This is pretty much a judgement call on your part, Sara.  You are guaranteed production from the people in the competition.  The deal may fall through with the other people.

A bird in the hand beats two in the bush, and all that.


Phil

Thanks, I'll cheer for your sucess!

"I thought you were already produced.  Hmm."

I was and my first one was "Kafka Mora ao lado" a 1 minute film. . How about to go to Google and watch it.

Recentely, Mach I signed with Aaron Kamp (Everafter Productions) an Australian filmaker.

cheers
Helio

First off, congratulations!

Secondly, try not to make any contract-related decisions until you've spoken with an entertainment lawyer whom you've chosen and are confident in.  

That might not be too possibile for first-timers, because you're most likely low on cash.  If you can't afford an entertainment lawyer, don't go to any meetings without bringing a friend who you trust.  Let that friend ask questions.  Ask your own questions also.  Look at the body-language in the person who is answering those questions.  Always hold your head up high, and be confident, and look them in the eye, and don't be afraid to express what you want to get out of the deal, even if any part of you believes that what you want is selfish.  I'm not telling you to be rude.  I'm saying don't get screwed.  If the person from the company says that something you asked for isn't how they typically do something, take a mental snap-shot of how their body language as they say that makes you feel.  They know that you're new to this, so they would not expect you to know anything about the process; therefore, if they do something which makes you feel stupid or bad, or if they do anything to imply that you were supposed to know something that you didn't know, then they are unprofessional.  Even though a company is trying to make money off of you, a legitimate company will try to make you feel comfortable, and they will try to guide you through the hoops.

Okay Helio, I'm not going crazy lol.  

Thanks Phil, that is what I am looking at right now, do I go with the guaranteed one or chance getting screwed.  I'll be better able to decide when I have the contracts and written offers.

Thanks Alan, I might have to contact Jaws - best entertainment lawyer I know and he's pretty good!.  And I know all about bad contracts, signed one with my first publisher, thank goodness they finally cut me loose.

Sara

Well I went through a Q&A session with them today.  I am actually getting 2% of the initial budget and 10% of the profits.  If it ends up being high enough quality it will hit theatres.  It is going to film festivals and they are going to help me put up a page on IMDB which is good because I have no idea how to do that.

I am obviously hoping for the highest distribution of theatres and store release.  What's cool is I and anyone who wants to gets to help with the step by step process and earn co-producer credits.  

They explained how the minimize costs.  Most of their staff is on a salary so they do not go toward the cost of film, they are shooting digitally, and already own all of the equipment, studios and such.  The actors/actresses that are initially signing up are on a deferred basis, so that also helps.

So I have my first real sale, and I still have no idea what I'm doing lol.

Sara

Most impressive. Congrats to you on this. And don't worry. Most of us don't have a clue either. I know I don't. I'm a writer. Never been much of a salesman, and yet that has to be part of the gig too. Sucks, kinda.

Congratulations! It must be exciting!

ET

I agree George, I'm not much of a salesperson either but you absolutely have to be unless you are lucky enough to get a manager or agent to do it all for you, but you still have to sell it to them unless they are a friend or one of their clients send in your work for you as a referral.

One thing I really want to attend is called a Pitchfest.  It is held every year and you go to hollywood, have a session on refining your pitch then the next day you are in a room having a day's pitch session with over 100 top producers and agents and you get to sit down with them for like 7 minutes.  Before hand you get a list of what they are looking for, what they want to buy and you get to sign up for at least 12 meetings then if there is time you can talk to others as well.  But you are guaranteed 12 one on one pitches.  

Someday I am going to attend that.

Thanks ET I am very excited.  On my second sale The Standoff we are currently working to secure funding.  If we can it would have a rather large budget and would go to theatres and such.  

Sara

For the benefit of the online community, please keep us up to date on as many details of your experience as you can.  Use this thread as an online journal of this experience, if you don't mind.  I don't know of anyone who posts on these boards who isn't interested in a first hand account of what you're going through.

Peace.

Ice I was actually looking at a site with a link to pitchfest America and pitchfest Canada (The Canada link isn't up yet) If they hold one in Canada I may have to go, it'll probably be held in Toronto because that's where they hold everything.

Hi Wesley,
Could you post that link?

Alan,
Sure I can do that.  
Sara

Well I just got my contract, they actually have a clause where they can choose to up the budget thus upping my payment.  I have no gripes with that obviously.  For the interaction section I have to upload a video and a synopsis.  I do not have a video camera so they are going to do one for me, using an actress.  To tell about to story so those who wish to interact can watch our take on the script, the characters, and such.

I am rather excited to begin production on my first sale and the fact that I get a chance to participate and learn how everything works is a bonus.  Here is the synopsis used.  


Bodies of young college girls, mutilated by fire, are popping up along the Mississippi river. Police suspect a serial killer is loose on the nearby campus, and they are hunting down clues of anyone who might be involved. Spreading news, radio, and campus bullitens, they hope the citizens can help bring him down. Not even campus security is safe from the menace.

Tara, a young college girl adjusting to her new life on campus, wishes to ignore such news and live a little. Very much the social girl, she pulls alongside her friend, Katie, body conscious and a bit shy, to outings with their new acquaintance, Paul. His charm and good looks have Katie spooning for him, and he doesn't seem to mind the attention.

Paul, mysterious in his own right, has a history that keeps Tara wondering what his long pants and his gift of redirection are hiding. Wishing only happiness for Katie, she even tries to get them together.

Life is simple for Tara until a car accident jostles more than her body. Dark visions haunt her sleep, and she feels her grip on life slip as the dreams cross over becoming true. Striking similarities occur between her dreams and daily events.  Tara dreads seeing them as another life is snuffed out right before her eyes.

Tara tries in vain to ignore her new powers when Katie is marked for death in her dreams. Shaking off the bad feeling, Tara tries to behave as if everything is fine. When the visions take a turn for the worse, Tara decides to tell Katie, but she's too late.  Katie has been taken.

Sketchy reports of a man in his late forties driving an old white truck, lead police to believe a homeless man, who has been following Tara, to be the serial killer. When he shows up at Katie's apartment the police don't hesitate to take him down. Thrilled at having caught the serial killer.

With him out of the picture, Tara only has one thing left to do, find Katie. Tara tracks her down following the mixed clues from her dreams in a race against time. Katie can't survive lost out there forever.

Her fears mount as a vehicle drives away from an old abandoned house where Katie is tied up inside.  Hoping they are home free, they look for a way out, but she realizes their struggle is far from over.

Now I want popcorn

Sorry, uh, what script is this? Is it posted here?

Thanks Alan.  

DOM, it is called Whispers from the Ashes.  It is posted here.  This is the link to it.  

http://sarapricebooks.com/scripts/whispersfromtheashes.pdf

Oh and on that other company, they were going to put it into production without acquiring the rights.  Then tried to ask for 500 dollars to cover their expenses when I pulled it.

I replied that they were actually in violation of my copywrite and that they have to secure rights before doing anything to other people's work. I hope they take my advice because that just isn't good buisiness.