Just thought I would share something I've learned recently.

A couple of years ago, I was asked to write a feature for a particular actor. This actor is well known to some people, but not to others. I had never heard of him. Mostly because when he was big, I still wasn't really speaking English, so watching movies without Swedish subtitles was pretty hard. Anyway, I wrote a thriller for this actor and he loved it. Everything was great. Him to play the lead. Got a director. A distributor to fund it. Everything!

Then what happened? The distributor wanted a name actor to play the villain. They said the lead, although a good actor, was not a big enough name to draw an audience. The script was sent out to a LOT of well known actors. Including Ed Harris and Mickey Rourke among others. Although no one had a problem with the role itself. It was well written I've been told. However, they all turned it down for the same reason. The villain wasn't seen on screen enough and when he was, he was covered in scar tissue. In other words, the role wasn't big enough for their names and they didn't want to be disfigured the little time they would be on screen. Rourke apparently also said he didn't want to sit in make-up for hours every day.

In short, when writing a feature, make sure that the role of the villain is as attractive as the one for the lead.

I've been asked to rewrite this script to make that role more attractive. I hate rewrites, but it's something I have to do. Just thought I'd share in case it can help anyone.  :-/

Quoted from Grandma Bear Just thought I would share something I've learned recently. A couple of years ago, I was asked to write a feature for a particular actor. This actor is well known to some people, but not to others. I had never heard of him. Mostly because when he was big, I still wasn't really speaking English, so watching movies without Swedish subtitles was pretty hard. Anyway, I wrote a thriller for this actor and he loved it. Everything was great. Him to play the lead. Got a director. A distributor to fund it. Everything! Then what happened? The distributor wanted a name actor to play the villain. They said the lead, although a good actor, was not a big enough name to draw an audience. The script was sent out to a LOT of well known actors. Including Ed Harris and Mickey Rourke among others. Although no one had a problem with the role itself. It was well written I've been told. However, they all turned it down for the same reason. The villain wasn't seen on screen enough and when he was, he was covered in scar tissue. In other words, the role wasn't big enough for their names and they didn't want to be disfigured the little time they would be on screen. Rourke apparently also said he didn't want to sit in make-up for hours every day. In short, when writing a feature, make sure that the role of the villain is as attractive as the one for the lead. I've been asked to rewrite this script to make that role more attractive. I hate rewrites, but it's something I have to do. Just thought I'd share in case it can help anyone.  :-/

Great thoughts , Pia.

Shame it didn't come off, but since you were asked I would take that as a huge compliment.

Pia, I 've always wondered about a few things connected to your story, that I'll ask right now :)

How did you get you start in writing? Did you make all your connections and got exposure for your work just by means of the internet? Do you still live in your country (Sweden, I'm guessing) and get work from home? Do you have a US-based agent?

I'm curious, because from what I've read on this board, you took time to learn English, it isn't your first language (as is the case with me) and you struggled with it at first, but despite that fact you still managed to get into a position where you are a paid writer and got a few features under your belt and by all accounts we will see many more in the future.

So, I'm very impressed and inspired. I would like to know the answers to those question just to know that success is possible for us, non-US based writer for whom English is not a first language but something they picked up as the years went by.

Thanks.

Obviously I'll let Pia answer for herself...

But we also have Matias Caruso who cut his teeth on here and had to learn English as well as, and went on to Page and now has scripts in production in Hollywood - check out the interview I did with him if you've not already...

And your English is already great Demento!

Matias has proved that some big contests can indeed be very helpful - as long as a screenwriter is good enough to win or place (i.e. really good). But Pia seems to be the one who has had the wildest ride so far. ;)

This movies should also serve as an inspiration to writers that don't live in the US (don't know if the writer is American or not, though).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4540710/

This was the first and only thing the writer had written when it was bought and he got to the agent who sold it based of a query email.

Quoted from AnthonyCawood But we also have Matias Caruso who cut his teeth on here and had to learn English as well as, and went on to Page and now has scripts in production in Hollywood - check out the interview I did with him if you've not already...

I did read it. Great work as always Tony.

My post was intended to remind writers that the villain is just as important as the hero. ;D

As far as me goes, I live in Florida so, English is no longer an excuse for me. I also think that people from all over the world nowadays are a lot better at English than way back when. People interact with people all over the planet via the internet now and Englis is pretty much a must. I learned to speak English pretty quick, but spelling and especially grammar was a bit of a bitch, to be honest.

Yes, my ride has indeed been wild. Lots and lots of promises and big hopes and crushing disappointments. I first joined SS 10 years ago. I had no clue what I was doing. I just knew I liked movies (not anymore) and loved coming up with stories. When SS members started to get their stuff produced and optioned, when technology to make film became cheap, I was very envious. Why wasn't anyone making my scripts?? When I became a bit better as a writer, my stories were being produced as well. Once I figured out what people were looking for in shorts, it became almost too easy. My next goal was to learn how to write features. I sucked big time at it and I'm still trying to learn, but with that new technology making it possible for filmmakers with no money to make films, I started to get options on features as well. They were posted here, btw. From there, my goal has been to become better and better as a writer. I really do believe that filmmakers, big and small are looking for really good scripts. If you write a really really good one, like Matias, you will get noticed and you will sell your scripts. For me personally, I first ask directors of former films if they are interested in my new script. If they are not, I post them at InkTip.

:)

Quoted from Grandma Bear My post was intended to remind writers that the villain is just as important as the hero. ;D As far as me goes, I live in Florida so, English is no longer an excuse for me. I also think that people from all over the world nowadays are a lot better at English than way back when. People interact with people all over the planet via the internet now and Englis is pretty much a must. I learned to speak English pretty quick, but spelling and especially grammar was a bit of a bitch, to be honest. Yes, my ride has indeed been wild. Lots and lots of promises and big hopes and crushing disappointments. I first joined SS 10 years ago. I had no clue what I was doing. I just knew I liked movies (not anymore) and loved coming up with stories. When SS members started to get their stuff produced and optioned, when technology to make film became cheap, I was very envious. Why wasn't anyone making my scripts?? When I became a bit better as a writer, my stories were being produced as well. Once I figured out what people were looking for in shorts, it became almost too easy. My next goal was to learn how to write features. I sucked big time at it and I'm still trying to learn, but with that new technology making it possible for filmmakers with no money to make films, I started to get options on features as well. They were posted here, btw. From there, my goal has been to become better and better as a writer. I really do believe that filmmakers, big and small are looking for really good scripts. If you write a really really good one, like Matias, you will get noticed and you will sell your scripts. For me personally, I first ask directors of former films if they are interested in my new script. If they are not, I post them at InkTip. :)

Thank you for your reply. And apologizes for hijacking your thread.

Quoted from Demento Thank you for your reply. And apologizes for hijacking your thread.

No worries. I don't mind. It's slow here anyway.   :)

Hey, Pia.

I understand you were asked to rewrite it for a big name? Is that right? Are you doing the rewrite for a big name actor right now?

I may be wrong but that's how I read the top post.

No Khamanna. The role has been turned down by big name actors because the villain was not a strong enough character. I wrote this script for an actor that used to be big as the protag. He loved the script and his role, so I assumed I did what I was asked. I never thought about the role of the villain had to be really good as well. Sure I knew the villain had to be a strong character, I just never imagined that not enough screen time and when finally seen, being covered in scar tissue would make a role unattractive. Now I have to fix this. :-/

From I could tell, change the physical description for the villain and add him. I would probably suggest if there is another character there that does his dirty work, remove him and put the villain. If not, put him in the mix with the hero.

I'm probably simplifying things but that's how I see it. Unless the scar tissues serve a purpose in the story. I guess if your dealing with the big fish, they'll want to get noticed as well.

Isn't one unspoken rule that the hero is only as good as the villain that defines them?  I almost think that you have to make the villain better then the hero so the hero has something to prove.  

After all, the villain knows what their goals are, the hero has to figure them out.

Of course the villain's role is as important as the hero's. It's a pretty strong role. That's not the issue. The issue is that he's not visible on screen much, and when he is, he's covered in scar tissue. Apparently, that makes the role not attractive enough for name actors...unless paid a lot, which this role doesn't.  :)

Gabe, changing too much of the villain's looks would change the whole story. Scarred means basically that he's scarred by an event, physically and mentally.

I will attempt a rewrite, but only one. This script is old to me.  :)