what to do with a masterpiece of a movie idea/framework

ashleymma · 05-13-2008, 06:34 PM

What should i do if i want to make it big in the movie bizz.. I have a great idea and framework for a movie, what should i do?!!?

AdamG · 05-13-2008, 06:42 PM

Pick up Screenwriting for Dummies.

M.o.A · 05-13-2008, 06:45 PM

First of all copyright your idea, make a few contacts with a scriptwriter/producer/director, people tend to think its difficult to do so but its not, theyre just hard to get a hold of at times, get their opinion but dont just ask one ask a few, this stuff doesnt progress overnight, it can take years.

A final note, i dont know about you bud, but keep these sort of ideas away from friends, you cant trust anybody when it comes to this sort of thing, i.e.- their opinion and so on.

Edit: Ive spoken to a few scriptwriters and theres always one piece of advice that always arises: KEEP WRITING!

ashleymma · 05-13-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.o.A

First of all copyright your idea, make a few contacts with a scriptwriter/producer/director, people tend to think its difficult to do so but its not, theyre just hard to get a hold of at times, get their opinion but dont just ask one ask a few, this stuff doesnt progress overnight, it can take years.

A final note, i dont know about you bud, but keep these sort of ideas away from friends, you cant trust anybody when it comes to this sort of thing, i.e.- their opinion and so on.

Edit: Ive spoken to a few scriptwriters and theres always one piece of advice that always arises: KEEP WRITING!

thanks man,
i am sick and tired of seeing ideas that i concieved years ago end up on the screen years after i thought of them, I want to get credit for this one!

i am about to graduate from college and currently live in southern ohio, how can i "make a few contacts"?

i can move after i get my degree as well.

IrishBeatDown · 05-13-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashleymma

What should i do if i want to make it big in the movie bizz.. I have a great idea and framework for a movie, what should i do?!!?

read a biography on matt damon and ben affleck.

Cecile Peoples · 05-14-2008, 12:43 AM

My brother tried to get into this, and here's his advice -- pay someone money to format it for you. There's a very specific format you should use when submitting it to contests or anyone in the business. Doing it yourself, in his words, is like writing a term paper in crayon. The content may be dynamite, but it would be a huge challenge to get someone to read it unless it looks right.

J Storm · 05-14-2008, 12:45 AM

haha.

2% of all submitted screenplays are bought.

1% of those are made into movies.

Brawndo · 05-14-2008, 01:16 AM

I am an amateur writer w/ a MA in lit. I have three novels underway and several more in the sketch phase. One novel I am a few months away from shopping (quality work months, not life months). As someone has already noted, most screenplays aren't bought. I have worked in the financial industry in LA and had many clients who were writers, producers, actors, etc.... I don't claim to really know much, but my approach is to produce novels and short stories from which screenplays can be produced. If your goal is to merely become a "screenwriter," then I suggest you get to networking and pitching. There is a reason why most waiters in LA are "actors" and "screenwriters." This is because every tool and their mother thinks it is only a matter of time until they get their break. For most, it never comes. Produce some material and shop it out to publishers (there is a yearly book that lists publishers and what type of material they consider). This is a longer road, but writing is just that - writing. While you write, you refine your craft. Nothing good comes easy. One way to start is by sketching your ideas in outline form and then go back and gradually fill in the blanks. If you have solid blocks of time on your hands, you can go on free-form writing purges and then go back and clean up the mess (think stream of consciousness). Those are the two ways that I generally work. This is just my opinion, and like I said, I am surely not an expert. Good luck.

JSN · 05-14-2008, 01:17 AM

you need to attend robert mckee's story seminar.

magicman531 · 05-14-2008, 01:43 AM

Do you want to write the entire ****** or just the idea? You can pitch an idea and have it bought without having a complete ******. Even a 3 page synopsis could be enough coupled with a 5-20 minute pitching session. Basically to be a screenwriter, you have to be in LA. Just for the contacts, meetings, and all that good stuff.