Great Idea! What should I do?

[clandis88]

A great movie idea popped into my head at work today! This one I believe, if written and proposed right, could actually make it. No Lie. What should I do. Should I send in a draft to WGA and have it copywrited, then send it in to producers hoping they will ask for a script? Or should i write out the whole script?

Looking from my point of view which I honestly think without a doubt it can make it? Help me out here?

[MrJayVee]

Everyone thinks their script idea is a winner. Truth is, more often than not they aren't. And even if the idea is a winner, the execution of the resultant screenplay is less than desirable. Virtually nobody is going to buy a mere idea. Either write the script yourself or hire a competent writer to write it for you. But have a completed script. Have a GREAT completed script. It's more difficult than it sounds, believe me. And yes, get it registered and/or copyrighted before you start sending it around to producers, agents, etc. Best of luck to you!

[dpaterso]

I'd write the screenplay first, then start querying.

If it's truly that great an idea, this will shine through in your query letter, logline, synopsis, script.

Then again, yesterday you were talking about having written a script about a copyrighted superhero whose official movie is already in production. Which makes me wonder if you have your finger on the pulse of what's a great movie idea and what isn't. No offense.

-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, insanity. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57/scripts.htm)

[Joe Calabrese]

...Virtually nobody is going to buy a mere idea.

Although I agree with you 100 percent on everything all of you have posted regarding this matter, I do have to point out the extremely few and rare exceptions.

Andrew Marlowe, a screenwriter, who had sold only one screenplay to date and did one or two episodes of some defunct TV show, was at a hotel in LA and noticed Arnold Schwarzenegger sitting poolside. He went over, intro'd himself and proceeded in pitching him an "idea" he had literally though up as he was walking over to Arnold. "Think of it. Schwarzenegger fights Satan." Arnold loved the idea and it was bought just on that alone. Andrew wrote the script after that. It was called "End of Days."

My point being that specs are but one way to get work. More than 60% of all screenplays sold are either from pitches, synopsis, treatments, or found/bought material (ie. books, plays, tv, etc...) Most writers I know (including myself) work on assignment with rewrites, story consultations, drafts on preexisting material owned by a producer. The spec script is not the staple in a writer's diet. We do however come up with ideas, outlines, treatments and such all the time. If we start getting interest in one story, then write it out fully.

At this time, I write about 2 completed specs a year and about a dozen treatments, outlines, etc... This way, I have a few to show but a lot to pitch. If one producer loves one pitch, then I can send him the synopsis/treatment. During the time spent waiting, I get a first draft finished (takes about a 5-6 weeks to mail, wait, and hear back. Plenty of time for a first draft.

Don't limit yourself to spending an entire year writing one script and hoping those eggs that are in that one basket don't break.

[clandis88]

So are you saying I should send in my idea and while im waiting write the 1st draft hoping they will contact me and ask for it?

[Joe Calabrese]

No. You should do what is comfortable for you and only you know how fast you can write a script and at what level of quality in a short time.

I was explaining how many writers including myself do it as to not waste time on one script.

I write and register/copyright a treatment. Then send out queries to producers with the logine and short synopsis AND specifically state that if interested, I can send a treatment to them. If I get a good bite, I then write the first draft, while they are reading the treatment.

Again, I do not advocate that every writer do this, especially a new writer who may not have the skills or discipline necessary to work this way.

Plus, a new writer should really have some finished scripts to show.

So, if you are green and unproven to yourself and others, don't try this at home kids, not yet atleast.

Oh, as Dpat said, do some checking to see how many movies have been or are being made with similar premises. IMdb is a good place to check.