Should I pass an actor my script?

jessegrillofilm

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Hey guys. So I just got a gig driving a young Hollywood actor on an indie film. Not sure if I should name drop but lets just say that has some issues and sometimes sees dead people. Seems like a super cool guy and is into doing indie stuff. I have already talked a little bit about my writing and other film work I do. Whats a classy way to go about getting him my script? Or should I just not push the subject and do my job?
 

Okieslims

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He might pay it forward if you give him your script..;)

Than again, he might take it and smile with no intentions of ever reading it.. then he'll avoid the subject coming up by getting a new driver.
If I were you, I would just keep chatting him up. Maybe even ask him if he could give you any advice on your aspiring career. He might say: "let me see what ya got"..
 

dpaterso

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Ditto. Don't push. Some days, don't talk about it at all, especially if you glance in the rearview and see his eyes rolling. :)

Asking if he has any insight into what else the indie prodco has on its slate, and if he's involved in any way, might put you on neutral but interesting ground.

Have your one-sentence logline pitch ready, just in case!

-Derek
 

NikeeGoddess

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use the passive aggressive sly approach:
talk about his movies and his characters to him in super detail - study them first - like you're a huge connoisseur of film. if he's a normal person he will soon ask you about yourself. then you can drop that you have written some scripts. if he's amiable then he may ask to read one. but let him ask.
 

rihannsu

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Or, you could commiserate with him on the projects your working on. Describe your script and make sure you're all excited about what a great one it is. You could mention that you're not sure if the dialogue is resliastic enough and you really need someone to look over it.

That would give him an opening to ask to read it if he's interested. If he isn't he won't say anything. If he is, he'll ask to look over it for you. Gives him an easy out.
 

Sunshine13

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I agree, I'd let him do the asking. Be interested in him and if he's cordial or polite enough, he'll eventually ask about you. Unless he's way too in to himself :p
 

WerenCole

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There are dozens of ways to answer this question as I think we have seen so far. If I was in the situation I would probably just try to chat the guy up a bit and get him to trust me. Casually, near the end of the job, ask him. . . straight up, if he wouldn't mind taking a look at your script. It is all about connections and breaks, right? Well, I wouldn't let this type of connection just pass you by. . . you might regret it later (if for no other reason than just thinking that you didn't do it because you lacked the gusto to get it done.)

That being said, I would reiterate the "near the end of the job" point from above.
 

nielsty

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Just remember to have that damned script in the compartment if the opportunity arises! He might be in a different mood the next day.
 

John Paton

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Next time you pick him up you could set up the following ;)

If you have a mobile with a speaker facility get a good friend to call you as a potential producer. Make the call a quick one but the "producer" could say a mutual friend asked him to call you so the "producer" wants a to hear the logline. He then asks you a couple of questions and sounds interested and says he will get back to you.

At least this way your pasenger will hear what the story is about.

Or maybe the next time you pick your passenger up, have a copy of the script next to him with the logline prominently printed on the first page. People, no matter who they are, really have to read something like this.

The above are suggestions to try to lighten your load a little and not meant to be taken seriously ;) Good luck and easy as she goes - ask about the indie prodco first.

Regards
JOhn
 
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What Christacarol said. Yes. Wait until he asks about you and what you do and then god willing, he'll ask to read it.
 

Stylo

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I agree with WerenCole... you may forever kick yourself if you stay mute on the subject, but handing it over on the last day could save embarrassment if he feels you've overstepped the mark.
 
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I agree with WerenCole... you may forever kick yourself if you stay mute on the subject, but handing it over on the last day could save embarrassment if he feels you've overstepped the mark.

Sometimes people's last days are days in which they screwed up. Like they drove the kid who sees dead people off a cliff and now he is dead people.

If you arrive at the last day on the job and have not driven him off a cliff then go for it, of course, but I'd try and get it in earlier. IF POSSIBLE.

Hopefully at some point he will ask you what you do, etc and then it should be pretty easy.
 

jessegrillofilm

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Dang. I wish I was a better writer. He asked to see some of my work today. Gotta start re-writing like crazy :(
 

dpaterso

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Wasn't it Jack Nicholson who said he'd do a film if it had just three great speeches? How hard can it be to write three great speeches? :)

-Derek
 

Plot Device

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Wasn't it Jack Nicholson who said he'd do a film if it had just three great speeches? How hard can it be to write three great speeches? :)

-Derek


Really???? :) I have two characters in my script who have been blessed with more than one awesome monologue by me! (Well... at least I think they're awesome.)
 

dpaterso

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Really???? :) I have two characters in my script who have been blessed with more than one awesome monologue by me! (Well... at least I think they're awesome.)
It can't be easy, typing with that strait-jacket on...

-Derek
 

NikeeGoddess

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Dang. I wish I was a better writer. He asked to see some of my work today. Gotta start re-writing like crazy
this is the term called, "shooting your wad too soon". every newbie gets anxious and exciting to show their work before it's ripened and ready. but the networking opportunity is great. and he may still like it.
 

Stylo

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Yay! Great news. Keep your cool and get it right... even if it means not passing the script over straight away. Best of luck!
 

Ian.Fraser

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Just remember, this is just an Actor. Most Actors are ego-driven, and not always the brightest sparks - if they were.. they'd be 'Writers'.

So always keep in mind, this is just a person who's for what ever reason, managed to be lucky enough to get to be on camera.

They generally aren't geniuses, or major creative experts on all things literary or artistic.

They're 'actors'. They - for whatever reason - have the need and urge, to be looked at.

Either on stage, or in front of a camera.

They're often only as good as the words that some Writer has written for them.

So they're nothing to be scared of.

If anything, I enjoy meeting actors, because I understand that its my words that can make THEM look and sound good - which is primarily all that they're interested in.

If you're a Writer, you've chosen to do this role, of being 'behind the scenes' - so with all of the angst you seem to be doing - try keep in mind you aren't meeting literary geniuses, or deep intellectual people whose thoughts and words will go down in history for their quality of thought, intelligence or meaning :p

As a writer, you're the one who's creating the stuff, to make the pretty faces on-camera seem 'full of depth'.

The good actors know it, and operate accordingly - the bad actors on the other hand, can fancy themselves as 'writers'
- and that often ends pretty badly, with some dire garbage being created, funded purely on the box office value of
an actors name..

Point being - lose your fear, and get a sense of your inherent usefulness to an actor..

actors without writers are nothing. (as the recent strike demonstrated completely)

Writers without actors, however - are writers :)
 
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zahra

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Dang. I wish I was a better writer. He asked to see some of my work today. Gotta start re-writing like crazy :(
I have the same problem, jesse - loads of great contacts, but not quite Josh Wheedon yet.
 

jessegrillofilm

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this kid is by far one of the smartest kids i have ever worked for. Double major at nyu and is very well spoken. Going on the road starting monday; montana then nevada. Damn I am tired.