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San Francisco, 4:20 PM
Sun Nov 8
11 posts in the last 24 hours
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09/16/09
So send it to Charlie Jane instead. I'm sure she wouldn't mind reading through your potential brilliance on thin acquaintance. I mean, if you've posted a comment on one of her articles here that practically makes you her friend, doesn't it?
09/17/09
09/16/09
However, having said that, every studio and production company has its procedures for submission. Its not that hard to learn these procedures and follow them. However, I do understand that some aspects of trying to break into Hollywood can be frustrating and unfair. The remedy for that seems to be the rise of digital technology which is less and less expensive; allowing more and more people to make movies while the growth of film festivals is allowing more and more people to have their movies seen. If it is a script you are passionate about then get together with some fellow would-be filmmakers and shoot it yourself. Just follow two rules:
1. Educate yourself, learn the language of film and avoid the "let's make a movie in my backyard" syndrome.
2. Use your own original characters and universe. Yeah there are a few awesome fan films out there but really Troops was only funny once. If you use your own characters you avoid legal action and no die hard superfan is gonna gripe about continuity.
09/16/09
09/16/09
All it took was a rumor in some trade paper saying 'Cameron thinking about movie with submarine' and by the end of the week my in-box would have three scripts about a submarine: none wanting to be a movie, all hoping for a slip-up that would turn into a successful lawsuit.
Garrison Dean, the scenario you posit is not at all fictional. Fortunately, because the much sneered-at lawyers are vigilant, it's actually better to make a living as a writer than as a crook.
09/16/09
Kinda like when a writer asks me to fix their broken computer? Friend rate applies?
09/16/09
09/16/09
However, Scalzi also knows the difference between what he wants, what's possible, and that reaching the "middle ground" is not just a euphemism for "You Lose". You can reach a compromise without necessarily compromising yourself (well...except for that bacon inciddent a few years back).
What I found most interesting in his response was the fact that, when refering to himself in the third person, it appears that "John" may think of himself as more of a "Joan". After years of reading his blog I wouild have never guessed.....
ha who am I kidding, its been obvious for years...
It's ok, I'm cool with that, I'm cool....but who's going to tell Krissy?
09/16/09
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09/16/09
But really, if you want help from pros, attend writer's workshops.
Having said that, Josh (Who?) Olson still seems like a toolbox.
09/16/09
I have a friend that works at a talent agency and they get it to. friends of friends of friends of the agent asking to hook up little suzy or johnny cause they want to be big time actors. i mean 'can't you get them like a line in the next Brad Pitt movie. you know Brad right' (yeah everyone knows Brad. geez)
09/16/09
"Two races locked in a futile everlasting battle in the stars until one small band of fighters is able to break the stale mate."
"An animated feature about an adorable creature who doesn't quite fit in, on a journey to discover themselves and their place in the world."
"A small group of unprepared individuals runs up against an unexpected supernatural adversary."
"She's a young professional who has spent so much time on her career that she hasn't found time for love, but that all changes when she meets a man who doesn't play by the rules."
and so on... btw I drive a solid gold Delorean.
09/16/09
09/16/09
IP law needs a good reworking.
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09/16/09
I mean, talk about the one situation where you're suddenly really rich and IN NO WAY earned it, at all. I don't think there's anything morally culpable in asking that guy for money.
09/16/09
I wrote a script once, and had it read. by a couple of agents. they were happy to do it. and I followed the rules. I wrote a pitch letter, waited for them to reply and dropped off a copy with the requested waivers at their offices. it didn't go anyway but I got some good feedback.
09/16/09
09/16/09
QED
09/16/09
This is not a substantial amount of risk.
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09/16/09
Which is not to say it isn't soul-crushing. When I was first published, I used to get mail saying "I love your book, and I think your name would help me sell mine." I always tried to help these people out. Now that I'm more successful, I get a lot of mail saying, "I haven't read your books, nor do I care to, but I admire your success, and I'd like you to give me concrete advice on how I can do what you did so I can be successful too." Of course, when they hear the advice--and how much hard work is involved--they usually flake off and blow away, but the damage to my ego is already done.
09/16/09
But you're right- writing sucks. I love telling stories, I hate writing. It's so fiddly, and fidgety and the reward isn't so satisfying, since the real enjoyment, for me at least, is telling a story.
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09/16/09
Look, if he reads your manuscript, and you read one of his future works and say, "HEY! That's like my idea! HE STOLE IT! SUE!", your case will likely get laughed out of court. But he'll still have to defend himself. He's still at risk of alienating his publishers. He's still wasting his time, money, and goodwill, for nothing.
It's a no win proposition for an author.
09/16/09
Booting him off the project would imply that the lawyers expect him to not ever open his e-mail, or even his snail mail for that matter. The writer cannot control what people send to him/her -- even saying "don't send me stuff!" on his/her website does not mean morons won't ignore it.
Just exactly what did the lawyers think this person could have done differently?
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09/16/09
It is all about the plausible deniability. You can read all the shitty fanfics you want, as long as you never acknowledge that you did.
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09/16/09
Aspiring writers shouldn't be trying to do that in the first place, they should be trying to create original material.
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09/16/09
(While writing that I cant help but realize why so many things are written poorly and capitalized on the internet. It is rather cathartic.)
09/16/09
You notice that most of the upper echelons of the Hollywood machine don't casually say what books they read for pleasure. Ideas are cheap, plentiful, and repetitious. It's how you put them together that counts.
09/16/09