AboutBarry Pearson Expertise I`m a credited writer on nine feature films. My latest movie, IRON ROAD, which stars Peter O'Toole and Sam Neill,is being offered to festivals. Sun Li, the Chinese star, won the best actress award at the Roma Fiction Fest recently. www.ironroadthemovie.com)
I`m also the writer of over 40 hours of television drama for major networks in North America, and I`m a producer of three feature films and over 50 hours of television prime time drama.
I've received Best Screenplay, Best Picture awards at international film festivals around the world.
I've been coaching screen and television writers in person, and on the internet, for over ten years, and I've answered over 1000 All Experts questions!
Experience I've been in the business of writing and producing feature
films, television series, and MOW's for over 20 years. You
can check me out at this URL
http://www.createyourscreenplay.com/aboutbp.htm
Auuuggghhh! Can you explain this bazaar enigma that is Hollywood to a new screenwriter such as myself? I'm not new as a writer per say, it's just that I haven't had any of my work produced yet. Hollywood seems like such a paradox; on one hand they seem to want new ideas, yet they spew remakes like there's no tomorrow. I've heard it all "You need an agent", "You need a manager", You need to enter a contest".
Production companies won't except your work without an agent or attorney, yet most agents won't except you as a client either because they already have a group of clients or they don't take unproduced writers, thus the question arises; IF I CAN'T GET ANYTHING PRODUCED, HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO HIRE AN AGENT?
I believe unequivocally, that it is about who you know and much less about what you've got to offer; case in point, Quentin Tarantino. Someone has to believe in your idea first; someone who's willing to say.. "Alright, let me hear your pitch, what could it hurt". Everything that is Hollywood started with just one simple idea.
Meanwhile, the internet is loaded with the stinking swill of vultures trying to make a buck off your misfortune. "If you pay this, we'll..."(sigh). Am I simply being naive, or do I make a valid point? I just want clarity, simple, unbiased clarity. Thank you.
ANSWER: Hi Paul,
I'm sympathetic to your feelings about the difficulty of getting a screenplay *read* let alone get it produced.
But I'm prepared to give you some sort of clarity.
Let me play the devil's advocate here for a moment and put the case of producers and production companies (wait a minute while I light a cigar).
First of all remakes have always been a staple of Hollywood. Why? Because they're almost guaranteed to satisfy an audience appetite and make money. Why should production companies have to take the blame for the tastes of the moviegoing public?
Companies and individuals looking for original screenplays to produce face a daunting task. Why? Because too many unqualified people are writing screenplays. It's as if the movie gods said to potential searchers, "we've hidden a diamond in one of seven dumpsters. See if you can find it."
Potential buyers have always faced an endless search for good properties to produce. In the beginning, they relied heavily on pre-proved works like stage plays, novels, short stories, newspaper articles, non-fiction books, etc., and they still rely on these sources to a great extent.
In the early days, if producers couldn't buy an existing property, they went looking for writers who had already accumulated a lot of writing credits.
These would-be buyers followed the above practices for many years. Many of them played (and still play) the percentages by requiring that scripts be submitted by agents, thus downloading the task of screening to a lower entity.
It is estimated that at any one time over a million screenplays are going the rounds in Hollywood, all vying for the attention of production entities capable of bringing the script to the screen.
Imagine readers having to plough through the sisyphean task of separating the wheat from *that* chaff.
No wonder the movie makers have to throw up barriers to cut down on the number of screenplays they have to assess.
But there is new wave slowly rolling in. In fact there are two waves:
One is the "listing wave" -- internet sites, such as InkTip and Writers Vault, that charge a fee to list writers' scripts in a searchable data bank, access to which they offer free to bona fide producers and production entities. Wouldn't you say this is a form of democracy?
The second wave is the plethora of contest sites that offer an opportunity for a writer to test a creative work against the works of other writers. Those works that win awards or prizes get bragging rights on these awards so as to improve the appeal of their screenplays on the listing wave.
Of course there will always be sites that take your buck and don't offer you anything real in return, but in the world of the free marketplace, it's always been *caveat emptor* -- let the buyer beware. So do your homework and pick the sites that get results. The bad sites do not prey upon a writer's "misfortune." Being a writer and wanting to sell screenplays is not a misfortune -- it's a choice!
If you list your screenplay, and it doesn't get a response, a number of factors could be at work. Your log line and synopsis are not well enough written to garner attention, or your screenplay is in an unpopular, or out-of-favor genre, or (if your script got read but rejected) your work isn't good enough -- yet.
If you have not written (not sold, just written) five screenplays, you probably haven't paid your dues yet. If you have written five screenplays without success, chances are you haven't learned the craft well-enough.
Who you know is important. Every professional needs a network of contacts. Unfortunately, the movie business is concentrated in and around Hollywood, meaning that unless you live there (or close by) you can never develop a network that will assist a career in the movie business. It's your choice to make the sacrifice of relocating. What are you prepared to do to give yourself a chance of having a career as a screenplay writer? If you aren't prepared to dive into the Hollywood pool and swim with the sharks, you don't get to complain that "people who know people" have an advantage over you, or that Hollywood is bizarre.
Okay, I'm butting the cigar, and abandoning my doppelganger double. As a fellow writer, I can empathize with your frustration, and have felt it myself, but I urge you to write the very best screenplay you are capable of, and use the new selling tools available to your advantage.
My Website Create Your Screenplay
www.createyourscreenplay.com
QUESTION: This is less a question and more of a thank you, Barry. I couldn't disagree with any of the points you made because I know they're all true ("diamond in a dumpster"... funny), although it is frustrating at times.
I wish I could live in Caly (but not indefinitely). Even if it were to stay with someone a little while. I've written several screenplays, and I can say with some confidence that I'm pretty familiar with format. I think what frustrates me more is when you know you've got a winner on your hands (not just a delusion of grandeur that any writer would have for their work). You've done the copyright, printed and bound it using brass brads; the whole nine, but (like that old song "Here Comes The Rain Again") you just can't get it into the right hands.
I've recently written a comedy, one that I'd love to see produced by Happy Madison (Adam Sandler's company). I can't even tell the story before I have to wait for the person of persons I'm sharing it with to stop laughing at the title! THE TITLE! I know enough to know that friends or family isn't a sure gaurantee that something's a hit, but when you get the same response from complete strangers!
I just want to curl up in a sock drawer and sleep for days because the whole situation makes me feel so powerless. What's equally frustrating is that the people that can make it happen are so hard to reach!
Enough tears... I'm glad you replied to my questions, I haven't felt so good or laughed so hard in awhile. You're the best, Barry!
P.S. Cool pic of you and Pete O'Toole! He's a legend. I had a picture of me where I put my face on an ewok's in a picture from Return of the Jedi (just for laughs). The caption read: "Me on the set of ROTJ... well, not really" but, seeing that I don't want to be banned from the site for a copyrighted image, I'll just settle for this one...
Answer Hi Paul,
It's the sense of humor that helps us survive, isn't it. Love the pic of you and your wife on her graduation. A happy day!!!
Thanks so much for the feedback.
About your comedy. If the title is as catchy as you think, and the script makes people laugh out loud, why not invest in your career and post it at least on InkTip, and then maybe on Writers Vault. I know InkTip is legit and they continue to get results for the very best. It's a low percentage of the total scripts on the site, but it's higher than an unknown could do otherwise.
You definitely have the gift of turning a comic phrase, so maybe you could succeed with the comedy.
I'll make a deal with you. If you give me permission to use your correspondence with me (anonymously if you wish) on my website and as a testimonial, I will look at your first ten pages and give you advice and suggested edits for no charge. It'll be like a barter deal {:>)
When anyone reads your screenplay, the first ten pages are the most critical. If you can get the reader past the first ten, there's a "time and emotion invested" factor that kicks in, so from that point on the reader will cut you slack if you miss an opportunity or make a mistake.
If you like this deal, e-mail me at createyourscreenplay@rogers.com
All the best of success to both you and your wife.
Barry
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