement before


Feature

42.2

Two steps to writing a good screenplay:
1) Write a bad one
2) Fix it
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jayrex
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 12:43pm Report to Moderator
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Cut to three weeks earlier

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I wouldn’t give my money away.  Smells fishy.

If possible, see if you can contact someone on those credits you saw on IMDb to see how authentic he is.  Someone’s bound to have Twitter, Facebook or even their own site.


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SAC
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 12:59pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


… but some dreams do

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Matt, Kham and Dave,

All valid points you raise. And Matt — well that was the very first thing that struck me as odd was the time frame it happened in. 15 minutes from query letter to response.  11/2 hours from sending him the script to him finishing the script. Then the producer proposal. ( Then off to bed) Followed this morning by the contract with the offer.

I’m not going to do it. It was the producer angle that took me off guard — but there are no guarantees, like Dave said, that it will even get made. Or end up in production hell, in which case it’ll never get made and I’m still out 5k.

Just sent him an email respectfully declining, but asking if he’d like to option or buy.


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eldave1
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 1:04pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from SAC
Matt, Kham and Dave,

All valid points you raise. And Matt — well that was the very first thing that struck me as odd was the time frame it happened in. 15 minutes from query letter to response.  11/2 hours from sending him the script to him finishing the script. Then the producer proposal. ( Then off to bed) Followed this morning by the contract with the offer.

I’m not going to do it. It was the producer angle that took me off guard — but there are no guarantees, like Dave said, that it will even get made. Or end up in production hell, in which case it’ll never get made and I’m still out 5k.

Just sent him an email respectfully declining, but asking if he’d like to option or buy.


Smart choice.

As a final note - you don't really even know if he is who he says he is. One could easily find a producer on IMDB and then spoof them - i .e., assume their identity.


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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SAC
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 1:08pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


… but some dreams do

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And Dave, as he noted there was a portion of the contract that stated that after 6 months if the production money had not be secured then I would have gotten my investment back. So a money back guarantee. However, I get the feeling that there’s a way that can be danced around - such as, “Well, we’ve raised most of the money but not all. Just give me a little more time” kinda thing. Which could drag into months or years if you play the angle right.

A quick check on IMDbPro says this guy is on the up and up, however he has about 22 (!) projects that are either in development or pre-production.


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Mr.Ripley
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 1:14pm Report to Moderator
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If it sounds too good to be true, then it is...unfortunately. Sorry to hear this..but it’s part of the crazy game we’re in.

Gabe


Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages.
https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
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Grandma Bear
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 1:33pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from SAC
The cost of start up is between 3-5 thousand, after which the prodco will secure additional funding, and includes back end points and a hand in casting, limited rewrites, etc. Anyway...

Many producers/directors out there are constantly looking for material. Typically they secure (option) rights to scripts they like enough to produce. Problem is that most of them will not put up the funding themselves, so they get the rights to scripts and then they proceed to go look for funding. It is not uncommon for these companies to have ten scripts at the time that they are pushing. Once the option runs out, let's say after two years, with no funding secured, the script goes back to the writer who is now stuck with an "old" script. This has happened to more writers than I can count. Some of them from right here. Me included. The prodco had my script for two years. That's two years that I could not show it to other producers.

I would say, don't dismiss them, but make sure you don't option it to them for a longer period of time.

Best of luck!  


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eldave1
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 1:57pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Grandma Bear

Many producers/directors out there are constantly looking for material. Typically they secure (option) rights to scripts they like enough to produce. Problem is that most of them will not put up the funding themselves, so they get the rights to scripts and then they proceed to go look for funding. It is not uncommon for these companies to have ten scripts at the time that they are pushing. Once the option runs out, let's say after two years, with no funding secured, the script goes back to the writer who is now stuck with an "old" script. This has happened to more writers than I can count. Some of them from right here. Me included. The prodco had my script for two years. That's two years that I could not show it to other producers.

I would say, don't dismiss them, but make sure you don't option it to them for a longer period of time.

Best of luck!  


True - what you described happened to me as well. But in this case they are looking for upfront money from Steve. That is far different.


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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eldave1
Posted: November 28th, 2018, 2:00pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from SAC
And Dave, as he noted there was a portion of the contract that stated that after 6 months if the production money had not be secured then I would have gotten my investment back. So a money back guarantee. However, I get the feeling that there’s a way that can be danced around - such as, “Well, we’ve raised most of the money but not all. Just give me a little more time” kinda thing. Which could drag into months or years if you play the angle right.

A quick check on IMDbPro says this guy is on the up and up, however he has about 22 (!) projects that are either in development or pre-production.


How do you even know he is who he claims to be? Anyone can pull a name off IMDB.

The only counter I would Consider making to him is a no money - short term option. i.e., you pay zip. You give a six month option to him to go find money for the production. If he truly loves your script - he'll so that. If he is just spoofing you - he won't.



My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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