The Unlikely Road to Becoming a Screenwriter

[Hyperion]

not quite- it's a FILM flim flam   

[Scot Eric]

damnit! scot, ya tricked me! I came in to see an update and I got update about a possible update..THIS IS FLIM FLAM!!!

I'll either write one tonite via iPhone (which is kind of a pain in the ass) or I'll wait until I'm back home this weekend to do it. I probably should wait until Sunday as one "maybe" situation could be a "yes" at that point.
 
Oh, I forgot about Hyp -- dude IMs me more on FB than comments here!

So far, everything is still pretty positive, no matter how much of a cynical spin I keep putting on stuff. There's a reason why I haven't posted on that "what's awesome" thread.

[Scot Eric]

Friday, 6/1

I literally wrote this update while sitting in a loud bar.

I'm going to go about things in a slightly different fashion today. I've tried to reduce the filmmaking process to ten steps (thought I could do it in nine, but I was wrong). It will all become clear why I'm doing it this way shortly.

And if there's any typos -- blame the iPhone!

Ten Steps from Absolute Nobody to Still Nobody, but now he's written a fucking film:

1. Write a good script.

2. Get people with money interested (possible producer and main investor).

3. Get validation/additional interest from objective professionals (script coverage as well as buzz from professionals with no ulterior motive or stake in script).

4. Get a director...as well as a director of photography and if possible, an editor too.

5. Finalize preliminary budget, shoring up investors (budget subject to increase based mainly on step 6).

6. Send screenplay and possibly script coverage to targeted actors. At this point, a "work for hire" agreement should be worked out for me. This will cover my initial payment as well as a later sum when the film is completed. It would also cover any additional money for rewrites and retaining rights for sequels and other forms of additional licensing. A separate agreement regarding "points" and the "back end" would be worked out later (possibly by step 8).

7. Cast main role first, then use that name to help attract other names for other roles.

8. Set shooting dates, location and similar details while receiving script notes.  Will need to be doing rewrites based on thoughts from director and possibly main actor.

9. Film is shot, may travel to location (be it Georgia of the former Soviet Union, Sydney Australia, Canada or somewhere in the US). Then it's all about post-production work.

10. Work on film is complete. If full or partial distribution has been resolved (this MAY have occurred in step 5 -- otherwise it may be a matter of marketing, buzz and the festival circuit to finalize distribution both in the US and abroad), then may be talking about an actual release date sometime in 2013.  And then...the fucking thing is released.

We may clear step 4 by Sunday.

Still to be determined -- will this end up being a $750,000 budgeted film, or will the budget be expanded to the $2 -3 million dollar range?

Casting has been more hotly discussed. Names that have been mentioned -- that people involved have an actual solid relationship with -- include Ethan Hawke and John Cusack. Josh Holloway has been mentioned numerous times as well. Mayhem's dream remains Bradley Cooper.

Have also started looking more closely at possibilities for the "villain" role. Mayhem's dream is Jude Law. I think he'd be awesome, but I was thinking Paul Bettany -- and possibly offer his wife (Jennifer Connelly) the role of Gloria. I also submitted a list of several Hispanic actors for Rivas and black actresses for Jericho.

Finally, I was also asked if I wouldn't mind trying to think of some possible "tag lines" for the movie poster.

Hopefully I'll have some more concrete news to share in a few days.

And so it goes...

[Scot Eric]

Sunday, 6/3

As of today, we have a director.

We also have a director of photography, but we were fairly certain of that beforehand.

The director (Mark) had a Skype conversation with Mayhem & Not Russian Dave this morning (Mayhem & NRD were in Los Angeles, Mark was in London).  Mark talked at great length about how much he loved the script - how he felt it wasn't just "a man in a room" story (and in fact bristled at that notion), but how although it was a thriller, it was very much a character piece.  

He discussed how the two principals (Barry & Lex) would do ADR for a couple days (covering the entire script), then each person would also act off the other's recording (well, it would really be mostly Barry off of Lex's recording, unless he decided to change some staging) for the studio work.  He felt it shouldn't be shot in some "MTV" style, but for the most part, the tension would build organically -- based on the script and the performances.   This is not to say there wouldn't be spots for a little flash -- but it shouldn't be overkill/overdone, as it would dilute and cheapen the film overall.

More good news for me (at this point): while Mark has notes for some light tweaks here and there -- he did NOT feel there needed to be any major rewriting done with the script at this point.  Of course, that could change in the coming months, but still very encouraging to hear.

And with Mark aboard, the film will PROBABLY be shot in Canada, with maybe a day or two in New York for some specific exteriors (the cab ride, some shots later in the film).  Again, much like many things I've recounted here -- this is not "set in stone" -- it's just the most likely outcome as of now.  One cannot totally rule out shooting in either the former Soviet republic or in Sydney -- but the odds of either of those places being the shooting locale has dropped considerably.



NOW -- over the course of the next couple weeks:

a) Agreements will be drawn up for the director.  He is going to take a deferred salary for the film.

b) The final tentative budget will be worked out after talking to more potential investors, as well as Mark & Not Russian Dave agreeing on the final number.  The production company headed by that "Big Mac' fellow -- we may not be able to wait on them too much longer.  But there are a number of other people (including a fellow named Alan, who was actually the person who called WITH Mark last week -- I had a detail wrong before, thinking they were one and the same person).  Alan alone may be able to bring between $600,000 to $1.5 million to the production.

What makes money from either Big Mac's company, Alan, or one other possibility that has come to light (someone who has worked with Joel Silver on a lot of films over the past couple decades) -- is that folks like these don't only represent a major cash influx from a single source -- but also help to solve some or possibly all distribution issues as well.

Mayhem and even Not Russian Dave don't necessarily mind if the budget goes up to the $2 - 3 million dollar range -- if the additional money is spent "above-the-line". Namely -- on, well names (the cast).  But we do not need to go that high for crew, locations, the explosion and so on.  It's not about being thrifty -- it's spending money wisely (which one doesn't see too much of in this business).

c) We will start hearing back from actors.  A casting director in the UK may be hired to help fill some of the roles of the movie -- but it is likely we will have locked in the main character (Barry) before that happens.

Mark is e-mailing the script to Ethan Hawke today.  He thinks he'd be a solid fit for the part, would probably "only" cost a hundred thousand a week for a few weeks.  He's good friends with Hawke, and should hear back from him fairly soon.

One of Mark's agency friends in the UK will send the script to Colin Firth (?!?!?) and Ewan MacGregor.  I never even considered an actor like Firth, but I confess the thought intrigues the fuck out of me.   MacGregor could work too -- and Mark hears he's "hungry" to do something like this.  If casting one of these fairly prestigious actors in the lead role -- either they would have to do an American accent -- or I'd have to rewrite the part a bit to accommodate the British accent (it would definitely impact some lines of dialogue between Barry and Lex -- as it's LEX who is supposed to have a British accent).

As I may have mentioned before, Mayhem's also made contact with the William Morris agency -- and there's a good chance the script may find its way into the hands of Josh Holloway (yay) and David Duchovny (eh).



There will be others the script will be sent to -- but these are the names being discussed at the outset.  The budget/investors issue may also go a long way to upping the ante actor-wise (remember -- the actor is going to work for less than 3 weeks).  There are certain actors you can get for a couple hundred thousand dollars -- but if it's closer to a million for a couple weeks' work -- the sky could be the limit.  

Of course, much of this is dependent on actors liking the script that much.  

So far, agents, directors, producers and friends...

(more Mayhem's than mine, since it seems almost impossible to get any supposed friends of mine -- both of the "internet" variety as well as in "real life" -- to ever fucking read my stuff even if they can read any number of books or watch movies or whatever the fuck they do in their leisure time that doesn't involve reading the work of someone who's inching just a little closer to a lifelong dream coming true..oh, does that sound angry or hurt -- well good, because that's not far off from the truth -- but I clearly have digressed, so close parenthesis NOW)

...all seem to feel it's the sort of thing that would attract actors.  But let's see if that's true or not.  The very idea that actors I've heard of will be reading my stuff and even considering taking a role blows my fucking mind.

As somewhat stated before, once the budget has been determined -- a "work-for-hire" agreement will be drawn up for me.  That will nail down what I will be paid both now and upon completion of the film (at least that's how I think it works).  

Of course, who knows -- I could get screwed out of the entire deal and just end up with a "Story By" credit...I tend to expect to be disappointed.  I've gotten used to it, after all.  Sad face.

Hopefully, there wil be more major news in the next few weeks.

Lastly, I've said it before and I'll say it again.  My most heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the handful of people who have taken an interest in all of this -- I appreciate the encouragement as well as the feedback.  Seeing what some "prospective audience members" think of the script is awesome.  While it's cool to hear what absolute strangers in LA and abroad think of it -- it's truly gratifying when people I (sort of) know read it as well.


And so it goes...


PS (so much for "lastly"):

I created a different cover image for my Facebook page, based on the first page of all three of my feature film scripts -- I've attached it here -- love what even a total moron can do in Photobucket!

[Ebon]

wow it"s really starting too look more and more real.  i agree about duchvony....

I hope we will always get some insight into what is going on!

[Hyperion]

Awesome sause SE!! 

[Kimmel Prime]

Fuck yeah


Break a leg dude. I'm looking forward to buying a ticket to this mother bitch and telling all the sonsabitches in line that I know the fucking scribe who put this shit to paper.

[Scot Eric]

My thanks to you fine three gentlemen.  I suspect two more (of the Houses Marv & Mirth) may follow in your stead -- creating a quintessential quintet of support.

I know at least 2 of the five have read some version of DND -- so special kudos to those stalwart souls.

I hope this all does indeed come together...not only to fulfill a dream, not only to stave off the potential poverty looming on the horizon, but also so I don't look quite the fool here to you fellows.  Although I have couched most of my updates with the cautionary note that this could all fall apart like the first two little pigs' houses of stick and straw -- I hope my innate pessimism is proven wrong.

And needless to say -- if any of you (or if there are any true lurkers out there who read this crap but choose not to comment) would like to read the script in question -- just let me know. It's a truly fast read -- if it takes you much more than 90 minutes to read it, that's probably a sign you're either dyslexic or simply need to bone up on your basic reading comprehension skills.

[Ebon]

yeah 90 minutes is about write forread time. plus it will grab you and just pull you along

[JSayonara]

Cool stuff Scot.

You'll still remember us when you're snorting coke offa hookers in Beverly Hills right?

[Marv-El]

I'm keeping my copy of the screenplay to feed to SDComics to drop spoilers in the countdown thread. When can we learn who the director is?

[Matt-Ak]

It's Mark.  You've heard of Mark, surely?

I prominse I'm going to read it soon.  I downloaded it to my iphone as soon as I got the phone, so if I was away from the computer... ha ha I'd have an excuse. 

I am planning on going to the running of the fanboys for PROMETHEUS at our local IMAX Thursday night, and hope to read it while I'm waiting.

[Scot Eric]

I'm keeping my copy of the screenplay to feed to SDComics to drop spoilers in the countdown thread. When can we learn who the director is?

Funny stuff.  I sent you the final version, right?  Oh yeah, I know I did, never mind.

We shall see if it ever does get to that stage. [fingers crossed]

AMENDED SEVERAL DAYS LATER

In the interest of at least a modicum of confidentiality -- I've deleted the bulk of this post that specifically names the director.  I know he's referred to in someone else's post -- but not by name.

Just trying to play things safe and not screw things up due to posting on a message board!

[Chooch]

Awesome news Scot!

[Marv-El]

Credits from Conan 2011 and Epic Adventures of Tarzan. Sounds like a good choice to me. Very exciting.

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