Congrats on making it this far, Dressel.

Everything seems to be going in the right direction. Hope it stays that way.

Quite the adventure! Good for you, and hope it keeps pressing forward while it transforms from an idea in your head to a picture up on the screen...

Congrats, Dressel!

Hopefully things will work out for the best. Just keep at it.

Man, I haven't been on SimplyScripts for awhile, but things have been pretty hectic.  I thought I'd shoot out an update (for anyone who cares), and also because I said I would.

First off, the option has been converted into a purchase; so that's exciting!   For the longest time, I would tell people "My script has been optioned!" and they'd just stare back at me, perplexed.  It's a lot easier to just say that it's been sold.

Second, the budget has been upgraded.  Originally, the producers wanted it to be $1 million, but that has since changed.  The budget they're aiming for now is £4 million!  They have 30% left of the budget to raise, so I'm keepin' my fingers crossed.

So, that's basically it.  I'm getting really pumped, but I'm also not trying to get myself too excited; we still have a long ways to go.  But I can't help but smile when I think about it.  

I am smiling with you! How many evolutions of draft did this one go through?

Did you have it germinating for over five years? Or was this a gem that took
less time?

You must be walking on clouds!

Sandra

Congrats dressel! I just seen this thread or i would have posted sooner! Whta percentage of the budget  did get for a 1st time sell?

Do you still own the rights?

I'd like to congratulate you! I haven't read your script but I'm going to shoot on over now and do it!

Let us know if it actually get s a green light so we can celebrate with you.

Jerry

Okay, I just finished reading it. One of the things I liked about your script is the flow. It's excellent! The formatting is spot on and the story is original!

My favorite character would have to be Plasma Phil. I was wondering why he was called Plasma Phil until it was revealed that he sells his plasma. That's great stuff!

Dialogue is another thing that grabs my attention. This script had some good one liners. The dialogue that I busted a stitch on was "hey, he just cheated on his retarded, homosexual lover!" You can't beat that. It's classic!

Here's what I liked:
1). Good flow
2). Originality
3). Great dialogue

Very good job indeed!

Jerry

Quoted from JD_OK Congrats dressel! I just seen this thread or i would have posted sooner! Whta percentage of the budget  did get for a 1st time sell? Do you still own the rights?

I sold away the merchandising/licensing rights.  I'm not sure if I'm really allowed to talk about what I'm getting in return because there's a confidentiality clause in the contract, and I'm not exactly sure what that encompasses. (I would assume it's the whole Agreement)

At first I thought that was weird, but I was working on another film, and they had a Confidentiality clause in that contract too.  Depends on the company, I suppose.

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. I am smiling with you! How many evolutions of draft did this one go through? Did you have it germinating for over five years? Or was this a gem that took less time? Sandra

I remember telling my parents about my idea for BOTS at the dinner table back when I was in 11th grade (7 years ago).  When I got to college, I wrote the first draft and it was atrocious.  Looking back, I can't believe I thought any of it was good.  Then I re-wrote it, and put the second draft up on SimplyScripts.  That's the draft they were interested in.  I wrote a third draft, but it didn't really interest them much.  It incorporated a lot more wacky elements that I think they just weren't interested in.

They did have me write another draft though, mainly because they had a problem with one of the characters.  But yeah, it's been a bit of a long road, but I never really gave up on BOTS.

Quoted from screenplay_novice Okay, I just finished reading it. One of the things I liked about your script is the flow. It's excellent! The formatting is spot on and the story is original! My favorite character would have to be Plasma Phil. I was wondering why he was called Plasma Phil until it was revealed that he sells his plasma. That's great stuff! Dialogue is another thing that grabs my attention. This script had some good one liners. The dialogue that I busted a stitch on was "hey, he just cheated on his retarded, homosexual lover!" You can't beat that. It's classic! Here's what I liked: 1). Good flow 2). Originality 3). Great dialogue Very good job indeed!

Wow, thanks!  I'm glad you enjoyed the script.  The one posted on SimplyScripts is basically the one they're using, with a few minor adjustments.  For example, I expanded Plasma Phil's role, mainly because I got a lot of reviews saying I should do so.

Sad to say though, the Cardigan character (the fake cop) was ax'd.  I ended up swapping him out with a character I actually liked more, so it didn't bug me too much in the end.

Thanks again for the great compliments!

Hi. Congrats and thanks for updating this post. It is helpful to us who are learning and trying to reach the point you are at and beyond. Its cool to read about others succeeding because it reminds us that there is hope. There is no guarantee that the time spent creating this stuff will ever see the light of day. I hope to sell something and see it produced even though I'm not even sure that I am a serious writer. I'm sure once my stuff gets posted on here, the feedback I will get from this community will let me know.

Anyway, keep posting. You help inspire me to keep plugging and to work to become a serious writer.

Thanks,

Brad

Quoted from dresseme I remember telling my parents about my idea for BOTS at the dinner table back when I was in 11th grade (7 years ago).  When I got to college, I wrote the first draft and it was atrocious.  Looking back, I can't believe I thought any of it was good.  Then I re-wrote it, and put the second draft up on SimplyScripts.  That's the draft they were interested in.  I wrote a third draft, but it didn't really interest them much... But yeah, it's been a bit of a long road, but I never really gave up on BOTS.

This is just such a wonderful story!!! And a true life one!!!!

As we struggle at whatever level we're at, we can appreciate to hear a story like this: where the will outweighs the reason-- because it often doesn't seem reasonable to be working on something that seems "pie in the sky" and yet many of us plough through anyways and we want to smack ourselves as to why.

Congratulations and send some of that good karma our way!!!!

Blessings,

Sandra

Hey everyone!  There have been some recent updates, so I thought I'd pass them along.

First off, the company making "Based on a True Story" released a press release that details the company and it's connection to BOTS.

http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200810/1222889528.html

Second, some other exciting news is that the budget has been raised to £8 million!  Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that BOTS would be made for that much!

There are some other developments, but the main exciting thing they're talking about is that they're currently searching for studios to partner up with.  

This is so much to take in and nothing is concrete, but it's still very exciting!

As usual, I'll keep you guys posted to any successes or failures in regards to the film.

That's great news, Matt.

Definitely keep us posted as new developments, uh...develop.

£8 million! Wow that's awesome news mate.