Archive for the ‘Sound Strategy’ tag
SCREENWRITER QUESTIONS (PART 4)
Part 4 of the screenwriter questions series continues.
For obvious reasons I will be unable to address every question still sitting in the queue, but I was compelled to offer my thoughts to the following which were chosen completely at random. Here we go:
Do you feel that winning a reputable contest gives a writer an edge towards getting a good agent or production?
Michael Martin, named as Variety’s Screenwriter to Watch in 2008, was living in Brooklyn, New York working as a flagger for the MTA. He placed second in a screenwriting competition. His submission, Brooklyn’s Finest made its way into the hands of producers who packaged the film with Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke. Directed by Antoine Fuqua it was released theatrically March of 2010. Jessica Bendinger, a BOSI expert contributor, is hosting an incredible opportunity for screenwriters at http://tinyurl.com/y8r7eyz. I strongly encourage you to participate.
My writing partner and I are just finishing our latest. And we have an assortment of folks we can take it to. Some are extremely well-placed, others not so much. What is proper etiquette and sound strategy? Do we give the most influential folks “exclusivity” for some period to see if there’s interest before moving down the list? Or do we “go wide” with everyone to improve our odds? I’m sure you appreciate the issues…even better than I do.
The spec market is so complex and ever changing. Timing, box-office results, elements, and studio mandates all play factors in how one chooses to introduce material to the market. I will say that affording anyone “exclusivity” can be effective if executed correctly. Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson, the writers and producers of “The Fighter” starring Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, and Amy Adams — due in theatres this year — as well as “Job” starring Will Smith, and I will be discussing the nature of this beast. Members be sure to tune in as part of the Shortcuts to Success: Meeting with the Masters Series on Friday, March 26, 2010 at 10am PST.
Isn’t it better to be true to your own voice and write what you know in a genre you feel passionate about, than to concoct a story in a genre you dislike just to be considered saleable in today’s industry?
I wrote a piece that I feel sums up my feelings on this question (http://tinyurl.com/yzkobyd). Sony’s Senior EVP Sam Dickerman expressed his views on this subject as well. The video is archived in the member’s area.
