Just thought I would post this for discussion since some people here are frustrated about no one picking up their scripts for production.

What really makes a filmmaker want to produce your film?

Personally, I knew right away when I read Them That's Dead by Bert that I loved the story. Then my husband and I went to St. Augustine FL and to the Castillo de San Marcos fort and somewhere in the back of my head some wheels started turning and suddenly I could see that script being shot there. We went back again, this time actually scouting for locations and I knew it could be done there. TTD will be shot there and I'm so stoked about that. I think it will be great! That's how the decision was made for that script.

I know however, a great many writers, like Marnie, who have written A LOT and still can't seem to get anyone interested in making their shorts, much less features. So my question here is, what makes a filmmaker want your script? I'm personally really curious about this since I know I'm not the best technical writer nor the best story teller here, but almost 25% of my shorts posted here get picked up for production.

What makes filmmakers want your script? I don't know. Is it low budget? Or something else? I know I suck at logilines and synopsis's  so that's not it. Thoughts….

I think the most important thing is that the filmmaker has to learn about your script.  While they do show up on the boards, here, they don't show up often enough.  I spend more time shopping my work around, looking for the directors and the producers.

It sounds like a cliche, but a good query letter is extremely important.  While I have a file of them, for each script I've written, I still tweak them before I send them out.  

Being that most of the directors/producers who come here are relative beginners, I try to keep my scripts simple and low budget.  The last couple of shorts I wrote could be done with low budgets and without great experience on the director's part.  The same can be said, to a degree, with my more recent features.

Martin Scorsese isn't coming to this site, looking for scripts.  It's our director/producer equivalent that stops by here.  And, when we write, we should take that into consideration.


Phil

Tee hee.  Thanks for starting this discussion Pia.  I will surely be taking notes!  I am following your advice and will be adding some of my 60+ shorts here. . .slowly of course.  Don't want to clog anything up.  :P

Marnie, organize all your shorts by genre and keep an eye out for people looking to shoot a particular script.  If someone's looking for a horror script, write a query letter with the loglines to the best three horror scripts... and mention you have others.

If you've placed in any competitions, mention it.  It looks great on the letter.


Phil

I've had one script filmed six times. Honestly, sick of watching different versions of it. So I no longer post them here. Don even had to bring one version to my attention.

IMHO, nothing gets more attention than low budget comedy. If you really want a short filmed, I would say thats the direction to go. Features? Guess I should try writing one before I say anything...

James

Marn, you can post shorts for free, I think, at Inktip. Or maybee it's just a synopsis. They get a lot of looks there. I haven't posted any myself. I really don't write shorts with the goal of being produced. I see them more as writing exercises, maybe test runs for a feature. Actually, I generally only do shorts for OWC's. I definitely enjoy that little break. Sixty shorts, that's quite a little library you got going! Good luck.

Quoted from jwent6688 I've had one script filmed six times. Honestly, sick of watching different versions of it. So I no longer post them here. Don even had to bring one version to my attention

Six times?  I hope you got one really good film out of it.

Quoted from leitskev Marn, you can post shorts for free, I think, at Inktip. Or maybee it's just a synopsis.

Inktips lets you list your synopses on their site.  It works.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Six times?  I hope you got one really good film out of it.

I did. I can't wait to post it here, but the film makers are dragging their feet about what to do with it. So it sits... I'm going to fly to the UK and court the lead actress... she's absolutely stunning IMO...

James

Man...I really feel like a loser.  I have shorts listed on InkTip already.  LOL.  Still nada.  :P

Every now and then I drop a link to my wordpress site - Brainfluffs(26 titles & loglines listed) on filmmaker sites like DVXuser.  To get my name out there I entered a few DVX fests...even won once.  Movie Poet...have 6 HM's, 2 second places and 1 3rd...nada, nada, nada.

I never thought of query letters...maybe cus I have no idea who to send them to.  :D   Where do filmmakers usually post that they're looking for screenplays?

Try craigslist.  I actually replied to a call for scripts in the last hour.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Try craigslist.  I actually replied to a call for scripts in the last hour. Phil

Doh!  Have to admit...I never thought of that!

The short answer...story and budget.  I think that applies to shorts and features, because the way things are now you've either got a student trying to do a showcase/final project film, or a producer that's trying to put something together in a shitty economy that nobody wants to invest in.

From the feature side, it's really a bear since you're dealing with a perpetual catch-22.  Investors don't want to put money into a film that has no A-list talent attached, and A-list talent doesn't want to sign on to a film that's not funded.  Really screwed up.  You get around that by writing a script that doesn't require A-list talent (which is pretty much any script unless you have hard headed producers) and making it budget friendly, effects and location wise.

Quoted from leitskev Marn, you can post shorts for free, I think, at Inktip. Or maybee it's just a synopsis. They get a lot of looks there.

You can post a title, genre and logline of a short for free on InkTip.
I've gotten dozens of script requests from their service.
Even got a couple of options from production companies.
It's a great way to connect with people in similar career stages too.

E.D.

This is an interesting thread. I'm brand new and believe it or not...I've had someone contact me about the last four shorts I've posted. Two this week ...one I'm calling tonight about my most recent 'No Experience' short...BUT NONE of the contacts have come through and actually filmed anything yet...or I have yet to see anything. So, until something's actually 'made' ....it's not really worth getting excited about IMO.

Most of the contacts have read my shorts here. I'm still brand new at all of this...so I have no clue, but if someone contacts you...don't get too excited until something is actually made....

Also, the ones who do contact me..ask what I want out of it..I say writer recognition...is this what a new writer should say??? I surely don't expect to be paid for my owc shorts.

Get use to filmmakers disappearing on you; that's what they do.  Twelve filmmakers approached me regarding one short a wrote; the first eleven disappeared on me without even saying good-bye.

I tell those interested in my shorts to keep away from my underwear (wait for laughter to end).  I tell these filmmakers that I want the following if they're going to shoot my scripts:

1.  I get sole writing credit.
2.  I do all the rewrites.
3.  I get two copies of the finished film on disc.
4.  I want to be kept advised of the production.  That usually means that I e-mail these people once a month.  I expect a reply.
5.  I get the right to make copies of the finished work, and distribute them, for personal use.

I don't give away my rights to the script; I'm letting them use it.


Phil

This is odd.  All of a sudden today I got 4 requests from InkTip.  Bizzarre.  Maybe the universe heard my biotching.  

Phil...I took a look at Craigslist but only in my area.  I'll expand the search of course but I did learn where I need to go if I ever decide to delve into adult films.  FYI if anyone lives in the NJ area there was a call out for a heavy set guy with man b00bs.  

Quoted from mmmarnie Phil...I took a look at Craigslist but only in my area.  I'll expand the search of course but I did learn where I need to go if I ever decide to delve into adult films.  FYI if anyone lives in the NJ area there was a call out for a heavy set guy with man b00bs.

Marnie, you are seriously looking in the wrong sections...

I check New York City and Los Angeles every day (usually twice a day).  I also check numerous other cities, both here and abroad.


Phil

I looked under JOBS - TV/Film/Video.   Just noticed under that there is a section called GIGS.  Is that where you mean?

Under GIGS, I look under writing.  And under JOBS, I look under writing/editing and under TV/film/videos.

WTF were you looking under?


Phil

JOBS - TV/FILM/VIDEO...obviously the meeting place for adult film actors and filmmakers.  :P

must be a Jersey thing...


Phil

Attractive females wanted for adult video and/or photoshoots and private parties. .
Adult filming company is looking for new females from ages 18 to 25 for adult films.
No experience necessary.
We pay from $600 to $1000 a shoot which lasts about 60-90 mins.
Please send us your recent pictures, age and method of contact.
Pictures should include a clear headshot and bodyshot.
You must be 18 years or older to apply and must provide proof of age.

If you have recently turned 18 (within last 6 months) we will pay $1000-$2000.

First time actresses and students preferred.
_________

Hi, we are a new adult film company G3, making a once in a life time offer to girls who want to be famous! Contact us to find out more!!!
__________

Looking for an over weight male with man boobs (New Jersey)

This is a G rated film there will be no sex and no nudity.
We are looking for an over weight male to dance on video in a G string and write our website on your back.

Please submit pictures but no nudity, tell us your experience and how you would want.

If you do a good job we will have you do more then one video.

Quoted from mmmarnie Looking for an over weight male with man boobs (New Jersey)

Eek!  Definitely the wrong place to be looking.  I don't think those types of filmmakers rely on scripts...   ;D

@ Kevin...LOLOLOL  Disturbing.  

Quoted from dogglebe I tell those interested in my shorts to keep away from my underwear (wait for laughter to end).  I tell these filmmakers that I want the following if they're going to shoot my scripts: 1.  I get sole writing credit. 2.  I do all the rewrites. 3.  I get two copies of the finished film on disc. 4.  I want to be kept advised of the production.  That usually means that I e-mail these people once a month.  I expect a reply. 5.  I get the right to make copies of the finished work, and distribute them, for personal use. I don't give away my rights to the script; I'm letting them use it.

I agree with basically everything you've said here. But why two copies? Not that I disagree but it's definitely more particular then a copy? What's the merit? Or rather... What am I missing here? Honestly curious to know the significance.

Also, how do you get producers to keep you consistently informed on production, especially if you write them once a month? I've had generally good relationships with producers but I'm well aware this is not a common occurrence.

Why two copies?  Incase I lose one.

I've had directors/producers have delay after delay after delay on shooting.  If they stop replying to my e-mails, I send them one saying that I'm revoking their rights to use my script.  This won't stop them from shooting it.  Will this necessarily stop them?  Not really...


Phil

Quoted from Pale Yellow This is an interesting thread. I'm brand new and believe it or not...I've had someone contact me about the last four shorts I've posted. Two this week ...one I'm calling tonight about my most recent 'No Experience' short

That's great news Dena, I understand it will probably come to nothing but it must be such a big confidence boost which is always good. Good luck with it, keep us informed with how you get on?

Steve

Quoted from mmmarnie This is a G rated film there will be no sex and no nudity. We are looking for an over weight male to dance on video in a G string and write our website on your back.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that rated G films and G strings are not sympatico.

E.D.

I'm certainly no expert or professional in filmmaking or writing, but surprisingly, I've been contacted about 3 of the 5 scripts I have written.  One of them is a short script, and so far is the only project that came to fruition.  Another script I wrote unfortunately didn't work out because it was partially based on another story.  I'm currently discussing with the filmmaker who contacted about the third script.  In addition, a fourth filmmaker contacted me about a cowriting job, which I'm currently discussing.

I know you probably heard this already, but I think what attracts filmmakers to your script is that its unique or different in some way.  For me, there are few gay drama films out there, and filmmakers who want to make a gay-themed film sort of have to single them out when looking for a script.  The story should be creative and something that hasn't been done often, and of course it has to be filmable.

I forgot I started this thread. I suppose I should chime in.  ;D

I asked the guy who's making Blackout what he liked about the script. He said it was low budget due to all locations being easy to find and use. Even the luxury apartment building with a lobby attendant and a secure garage with an attendant. He also said they liked it because they had to keep guessing until the end who the killer actually was.

Another interesting thing is that my script Malevolence is being produced by two different people. One is a black guy in Atlanta. The other one is an older black woman in NYC. I just can't figure out what that script had that attracted two separate African Americans.  Never had that happen before.

I thought I would share this with you guys today. Earlier this week I spoke to the guy that is producing blackout and finders keepers. I wanted to share something that he told me.

He told me that people send him scripts to read all the time. He said the biggest problems he sees with the screenplays  is a recurring one. One of the biggest problems with the scripts is that they totally lose steam in the middle. Another is the old, show don't tell. He said, way too many scripts tell us in dialogue what we need to know instead of showing us.

He told me that the reason they picked blackout was because it started out strong right off the bat. And it didn't bog down after that. The tension kept increasing throughout the script, but also they were kept in the dark until the end, if the main character was actually the killer or not.

Nothing profound about this, I just thought I should share.

He also told me that finders keepers was not as strong as script as blackout. They obviously still liked it, but still. Funny thing about finders keepers is that it has probably been rewritten 20 times while blackout was a 1st draft. Anyway, that is all. Carry on. :-)

Agreed Pia.

Think it's worth posting, even if it's a well known complaint.

The slow middle is a problem even in a lot of Pro productions. It seems more of a mechanical problem than anything else...most structure templates provide easy fixes to this...as loathe as people may sometimes be to use them. Test your alliances, increase the stakes etc etc. There are simple ways of creating tension that can be retrospectively applied to the story if you are looking for them. Most of the time the middle is just about leading up to where the protag is in the worst place possible, having lost all his support.

The show, not tell thing is something I seem to mention a lot. There are always exceptions to the rule, but a lot of scripts suffer from it.

Literally asking..how can I showthis instead of telling it is usually the way to fix it!!!

I've had problems with the middle, and I can relate some ideas on the cause.

The introduction has a huge advantage in that meeting our characters, and discovering the story's world, can be interesting in itself. And usually by the third act things have built up, are moving towards a dramatic conclusion.

In the second act, sometimes there are things that your story needs to accomplish, either to set up the third, or just for the story to make sense. They're not the most exciting part of the story, but they're things that have to be accomplished. Almost like checking off a list, and even the idea of checking off a list sounds boring.

As far as show not tell, for good or for not, that's why the simplest of stories are preferred. The more complicated a story is, the harder it is to show everything.

Thanks, guys, good advice as always!

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Agreed Pia. Think it's worth posting, even if it's a well known complaint. The slow middle is a problem even in a lot of Pro productions. It seems more of a mechanical problem than anything else...most structure templates provide easy fixes to this...as loathe as people may sometimes be to use them. Most of the time the middle is just about leading up to where the protag is in the worst place possible, having lost all his support.

I've heard it said many times around town...

"Page 73 is a lot harder to write than, the end." ;D

Regards,
E.D.

Raise the stakes.   Easier said than done but that's what you've gotta do.  :)