I only edited the title.
Writers wanted (Screenplays, shorts or episodes) Page 2
Quote: Marc P @ July 28 2010, 2:14 PM BSTAnyway, Barney is a good name.
Arguable.
I was almost named Barney Bussell.
Quote: chipolata @ July 28 2010, 2:20 PM BSTArguable.
I put it to you sir that it is not!
Barney has gone now, you mean people have scared him off.
Unless he has gone to find that positive example that I asked for.
All aboard the Barn Buss! Toot toot!
Dan
I reckon he spotted the filth coming, packed up his pitch in a suitcase and did a legger in the style of Del Boy.
Quote: Timbo @ July 28 2010, 1:19 PM BSTI am sure that David is right that traditional business models will break down and what would once have been considered vanity projects will become more viable. It has happened in the music industry, and it is beginning to happen in publishing. The problem with film is the overheads are so high, and it is difficult to bring them down (though a mate of mine did produce a very respectable looking 10 mins short for around £2000 with cast and crew working for credits). If a production company can achieve a reputation as a respectable facilitator then that could be a business model that works for all parties.
Not sure about these guys mind.
Thanks, Timbo, that's basically what I was getting at.
I'm not saying I vouch for this exact model but certainly one that's not a million miles away. From my own experience I've come to realise that, with an awful lot of schmoozing, you can get a pilot with real production value made exactly the way you want for a pretty reasonable price (and ours was relatively complex too, with a crew of 25, special FX shots, proper sets in a proper studio and some named cast members). Whether our pilot ends up being an expensive piece of show reel has yet to be seen but at least we can stand tall and say the finished article was made exactly how we wanted. In short, a reasonable financial outlay on the part of the writer isn't a terrible price to pay for their first step into the business. It's taken us more to a year to get our pilot in the shape its in but I personally would say I've learned so much more during that time than the five years previous of blindly firing unsolicited scripts into the ether. All I'm saying is, don't close yourself off to alternate ways of getting your script to screen.
Quote: David Bussell @ July 28 2010, 3:02 PM BSTThanks, Timbo, that's basically what I was getting at.
I'm not saying I vouch for this exact model but certainly one that's not a million miles away. From my own experience I've come to realise that, with an awful lot of schmoozing, you can get a pilot with real production value made exactly the way you want for a pretty reasonable price (and ours was relatively complex too, with a crew of 25, special FX shots, proper sets in a proper studio and some named cast members). Whether our pilot ends up being an expensive piece of show reel has yet to be seen but at least we can stand tall and say the finished article was made exactly how we wanted. In short, a reasonable financial outlay on the part of the writer isn't a terrible price to pay for their first step into the business. It's taken us more to a year to get our pilot in the shape its in but I personally would say I've learned so much more during that time than the five years previous of blindly firing unsolicited scripts into the ether. All I'm saying is, don't close yourself off to alternate ways of getting your script to screen.
What did you have to lay out your end, wedge wise?
Quote: Griff @ July 28 2010, 3:10 PM BSTThat sounds great. Thing is though, you did the schmoozing yourselves and were in control of making what you wanted to happen. You didn't have someone come along and hornswoggle some money out of you while you did it.
In response to that. We are not coming along and trying to hornswoggle money out of people. We are merely advertising our services and letting people know what we do and the arrangement of how we do it. This type of structure has started to become more and more popular over recent years and will continue to gain in popularity. Of course their are risks to it. But do you think that you are going to make it as a writer without taking any risks and putting some money into your "talent".
I will be back online tomorrow to answer more replies. Also feel free to personal message me any questions that you may have.
Quote: Griff @ July 28 2010, 3:10 PM BSTThat sounds great. Thing is though, you did the schmoozing yourselves and were in control of making what you wanted happen. You didn't have someone come along, take control of your project, and try and hornswoggle some money out of you for doing it.
That's very true (and a superb use of the word "hornswoggle" BTW). What I'm saying is that the tradional model, ie. "Here's my script - do you like it enough to make a pilot that will likely have very little to do with my vision whatsoever?" is perhaps only one way of getting a commission. Putting up a bit of cash of your own in exchange for more creative control is money well spent in my book. I had an unsatisfactory experience with a reputable prod co a couple of years back and realised that the hard way.
The whole deal leaves far too many unanswered questions.
If it is 50/50 what about creative control?
Is that 50/50?
Who chooses the talent - not just actors, but crew etc?
Are you paying marked up rates and are they getting it at cost(it's what I would do) thus skewing the deal somewhat?
Are they making money from the production - ie do they have interests in the production suppliers?
And of course the 70% of the profits is a non-starter.
There will be no profits.
For the writer anyway.
About the ONLY good thing about making your own stuff rather than getting paid for it, is you get control.
If you lose that I'm not sure why you're doing it.
Quote: Marc P @ July 28 2010, 3:04 PM BSTWhat did you have to lay out your end, wedge wise?
About six and a half grand or so, split three ways. Our cash, from what I can tell, mainly went towards things like catering and transporting actors.
Quote: BarneyStinson @ July 28 2010, 3:18 PM BSTdo you think that you are going to make it as a writer without taking any risks and putting some money into your "talent".
Yes.
Seems like a fair deal, and prod values look good!