And then it happened

So, I was hired over 10 years ago by a producer to write a script idea of hers. She had me write the script in two weeks. That was hell. Two weeks?! But she needed it, so I got it done. Here we are, over 10 years later, many, many rewrites later, many writers brought on and left, and it finally got made! So what did I learn from all of this?

First, when you're done writing a script, forget about it and start something new. I heard that many times from professional writers. It's true! I've written so many scripts since and thank god. Because if I waited for this to get made, I would have pulled my hair out.

Second, things can take time in this business. When I went to a WGA event with some big wig writer speaking, he said it took him over 10 years for his career to blossom. I was like, oh hell no, it better not take me that long! It's taken me longer. But if you're in this for the right reason, which is because you love to write, then just keep writing and stay in for the long haul.

Third, it was fun seeing my movie get made! I only went to one of the days on the set. They filmed three days in LA. I stayed as long as I was allowed. Then they go to India to film the rest. I'm not going. I was on sets years ago when I was in college and before I knew I was interested in being a writer. Back then I used to think being on a set was boring. Now that I love screenwriting, seeing my film was the coolest thing ever! Hearing actors read your piece, very cool. Seeing crew set up to film your movie, cool! Seeing craft services set up, for your movie, even cooler! Those are donuts, for my movie. Those are chips, for my movie. Those are apples, for my movie!

Fourth, seeing actor's faces and names in your movie imdb is really fun! I keep looking. Like wow, people!

Fifth, meeting the stars of your movie is pretty fun! Knowing people signed up because they liked your story and want to be in it, pretty darn cool! Okay, I've said cool a lot, I get it. But what else says that?

Sixth, waiting for the final piece is scary as hell. I have no idea what the movie will turn out to be. As a writer it sure is scary trusting that others will see your vision. You hope it's in the script. But directors and editors might have something else in mind. But, it's getting made. And everyone keeps telling me, that's all that matters. I hope! So in the meantime, I trust the others. And in the meantime, I keep working on all the other scripts I'm writing. Because...I'm in it for the long haul.

He said, she said

So I've got a few projects in the works. They're all pretty exciting. One, if it works out, will be getting to one of my favorite comedian actor's production company. That same project will also be getting to one of the biggest agencies in Hollywood. "IF" it works out. See, the other two people involved in creating the story with me, there have been issues with making an agreement. I don't have an agent, so that's really the problem. If I had an agent, none of this would be a problem. That agent would say, here's your contract. End of story. So meanwhile you have me, the only writer, and two people who aren't in the business who are working on the story with me.

So what you find out when there's the possibility of a movie getting made, money happening, things get interesting fast. Nothing bad. No one meant any harm. But trying to get three people to agree on who should get what credit and what % if and when it sells/made. Is not that easy. Tensions get high. People's feelings get hurt. Oh the drama!

For me, I just keep trying to get everyone to talk. Keep trying to make everyone happy and make sure everyone felt like they were getting what they wanted. I was even willing to give people more than maybe they deserved, if it meant the script would get made and to the right people. For me, as a writer, getting it to these big Hollywood people was the brass ring I wanted to grab. A lot of our conversations happened through texts and emails, and I can say, that I learned that was a mistake. So yesterday, I got on the phone with one of the people, and amazingly, that seemed to be the trick. It didn't happen immediately. At one point, maybe many times even, I felt the project was going to be dead in the water. But by the end of the conversation, we actually found a way to make everyone happy. For the first time in weeks, it seemed things were moving and back on the table.

Then he spoke to the other person today. Yes, talked to her on the phone today. And he texted me after. And now, guess what, I think we agreed on a deal we can all be happy with! It's amazing what a phone call can do. Sometimes, picking up the phone is just what needs to happen. Graham Bell knew what he was doing, I guess!

So I also have a movie getting made this month, and just today more drama with one of the writers. I don't think it was anything he said intentionally that caused problems with the producer. I tried to gently let the producer know this. But she's not hearing it. Oh, again, the drama! I talked to the writer later and let him know I'll see what I can do to iron things out. I'm not sure I can. I'm not sure how or why I seem to be ending up the mediator in all these situations? All I can say, and if this helps you, is through all this, just remain calm. Try to see it from the other person's side. Be the one that's the calm in all of the mayhem. But boy, all of this is exhausting me. I may be calm on the outside. But I sure look forward to having an agent do all this for me someday!

Wow! It's happening! Or is it?

I wrote a script for an indie producer maybe ten years ago. And now, it's finally getting made! It's here. That moment we all wait for! There are about four actors cast in roles on the imdb site. One really well known. Another that was in a very famous movie. And other really strong actors. So why am I scared out of my mind?! Because it's! Getting! Made! What if I don't like it? What if people have negative things to say about it? Of course as a writer, we know once we write it, then it's out of our hands. Sure, I've had some say in the many different rewrite phases. But even then, only sometimes was I listened to. The movie is 90% getting made out of the country, so I won't be there to help with any last minute changes. So what could go wrong? A lot!

I had a horror movie made by an indie director a few years back. I saw some of his previous films and thought they were pretty good. But once I saw the horror film made, there were things I think he could have done differently, that I think would have made it better. So as a writer, it's really scary when someone else takes your vision and doesn't do with it what you think they should.

Alas, I'm not a writer/director nor do I feel the need be just yet. So all I can do is hope for the best! It's at least getting made. Hopefully more doors will open for me once the movie comes out. Hopefully if it's not as good as I think it could be, people will know that wasn't up to me. So all I can do is enjoy this moment as the movie gets cast. And someday, I'll see my words up on the big screen, spoken by very talented and capable actors. and my name will be up on the screen too. That can't be too bad, right?

After the meeting

So I went it to meet with the producer on a script I was writing for him. I thought I'd have to pitch it to him, but turns out, he actually wants to read another script of mine now. He thinks that one might be closer to being ready. I'm on a 3rd rewrite. So I should be happy right? For some reason I'm feeling kind of panicked over the whole thing. Maybe because this whole script has been sort of tricky. It's a comedy, so you'd think it would be easy. But I guess if comedies were easy, everyone would be writing them. I'm at the midpoint and solved a huge issue I had with it. Now, to write it. The easy part. Not!

My writer friend gave me advice to go in to the meeting with ideas to pitch. So luckily I brought in a couple ideas with me. If he hadn't told me I don't know if I would have known to do that. So if you have a meeting, always bring in other ideas! The producer is interested in a new idea of mine that I pitched. So who knows, could end up working with him on other ideas. That's what these meetings are all about. Working with people you want to work with. And so far, he seems willing to work with me. And definitely, I him.

So there you have it. Always bring in other ideas to any meeting. Now, to finish my rewrite. Wish me luck!

Pitch after the rewrite

So I have a meeting coming up with the producer I've been working with. It's very exciting because he's a big guy in the biz. But, preparing for a pitch isn't always my favorite thing. Not really sure why. So instead, I'll write my blog!

So, to get ready for this meeting. I wasn't really sure what to expect. It's a little different than what I've been through before, so I called a screenwriter friend with more experience than me and thank god I did. He told me things I was not prepared for! He let me know that since this is a rewrite of an idea he's read a first draft for and that he's busy, he may not have even read the rewrite. Wow. Not at all! So he said I have to basically pitch him the new draft! Okay, that was not what I thought was going to happen. Thank goodness my first meeting with him was rescheduled, so that gave me time to be ready for this meeting. He also said to go in with two new ideas to pitch, because you never know. Which I also wasn't expecting.

So I had to spend a lot of time rewriting my whole pitch on this story, since it's a page 1 rewrite. This is because his development guy gave me new notes, totally different than what the producer had me start with. I am loving this script even more now though, so that's good. It just meant a lot of work to get ready for the meeting.

So there you have it, if you're ever in this boat, which I hope you will be someday too, that's what you need to be ready for. I'll write you after my meeting and let you know if I learned anything once I'm actually in the meeting too. Okay, back to learning my pitch. Happy writing.

Is it going to come all together?

So I'm getting a short produced that I wrote. I'm producing it with one of the actresses who has produced shorts before. So I'm learning from her. I'm really excited to be learning the producing side, because as a writer, I get tired of waiting for other people to produce my stuff. So hopefully for future projects I can just go ahead and get it produced myself after this experience.

But in the mean time, our shoot date is fast approaching. We have the director attached. She's a talented director that has a Broadway play touring the country. She was referred to me from a talented and successful actor friend of mine. She really knows her stuff and I'm really excited to have her involved. We have all the actors, but we're still trying to get some of the crew. The clock is ticking and I'm really hoping it's like plays I was in when I was a child. Sure, the dress rehearsal might not have been so great. But wait till the actual night of, we'll knock it out of the park. Oh, I sure hope that's what's going to happen with this! Fingers crossed. I'll keep you updated.

Table read

So this past week the producer of my script had us do a table read. It's in need of some rewriting before it gets produced, since we started this script a long time ago. Things have changed a lot since we first wrote it, and all the rewrites over the years too. We're bringing in a new writer that I'm friends with who's very talented so I know he'll do a great job. So we cast actors, and we listened to them perform the script.

If you've never done a table read, get yourself some actors, or friends if you don't know any actors, writers work too. It's just really helpful to hear what scenes lag, what dialogue is too long or on the nose and what even works. I highly recommend it. But I also highly recommend not to be so critical of your writing like I was. I think we're all our own worst enemies. There's plenty of time to be criticized when it's an actual movie and in the theater, right? So why do it so early on? Try to enjoy the table read a bit more than I did. Let's just say I was so stressed that I almost had anxiety over it. And I'm probably one of the most calm people you'll ever meet. For some reason, all I could hear were the flaws. But that's what a table read is for, to find the flaws and fix them! When I told an actor that I was focusing on the flaws, she said, "Are you kidding? It's such a strong script." When I hear that, I remind myself I'm being too hard on myself. But it's so hard at the time. So hard!

Even afterwards everyone said how great the script was. But would anyone really say to my face, that sucked! Maybe, but I doubt it. But people liked it and I'm going to focus on that. And now my writer friend is going to take a pass at the notes we all had. And I'm so glad! I know he's going to get this script to the level that it needs to be for us to hopefully have a movie we can be proud of. Wow, a movie! This actually might get made after all these years! Fingers crossed!