Okay my script Whispers from the Ashes won a contest and the prize is production.  Now another company wants to produce it that I had queried months ago and figured they'd forgotten all about it.

What do I do?  I've told the second company about my situation and that I haven't signed the contract yet, but I need to know their offer and soon.

Help, I never imagined I would have to refuse an offer.  

Sara

By submitting a script to a contest, you agree and are bound to the rules & regulations of that contest. Don´t they say anything about this matter?

No, we didn't sign a contract and we have a right to refuse their offer.  They are sending me the contract end of this week and I get to decide if I want them to do it or not.

Well first off, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I would just go with the production company that could offer the widest release (most exposer).I'm guessing that since the prize for the competition is production, there is no money.The other company is offering money right? It could mean more money to you (in the long run) if you go with the contest only if they offer more exposer.So I guess what I'm getting at here is to choose the road that best fits your goals as a screenwriter.If I were you, I would get a lawyer to help me go over the specifics of both deals.

If you go with the company they might be able to offer both, Exposer and money!

I'm sorry this probably isn't any help since this is what you've been agonizing about anyways.

In any case, congratulations again and good luck.

Thanks, actually the contest is offering money.  1.5% of the assigned budget and 1.5% of the profits.

And this other company is also offering money I don't know how much of either though.  I have inqueried both and I hope they don't drag their feet.

I just...I wasn't expecting this at all and I'm not sure what to do with all of it.

I will keep you updated, I hope the company offers a really good offer, because well, that would be awesome.

I just have a question,

Is the production company wanting to option the script or are they already going to back it and put it into production?

They want to put it into pre-production immediately.

In that case I would definately get a lawyer.There are so many things that you may not understand in the contracts that they could help with.This sounds like such a great opportunity for you, and I'm excited for you.Again good luck!

Is that script posted here?

Ah thanks.  Yeah, its all so crazy.
Yes it is posted here, in the thriller section.  You can read it here:

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

Hey Sara.  All of this sounds very exciting.  I recall that I liked that story.  Good for you.

Has the script been revised from the version I read or is it still pretty much intact?  Just curious.

Thanks Bert,

It's pretty much intact.  I add in the changes suggested on this site, like reducing the annoying flashbacks and such.  

What's cool about this other company that wants to do it is it had to get over 100 votes of confidence from people in the industry and 8 producers to sign up for it.

That just makes me tingle knowing that that many people have confidence in my work.

Sara

Hey, Sara, congratulations!!

It sounds very nice. It is an encouraging news, in other words it says to us that if we work very hard we will have a chance too.

Helio

Congradulations!  What I would do first, is research on the second company.  Find out what their credits are and what they plan on doing with the film, e.g. Distributuion, theatrical, limited release, film festivals, straight to video, etc.  Then what I would do is find out what the budget would be.  I'm pretty sure that they did a rough budget already to find out if they can even afford to do the film.  You as the screenwriter have the right to ask all these questions.

Then I would ask what percent you would get from the budget.  I never heard of writers getting a percent on profits, but if a company offers it, that's great for you!  

Then way them both out and pick the one that would benefits you the most.  I do agree with everyone else, an entertainment attorney would help you a lot.

Hope this helps!

Aww thanks Helio.  I will let you know what happens, how it all turns out and such.

I thought you were already produced.  Hmm.

Sara

Thanks Anti,
I will find out those things, thanks for the suggestions.

Yeah there are three types of payments.

Upfront
Deferred (after its finished being filmed)
Profit percentage

And any combination of them.

Upfront and deferred are the two most common I believe but some companies do offer percentages.

Upfront is the most preferred because you have a sure thing and you've already been paid so no matter what happens you have your money for your work.

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.

Hi Sara,
I've been reading your script just now and I must tell that I'm really confused.
what about making our heroes "likeable"? i mean, i've read 25 pages and there is nothing happening what would made them interesting. to be honest with you, I don't feel anything about TARA or KATIE. I like PAUL, though... I'm not sure why, by there is something intriguing about him...
but still, nobody "saves the cat", help old lady to cross the road or at least do something spontaneus and crazy. I thought that "intresting character" should be the base of every script, and now I'm reading that you have won the contest (which is great! WOW! I just can't wait  till I will be able to announce something like that. congratulations!!!)
what is going on? can you explain to me how does it work?
piotr

did i mentioned that I'm from Poland and I'm not fluent in English yet?

Hi Process,
I was rather limited with my heros as it was co-written and I had to comprimise on certain things.

The contest is based on an idea or screenplay.  If it is selected then their team goes over it.  They loved the concept, premise, synopsis, and outline that I had presented.  The one who has read the script loved it.  

There were some things that I wanted to do wtih it, but I couldn't because it was co-written, which is unfortunate.  The state it is in now is merely because I convinced my co-writer to let me add them.  It was quite the tug of war battle over story plots and such.

As for actions I was limited time wise, I had to get to the point of the story which doesn't leave a whole lot of room for side things.  We tried to depict their personalities as best as we could.  Katie is a fairly withdrawn personality type and since Tara and Katie do everything together, that limits what Tara can do.

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it very much.

hi Sara,
its not that I didn't enjoy it. Its just makes me angry sometimes when people related with the industry (I'm thinking about polish industry, i do not know anybody from any other countries industry yet talking about screenplays things like: nobodys gonna belevie in it, this is to impropable and you go to the movies a week later and you see things even more stupid and impropable... like one scene in my script, originally there was some fireworks in the polish mountains and I got a note regarding this scene from producer that this is highly impropable and other note regarding my characters that there is nothing on the beginning of the script which makes them likeable and all those stuff...
thats why I wrote my previous post..
actually, Im trying to write this in english right now, with some changes, so hopefully you could read it and give meyour opinion about it...
hows things with your career?
all the best!
piotr

Ah okay.  Likable characters are a plus, but they don't have to be.  Engaging characters are important, and a story that draws you in is as well.  As for things like fireworks, I say go for it, look at Lord of the Rings, I am sure a lot of those were thought of as impossible.  You never know until you try right?

As for my career, I am currently revising a treatment for The Standoff that will be read by financing companies (scary!) for possible financing.  It's interesting working with an indie producer in that respect, I am part of the process they have to go through to get a film made.

I just sent off a treatment of Dragon Soul to an annimation company who was contracted to annimated Prince of Egypt and other such features.  The two top producers/annimators are rather nice.  I hope it gets placed with them, if not it will be sent to Midway for possible game development, or perhaps both.

Then just writing and revising.  I have submitted my book Town Curfew to Baen Books for possible publication, if it is not accepted there, it will be sent to Tor for consideration.

I am dappling in some other fields, getting a feel for the other side.  I have/am entering a few other contests as well.

Thats about it.

Oh and the only thing I can think of about the improbable occurance of fireworks in the mountains is the fear of avalanche.  The sound would probably cause one.

thats what happens just after it, actually
"...the lifes and dreams of three people - retired and
unfulfilled rockjock, his young, naive girlfriend and
his mordibly ambitious pupil - are shattered when
their secrets turns, during a forced trip trough the
mountains, into an destructive avalanche of blood and
violence..."

as about your career: that is so cool!!! good luck and good night...

all the best once again
piotr

oh, you have mentioned Lord of the Rings, but can I compare things from fantasy world with my movie which plot takes place in our world? its copletely different genre... but on the other hand we've got mission impossible... which is... yeah... IMPOSSIBLE

anyway, hopefully soon I'll put my script here, and then I will get some more opinions...

piotr

Perhaps it is then that the producer didn't feel people would be stupid enough to set them off.  If you want that scene I would consider an alterior, like a bunch of kids sneak up there and do it, kids do stupid enough things, because they are pushing boundaries and the things theya re told not to do, they want to do because they have to experience some consequences on their own.  And since they are young they often feel invincible and they they would be able to escape it unscathed if they did cause one.

You definitely want to stick with logic because you are asking the reader to suspend their disbelief for the period of the movie.  The more improbably or illogical your movie is, the less they will be able to do that, thus lowering their belief.

Fantasy and sci-fi get tons of leeway as they are make believe from the getgo.  What I meant is visual and actions and scenes.  A lot of those would have been impossible not long ago because of lack of technology.

I would strongly suggest not comparing a fiction based on reality to a fiction based on fantasy.  Otherwise people would get the wrong idea and would expect fantasy in your script.  

I would instead compare it to movies with the same themes, such as:

Vertigo meets Hostage in this deadly thriller that exposes the basest of human nature.

It may or may not work for yours in particular, but it should give you a rough idea.  I was struggling to think of a movie that has people with secrets, I'm sure there are hundreds, but for the life of me I can't think of any.

Let me know when you post it.

Sara

thanks a lot,

do you have a logline for your whispers from the ashes?

just curious

you think that a necessery thing to figure before you start writing? a logline, killer tag or what is it about in one sentence?

take care

I have a tagline, logline, short synopsis, medium synopsis, long synopsis, and a treatment.  I didn't do any of these things until after I had written.

I feel its only neccary to have that before hand if you are planning on pitching it before it is completed and this should only be attempted once you have roven yourself to the industry and after you have made some good sales.

How you think also makes a difference, some people start out with a logline and write from it, I am not anything like that.  I start out with a rough synopsis, and develop an organic outline from it and then write the rough draft in under a week.  Then revise and edit and revise and edit.  I find when I have an organic outline I write much faster and closer to the finished product then when I just start writing and make it up as I go along.

Basically, develop your own style, and do what works for you.