July 21, 2006

News on a Screenplay contest...

So this is the deal... I entered a screenplay contest with "Produced By Jimmy Wade"...

...and waited for the deadline for them to announce semi-finalists to see if I made the cut. On the day the cut was announced (about two weeks ago), I kept checking the site to see if the list was up... it wasn't and I didn't get to see the list until the next morning. I didn't make the cut. Sh*t.

BUT... this is one of the few contests that gives feedback on each script that is entered. So I waited to get my feedback to see what they really thought... the deadline to get the feedback was 7/15... by 7/18, since I didn't have any feedback yet, I sent them an email... Their response, "Let us get back to you and check into it."

So today I finally get an email back saying that on 2/28 (the day I entered) they had a problem with their email... after the problem was resolved, they went through their Paypal statement to make sure they had all of the scripts... the one they misplaced?... wait for it... MINE! So I guess I can't lose a contest that I was never in...

Anyway, they said they feel really bad, are going to re-fund my money and that I can enter next year free of charge. I wrote back with a copy of my script attached to ask that they not re-fund my money but just give me coverage on the script... We'll see what they say.

It is a disappointing story but at least not as disappointing not making the semi-final list when I know I have the goods... EB.

Posted by ethan at 03:53 PM | Comments (0)

April 24, 2006

The many pronged attack...

Now, while I can't stress enough how important it is to make sure that your scipt is in the best shape possible before sending it out...

...I've been there, done that... too many a contact has been lost when a script that isn't 110% ready has been passed on...

But, when that script is ready, a many pronged attack at getting the project read and hopefully made, is the way to go. By this I mean, entering the top level screenplay compitions, writing a business plan to be used to actually raise the money and make the film, milking all of your contacts and their contacts to get read, pestering casting directors and other indie producers to give it a read... you get the picture.

The thing about this approach is that if you methodically plan your process for making this "attack", it could take 8 months to a year before you even know if all of your options have been exhausted. And you thought writing the script was the hard part... so did I.

All this leads to the game of hurry up and wait... and wait... and wait. As the "passes" roll in, then it's time to further your efforts and work the plan to get the script into the next person's hands... as long as you know that this is THE script to push open those doors with. EB

Posted by ethan at 05:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 28, 2006

The Investment prospectus and Budget...

No one told me that writing the investment prospectus for this film project would be almost as hard as writing the script...

... but it's pretty darn close. I worked on a draft of the prospectus while the budget was being created (no, I'm not going to tell you what we're making the film for... those film acquisition folks will find out and gain some ground prior to negotiations) and thought that it was coming along nicely... until my lawyer took a look at it.

The big question is how long does it need to be and how much do I need to explain about the project for a potential investor to have enough information to make a decision as to whether or not this project is right for them. Since ballooning to 19 pages of single spaced text, I've cut the page count down to twelve and a half pages and finally, I think it flows the way I want it and explains the project with the right amount of detail... but we'll see what the attorney says tonight after reading the latest draft.

I've primed my potential investors (read friends and family) with the screenplay to read and now I'm about to start sending out the investment prospectus and budget looking for letters of intent to invest to then use to drum up more business. If anyone out there in cyberspace is interested in this project, please click ont he "$" link above and send and email to investors@createabullfilms.com stating your interest.

I'll keep you posted on the response as they come in... thanks for stopping by. EB

Posted by ethan at 03:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 17, 2006

Feedback...

So the feedback on my latest draft has been coming in...

...from various people whose opinions I respect and from some people who have never met me or read anything else that I've written. First for the people who know me (friends and family)...

The reaction from these people has been really good. They all say that it's a "page turner" and that it reads very quickly and smoothly. They also say they like the story and can picture it up on the screen. Very nice. However it's hard to read these people who are close to me and take their comments for face value so...

...I've had a couple of other people read it from the industry. One is a Unit Production Manager (UPM) that I hired to make up a budget for the project so I can then couple that with an investment perspectus and start raising captial. His comments were, "very well written and a commercial story". He also said that I seemed to write it in mind of keeping the costs down so I could make this independently... which I did so hearing him say that was a good thing. I have gotten the budget from him and am working on the business plan (takes just as much work to make that flow as the script) but more information about that part of the process will follow later.

The second person I had read the script is a casting director. Eve Battaglia has worked on numerous films, most recently casting "Transamerica" with Felicity Huffman and the upcoming "Sorry, Haters" with Robin Wright Penn. I wanted to get a casting director to read the script who might, if they took a liking to the project, be able to attach a "name" actor to the lead role that would help finance the project. Funny enough, when I called her, I got her on the phone... it's great when someone actually answers their own phone.

She agreed to read my script after she got back from the Oscars. Three days after the Oscars, we spoke and she told me that she "loved my script" and would want to "sign on to the project today if the financing was in place". She also went on to say that she felt given the strength of the material and what I am planning on offering the lead actor (top secrect information:) that I would be able to attract "name" talent. Awesome... this is coming from somone who has never met me before or read anything else that I've written. Needless to say, I was very pleased... however...

...there is always a "however" in there... she went on to say that she didn't want to try and get a lead actor attached because the role calls for someone in their early twenties and anyone who is a name and in their early twenties is extremely busy and they usually won't consider let alone attach their name to a project until is it financed. They (the "name" talent) also usually won't let their name be used to seek out financing. One of those "cart before the horse" situations.

Anyway, she said that with letters of intent from investors, she would be able to use those letters to entice actors to read the script and give it consideration.

So, where does that leave me? I've got the script and the budget and am working on smoothing out the investment perspectus so I can then try and get letters of intent from investors to use as stepping stone to get talent attached... a long road ahead but I feel like I've come so far that it's not as scary. Plus, being a new stage of the process is re-juvinating. I'll keep you posted... EB

Posted by ethan at 11:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack