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Dear Screenwriter:
For most SCRIPT MARKET NEWS subscribers, summer has arrived. For those of you who left school
years ago and no longer enjoy a summer-long student holiday, take a few moments to reminisce on those youthful days. Perhaps this exercise will strike a creative spark and pump fresh passion and energy into your writing.
If you prefer to read SCRIPT MARKET NEWS online, this issue is available here =>
www.breakingin.net/script-market-news14.htm
On with Script Market News...
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SCRIPT
MARKET
NEWS
MAY
25, 2002
IN THIS ISSUE...
WRITER Q + A => OPTIONS, WRITING PARTNERS
MARKET
TIPS => SUMMER CONTESTS
TUTORIAL => WHY GENRE MATTERS
First, a word from a friend...
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SCREENWRITER
Q + A
ON
CHOOSING a WRITING
PARTNER...
QUESTION:: I'm developing my first script. I told my idea to a friend of mine. He loved it and offered to write the script together. His mother knows influential people in the movie industry. I don't want to take on a partner for creative reasons, but I hear Hollywood is all about who you know. What should I do? --
T.K.
ANSWER: It is very important that you ask these questions upfront because the decisions you make will affect your future and the future of your project. Writing a screenplay is a huge undertaking, going into a reluctant writing partnership seems unwise.
Write the first draft yourself or at least try to do it. Perhaps you will decide that taking on a partner stimulates you to finish it, or perhaps you will do it all on your own.
If your pal stays interested and supportive, perhaps down the road he could become involved in the project as a would-be producer -- if he has the skill, talent and desire to do that.
It is true that you must have contacts to get your scripts read by the right people, but well-written scripts find advocates. You can enter it in script contests, apply for fellowships, get a recommendation from your college film teacher. There are so many ways to find a professional endorsement ONCE you have a great script sample.
So start writing. Once you have a first draft on paper, contact me again and I'll give you some marketing ideas for it!
For help with script formatting, check out => www.breakingin.net/format_tutorial.htm
This tutorial includes sources for free script software and sites online where you can download shooting scripts for free to see how the pros format their screenplays.
ON SCRIPT OPTIONS...
QUESTION: What is a screenplay option? --
Celeste
ANSWER: When screenwriters refer to an 'option' they usually mean an agreement with a producer or producing entity which gives the producer the right to eventually purchase the material to exploit as a movie. While holding the option, the producer tries to set up the project to be developed or made as a motion picture. In a way it's a downpayment. If the picture is set up at a studio and they decide to make it, the option is exercised and the material is purchased at a price agreed upon at the option phase.
Option money generally is 10% of the final purchase price. For example, you might agree to option your script for two years for $10,000. due up front against the purchase price of $100,000. payable if the option is exercised.
You should specify the length of the option. They will need at least 18 months to set up a picture, probably more. If they don't set up the picture, then you still get to keep the option money; but they wouldn't owe you the full purchase price. Then you should be free to sell your script to someone else without encumbrances from the original optioner.
CAUTION: If you do rewrites during the option period, be certain ALL REWRITES revert to you or you will compromise a future deal on your script. If you own your script, but the producer owns the rewrites to the script it gets messy (and often bloody).
ON OPTIONING A BOOK...
QUESTION:: I've contacted the publisher of a book I want to adapt into a screenplay. There are two producers ahead of me. What may I do at this point? Could I talk them into letting me write the screenplay? I've dreamed of writing this screenplay... -- Angela
ANSWER: Obviously you have good taste in material, if two established producers want to option the same book you like.
Certainly ask for the producer's name or production company contact once the option is finalized and make a pitch to them to write the screenplay. This tutorial will help you write your query letter => www.breakingin.net/tswquery.htm
DO NOT write a sample script based on this book unless you make a deal with the optioning producer, that would be wasting your time and setting yourself up for heartache. I hope it works out for you, but if it doesn't, you will find another project to fall in love with, honest you will.
MARKET
TIPS => Summer
Script Contests
=> CINESCAPE'S GENRE SCRIPT COMPETITION
Once you have figured out the genre of your screenplay, you can enter this popular contest sponsored by Cinescape Magazine. $5,000 in prizes and software, plus PUBLICITY in Cinescape Magazine.
DEADLINE => June 30, 2002
INFO => www.cinescape.com/scriptcontest/
=> CAPE FEAR SHORT SCRIPT CONTEST
Cape Fear Independent Film Network sponsor this contest which offers a unique prize -- the winning short script (30 pages or less) will be produced as a DV movie by the Independent Film Network.
MORE DETAILS => www.cfifn.org
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TUTORIAL
MOVIE GENRES -- WHAT WRITERS NEED TO KNOW
Copyright © 2002, Lenore Wright
Movie writing is GENRE story telling. You've probably noticed that movie studios promote their movies by genre. Why? Because moviegoers often choose movies based on genre, they want to see a comedy or a love story or a techno-thriller. Audiences do line up to see their favorite stars; but one reason many stars retain their popularity is because they continue to deliver successfully in a popular genre.
WHAT GENRE IS
Genre refers to the story elements the audience will expect the movie to explore, like romance, danger, humor, war, alien worlds, crime or technology. Because genres set up expectations in the audience, writers who identify the genre of their movie and work within it stand a better chance of connecting with their audience.
Genres help writers focus the scope of a story. Genre limits story choices -- in a good way. Audiences expect a well-told war story to reveal the outcome of the conflict the movie dramatizes whether it's one battle or a world war. Audiences expect a well-told love story to reveal how the lovers get together and if they stay together.
WHAT GENRE ISN'T
Some writers confuse genre with structure. Genre determines the scope of the story. Structure is the storytelling technique, the arrangement of scenes that reveals character and unfolds action. Structure and genre work together, neither one can do the job alone.
Some writers shun genre. They confuse it with dime store romance or pulp fiction. If you believe your stories are too unique to be limited by a genre or your heroes are so complex that no genre can encompass them, stop reading and Godspeed.
I can't tell you everything you need to know about movie genres in one article. I aim to motivate you to be aware of genre as you write your screenplay so you can exploit the expectations genre creates in ways that engage and surprise the audience.
DOES YOUR SCRIPT HAVE A GENRE?
In the simplest terms, the genre of your movie is determined by the CENTRAL ACTION your main character takes.
~ If your heroine seeks to find the truth or catch a criminal, you're probably writing some form of detective story or crime story.
~ If your central character is menaced or threatened by someone, you're working within the framework of a thriller.
~ If the main action of the story involves a machine or some form of technology menacing your hero, you're probably writing a techno-thriller.
~ If the main action of the story involves your hero defeating or destroying a monster, your script falls within the horror genre.
SOME TIPS FOR SOLID GENRE WRITING:
<:> Work in a genre you know well.
Recall your favorite movie experiences, focus on genres that you like and have a special affinity with. The major movie genres are: comedy, drama, action, adventure, crime, war story, western, love story, fantasy, horror, science fiction, teen comedy and family movies.
<:> Research the box office track record of your genre.
Be aware of the important movies that have been made in your genre -- the successful ones and the failures. This kind of thinking will help you pitch your movie more successfully.
<:> Combine genres with care.
Your movie might combine two genres (a romantic-thriller or comedy-horror); but if you need three or more genres to describe the script you're writing, you need to rethink your story. A story that includes too many genres sets up conflicting expectations in the audience. You want to engage, surprise and thrill your audience not baffle them, frustrate them or throw them into turmoil.
<:> Learn from the pros.
Many successful screenwriters have written about genre story telling -- take advantage of their expertise. Here are some terrific articles on specific genres:
ACTION MOVIES
=> Make It Cast-able: Would Stallone Gain 40lbs. to be in Your Movie?
www.nyscreenwriter.com/article103.htm
=> Writing Action by Charles Deemer
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~scribbler/action.html
COMEDY
=> Writing Romantic Comedy by Bill Mernit
www.hollywoodnet.com/pov/pov11.html
TEEN MOVIES
=> Can Anyone Write a Teen Movie? by Frederick Levy www.hollywoodlitsales.com/levy2.shtml
WAR MOVIES
=> Lessons for Writers: Military Movies by John Lovett www.suite101.com/article.cfm/military_movies/17948
ALL GENRES
=> Genre Fools, Structure Rules: How Genre and Structure Work Together by Lenore Wright -->
www.breakingin.net/Genrestructure.htm
Consider genre expectations as you plan and write your script. This effort will improve your chances of writing a screenplay that will engage the script reader and eventually connect with the movie audience.
For more insider tips on genre writing => www.breakingin.net/genre_faq.htm
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Lenore Wright, Editor
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