I thought I'd share this.
I certainly learnt something - you might get something from it too.
I've been hawking a screenplay around for several years (it's first inception is actually dated 2003).
Initially it received some nice comments - well written, nicely observed etc etc
I even had a bit of interest fronm a 'star' who wanted to get involved.
And, to be honest, it got me an agent, so it did alright for me.
It continued to be sent out - but always getting 'nice, but...' sort of comments.
To be honest I'd pretty well filed it away.
Then, from nowhere, some interest.
A reputable producer, with a company that had a good track record, liked the screenplay.
I took a meeting - he was very keen.
He agreed to take it away, let his business partner read it then get back to me with notes.
I waited a long time for these.
When they arrived they were broad reaching to say the least.
Whole swathes of the script would need to be discarded - new characters invented, new plot lines developed.
I was devastated.
I knew this script so well that I couldn't imagine it any other way.
BUT I sat down and looked at it.
It was like walking off a cliff.
After a really difficult week I had a breakthrough - things began to fall into place.
More than that, it got better.
After 3 weeks I went back with a heavily revised synopsis.
And on Friday night they optioned the script - a better script than it had ever been before.
Two lessons
1) Hang in there
2) Listen - even if at first you don't want to hear it.
Well done with that and hope to hear more about the project in the future.
