View Full Version : Movie: from idea to cinema.
A semi-serious but light-hearted question:
OK... I have this killer idea for a blockbuster movie (don't we all). It has been in my head for about 5-8 years and I have penned some basic chapter/scene structure and a few scribbled storyboards. Hopefully, I will be motivated enough to actually flesh out the chapters/scenes and do as many storyboards as possible... and finally come up with a reasonable script.
So my question is if I complete the script and storyboards... how should I go about getting the thing made?
Also, I am not sure how much $$ screenwriters or creators get for their idea. Ideally I would hope to be able to keep a small % of the profit (if it made any) and hopefully keep creative rights for possible sequels, spin-offs etc. But being a novice in this area I am not sure what is realistic and what is "dreamin".
Cheers :)
In the simplest of terms...
1. Write a screenplay.
2. Hire an agent to flog it.
This was basically how Juno got made.
superfraser
9 Oct 2008, 17:00
Watch Entourage..
In season 5 2 guys have done what you're talking about...
...Sure its a TV show... But it makes comments about what $$ unknown screen writers can get...
From memory it was $100K:$300K
Which ment something like... $100K for the script... $300K if it gets made...
In the simplest of terms...
1. Write a screenplay.
2. Hire an agent to flog it.
This was basically how Juno got made.
Either an agent or producer was reading the screenwriters blog and suggested she write a script.
That gave her an in.
Seriously dude, write the thing if it makes you happy, but don't look past that.
You don't need storyboards because you won't be directing.
You have to find an agent first, if they think you're good enough they'll rep you. If someone likes the script it you wouldn't get a heap of $$ for it because you're a first time writer, and no way would you be getting a % of anything.
If it was sold it might get dumped in a filing cabinet somewhere, hundreds of scripts are bought every year and never made. If it is made or they plan to make it, don't expect to have any further say in the script, at least 2 writers would be brought in to rewrite it and maybe it wouldn't resemble much of what you initially envisioned. A writer called Neil Marshall Stevens sold a screenplay to Dimension called 'Deader', it sat around for a few years, Dimension wanted to churn out another Hellraiser so they got some dude to rewrite it all and incorporate the Hellraiser story into it. Stevens was not impressed, but he couldn't do a thing.
Nearly every thing you'd expect in terms of writing and selling a script is probably the opposite of what you think, but on the bright side if you did sell something that would be the key to getting more writing work, rewriting other people's scripts (which over a period of time would pay a lot better than selling a spec script) or making a sale as people would be more inclined to read because 'that was the guy who wrote....' And that's what it's really about, having a career, agents are a lot more interested in people who will be able to work into the future than a guy who's just hoping for a one off sale.
JuddyisGod
9 Oct 2008, 21:22
edit - re-edit then re-edit some more. Nothing will get your script thrown in the bin quicker than spelling mistakes, and bad punctuation. Length is also a biggie - don't make it too short or even worse - too long. After that get an agent who is excited about the script and get him to flog it to everyone he can.
Absolutely no point doing storyboards and make sure your script is in the proper format - they won't even look at it otherwise. A lot of mistakes first time screenwriters make is putting camera directions on the script to - a big no.
Peninsula Boy
9 Oct 2008, 23:25
Go to Hollywood and pitch it