Category Archives: screenwriting

To Us

Posted on 31 December 2011 | Leave a comment

Here’s to all the Independent Filmmakers out there who won’t give up.  Who stick to their guns, who honor their visions and believe in what they are doing, no matter what the cost.

Here’s to us.  Here’s to going after the dream. Going after it with such fervor, it’s actually storyboarded, each scene broken down and budget perfected.

Here’s to those who support us and finance us.  Those who give their talents for free, because we can only give so much sweat and blood equity.  We couldn’t do it without out.  Thanks.

Here’s to those who are ready to queue up and buy tickets and champion our movies, even though they haven’t even read the script.  We want nothing more than to please you, move you, or at least make you think, “What the hell does that mean?”

Here’s to the community that supports Independent Film.  Those who want to hear that unique voice and see that avant-garde vision.  Those who want something more for their ticket price.  We are grateful to you.

Here’s to a New Year where we all can succeed in bringing our dreams, our visions and our voices to the screens. Here’s to all of us. Happy New Year!

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Posted in screenwriting

Not So Fast Track

Posted on 29 May 2011 | Leave a comment

I can’t believe I haven’t posted anything since January. But that’s a sure sign of how quickly this year is passing by.

Our Director has been working like a madman; he’s either on a plane or on a set. P1 has opened his own shingle. And I got sidetracked on another project. The next thing you know, it’s the end of May.

While we’ve all been busy, what we’ve been passively waiting on since the end of February was Film Independent’s Fast Track program. Word on acceptance was supposed to come in the first week of June. Not that we weren’t still seeking other partners and funds, but it was nice to think that was percolating while we were working on other things. And June was, finally, just around the corner.

On Tuesday afternoon, I got not one but two emails from FIND. Early notice. This had to be good. I opened the first message: “Unfortunately…”

Boo. But there was another email. Perhaps they changed their minds? “Unfortunately…” Really? They cc’d me on the original email so I could get the rejection twice?  Now, that is love.

There are only ten film projects accepted into Fast Track, and we all knew that a dark comedy set in Hollywood at our budget level was going to be a challenge. Hello? We’ve been doing this a while. We know the industry comments: “It’s a hard sell.” We continue to respectfully disagree. A smart movie about a common theme (we’ve all suffered working with a jerk…and fantasized about *not* working with them anymore, haven’t we?) isn’t a hard sell. And I look forward to proving that point. Soon.

To those ten films that did make it into Fast Track, we wish you each a great deal of wonderful luck, and look forward to seeing your movies.

For us? We have another meeting on Friday.

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Posted in pre-pre-production, screenwriting

Thanks, But No

Posted on 23 August 2010 | Leave a comment

We came close.  They were interested.  I met with them, our director, D, met with them.  They met again with our Producer, P1.  They loved the script.  They’d been screwed around with before, so they were going to do the same to us.  They’d give an answer soon.  Soon still took weeks and weeks, but that’s better than months and months…or years and years.  We are nearing the three-year mark on this darling merry-go-round.

A week ago Friday, I was told by P1 that, yes, they want to move forward.  Even better, they want to shoot it all in LA (something I have been pushing for).  They still had a couple of questions and concerns, and would have script notes, but we were moving forward.

Kind of.

Last Friday, we came to a dealbreaker.  The new producers didn’t want our Director attached.  When P1 called to tell me this, my answer was simple, immediate, and without hesitation: “Tell them thanks, but no thanks.  I’m not making this without D.”  It was the easiest decision I had ever made.

Filmmaking is nothing but compromise.  But, removing our Director would be too much of a risk.  Back we go to the drawing board.  I think I’m going to start doing car washes and bake sales.  Anything I can to get this done.  As we near year three, I intend to have the funds by that anniversary.  So, please run out and by your lotto tickets.  I know the perfect investment for those winnings.

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Posted in screenwriting

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