Hello as I stated in an earlier post, I just finished my first screenplay, and I am wondering, would Amazon studios be a good option for me? This is my first screenplay, I have no experience with film, and I have no money to make it myself. I could try a couple more agents, or production companies, but is there any chance that they would be interested in making the film of a first time writer? I would have to go and look at their info again, but it sounds like if you sell to them, you sell it out right, correct? But even if that is the case, I can at least say I have sold something, and that would make me look like a more experienced writer. Anyway, what do you think? Thank you.
Another stupid question about Amazon Studios
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Amazon studios puts their contract on line - you can download it and read it. It's... okay. Not awful, not WGA minimum - but better than a whole lot of small indy companies would offer.
You have two ways to list with them. "Public" - where your script is open for people to download, read, make comments on and even rewrite and upload their versions. This is Amazon's approach to 'open source development'. You can 'close' it if you want. OR you can upload it as private - no one sees it but the development execs at Amazon.
They get 45 days to look at it and decide to option it. If they do nothing - it reverts back to you. IF they option it, it's for the terms outlined in their contract.
They've optioned a lot of properties in the last two years. Developing them now. Film and television projects. Read the stuff on their sight.
The good news is, you don't need an agent for them to look at it and read it. The bad news is, you do it on their terms... take it or leave it.
You have two ways to list with them. "Public" - where your script is open for people to download, read, make comments on and even rewrite and upload their versions. This is Amazon's approach to 'open source development'. You can 'close' it if you want. OR you can upload it as private - no one sees it but the development execs at Amazon.
They get 45 days to look at it and decide to option it. If they do nothing - it reverts back to you. IF they option it, it's for the terms outlined in their contract.
They've optioned a lot of properties in the last two years. Developing them now. Film and television projects. Read the stuff on their sight.
The good news is, you don't need an agent for them to look at it and read it. The bad news is, you do it on their terms... take it or leave it.
I'm curious... when you say Amazon Studios is just "okay. Not awful," is it because of the compensation or because of the amount of creative control for the author? What would be the sticking point for you, personally.
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My assessment of Amazon's contract and development policies, would take a very large post to explain - and it would probably include a comparison to WGA minimums, if you're not already familiar with those - and why the exist, etc.
I don't have a 'sticking' point per-se. I've actually submitted one of my scripts for review - they 'passed' on it - that is, they did nothing after forty five days, and I took it down. I'm not interested in the 'public' development process, so I submitted privately. I can't speak to how the public development process 'feels' since I didn't follow it.
I also submitted a pitch for a re-write project that they had listed. Haven't heard back from them regarding that. And the lack of communication is frustrating - but not unheard of in terms of pitching to ANY studio or proco... so they are not unique in this.
As to 'what' they are developing - go to their website and read up. Amazonstudios.com They list all their projects under development. Feature film and television shows. Even a graphic novel.
I had heard a bit about them last year, but didn't pay attention. I attended a seminar at Austin Film Festival last October, where they gave a presentation. It sounded interesting, so I looked into it.
They are Amazon. They have real money - and they are spending it on development.(Optioning scripts, paying for rewrite, trailers, etc.) I think they have one or two series in production right now. They have a development deal with a major studio as well. So yeah, they're not a fly by night operation. They are just trying a new approach for finding, developing and producing feature films and television series.
Will it work? We should know within the next year, as their projects finish production.
There are a lot of new approaches to distribution these days. This is just one of them. "The Black List" is another approach - also made their pitch at Austin last year. You have to pay to list on "The Black List" though - and pitching to Amazon doesn't cost a dime. Well, except that when you submit, you're taking the script out of circulation for forty five days - and you're locked into the terms of the submission contract.
It's written in their favor of course, but it's not 'predatory'. After looking it over with my attorney - I chose to list a script. So yeah, I think it's a fair deal, better than most indy offers.
Download it. Read it. Have your attorney/agent read it. Then form your own opinions.
That's what I did.
I don't have a 'sticking' point per-se. I've actually submitted one of my scripts for review - they 'passed' on it - that is, they did nothing after forty five days, and I took it down. I'm not interested in the 'public' development process, so I submitted privately. I can't speak to how the public development process 'feels' since I didn't follow it.
I also submitted a pitch for a re-write project that they had listed. Haven't heard back from them regarding that. And the lack of communication is frustrating - but not unheard of in terms of pitching to ANY studio or proco... so they are not unique in this.
As to 'what' they are developing - go to their website and read up. Amazonstudios.com They list all their projects under development. Feature film and television shows. Even a graphic novel.
I had heard a bit about them last year, but didn't pay attention. I attended a seminar at Austin Film Festival last October, where they gave a presentation. It sounded interesting, so I looked into it.
They are Amazon. They have real money - and they are spending it on development.(Optioning scripts, paying for rewrite, trailers, etc.) I think they have one or two series in production right now. They have a development deal with a major studio as well. So yeah, they're not a fly by night operation. They are just trying a new approach for finding, developing and producing feature films and television series.
Will it work? We should know within the next year, as their projects finish production.
There are a lot of new approaches to distribution these days. This is just one of them. "The Black List" is another approach - also made their pitch at Austin last year. You have to pay to list on "The Black List" though - and pitching to Amazon doesn't cost a dime. Well, except that when you submit, you're taking the script out of circulation for forty five days - and you're locked into the terms of the submission contract.
It's written in their favor of course, but it's not 'predatory'. After looking it over with my attorney - I chose to list a script. So yeah, I think it's a fair deal, better than most indy offers.
Download it. Read it. Have your attorney/agent read it. Then form your own opinions.
That's what I did.
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Okay, I will definitely consider that as an option. As much as I want to stay involved with the project, I am a noob and it is probably best just to let this first one go, since it is probably one of many and it will be an interesting experience. Even if they don't take it...Then maybe after I sell this one to them, I'll have a bit more experience with the process and I may be able to do more with the next one. And of course, there's no guarantee that they'll take it, so I may submit it and see what happens. If nothing happens, then I guess I'll have to continue looking into other options. Think they'll want a drama dressed as an action movie? Who knows, lol...
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Right. You won't know if you don't try. The 'least' that can happen is, you tie up your script for forty five days...
Meanwhile, you should be writing the next one.
Good luck.
Meanwhile, you should be writing the next one.
Good luck.
I also submitted a sitcom pilot that they didn't option. It's my first script of that kind, so I wasn't surprised...put off and hurt at first, yes, but not surprised. I guess that's part of growing a thicker skin.
I must say that I wasn't too happy with the fact that they didn't tell me anything about why they didn't option it. I didn't necessarily ask for or expect notes, but they gave me a 'canned' answer when I asked about it...sort of like the 'we'll keep your resume on file' generic blow-off you might hear after a job interview. I guess that's to be expected, though. I don't know much of anything about this industry.
I must say that I wasn't too happy with the fact that they didn't tell me anything about why they didn't option it. I didn't necessarily ask for or expect notes, but they gave me a 'canned' answer when I asked about it...sort of like the 'we'll keep your resume on file' generic blow-off you might hear after a job interview. I guess that's to be expected, though. I don't know much of anything about this industry.
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Honestly, you seldom hear a reason why a script is rejected from any ProCo. Typically it's simply, "This project is not right for us at this time, best of luck in future endeavors..." which is really all you can expect. WHY it's not right would be good to know. Too expensive? Too long? Not gory enough? Too sexy? Bad dialogue? Wrong genre? Not funny enough? Wrong demographic? Lead is too old/young? Any of that would be good to know.
You just don't often get feedback. You can't take it personally, just move on. "It's not you, it's me..." said the sexy proco.
Now I have had scripts requested by a few companies, and gotten some nice phone calls. "Wow... you've got a real way with dialogue, this isn't what we're looking for, have you got something else in this genre though? Something smaller?" and even "Love the imagery, and the dialog, can you be hired to rewrite a script we already have?" - So you know, you just don't know what buttons your work will push.
You just don't often get feedback. You can't take it personally, just move on. "It's not you, it's me..." said the sexy proco.
Now I have had scripts requested by a few companies, and gotten some nice phone calls. "Wow... you've got a real way with dialogue, this isn't what we're looking for, have you got something else in this genre though? Something smaller?" and even "Love the imagery, and the dialog, can you be hired to rewrite a script we already have?" - So you know, you just don't know what buttons your work will push.
So would you recommend sending the same thing Amazon 'passed on' to other contests or whatnot? I've made some changes to it that might have been problematic, and have seen some free contests that sound interesting. I ask because I can't tell if Amazon turned it down because it's crap or what because of the lack of feedback.
At least Amazon was free. I can't afford to do anything else.
At least Amazon was free. I can't afford to do anything else.
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Only you can decide how best to spend your resources. Time, money, attention - are all valuable commodities.
Amazon passed on the script. You don't know why, beyond the fact that they didn't want it. Could be crap. Could be they are already developing a project very similar to it. You don't know, and aren't likely to find out.
Will someone else want it? Who knows. It's possible.
Getting feedback on scripts is an absolute necessity. The simplest way, is to share it with other screenwriters. Share your work here, for example. Find a screenwriting group in your area. At the very least, they'll find format, spelling and continuity errors. Don't laugh at that. I finished up a script, had six people read it. Five of them got back to me with good notes. I made the changes, then sent it off to a producer. After I had mailed it, the sixth one sent me an email. "Oh, you know, on page 72 - you've got the dialog slugs swapped for those two characters, half way down the page." Crap - I sure did. It was a very important, compelling scene. I KNEW who was saying what to whom. It was obvious in context. And five of the six readers DID NOT CATCH IT. But the sixth did. Fresh eyes are really, really important. I can only hope that the producer blows through that scene, with complete understanding, and doesn't get thrown by the swapped tags.
Whether or not you should enter a particular contest, is a tough call. IN the business, only a handful carry much merit in terms of garnering a read or a request. Nicholls, of course. Austin Film Festival, Sundance - to name probably the top three. That doesn't mean others don't have value. Look, some will offer a chunk of money, and shop it around. That's nice. Sometimes, just placing in a big contest, is validation to keep writing. Made it to the semi-finals or top ten in a major festival? Congrats! When you're doubting yourself, you know that people who had to wade through a ton of schlock, thought your work was better than most of it. And they aren't married to you. Put the certificate or trophy on your shelf, and let it inspire you to improve your work.
Some contests offer feedback and notes, simply for entering. Well, that's good if the notes are good. If you spend fifty bucks entering a contest, and get two pages of notes, that make good sense - then it was worth it.
But you can also BUY notes - from professional readers. But are the readers savvy? Do they know their stuff? What are their credentials? You have to do due diligence in researching professional readers and feedback resources.
Start with the 'free' area. Try share your work here on the forum. Ask for beta readers. See if there isn't a screenwriting group in your area. Then move on to hired help. When the script is as good as you think it can be, send it out.
Understand that people will ALWAYS want changes, have suggestions, even if they love the script. ESPECIALLY if they give you money for it. That's what makes film-making so collaborative.
Start writing your next one.
Amazon passed on the script. You don't know why, beyond the fact that they didn't want it. Could be crap. Could be they are already developing a project very similar to it. You don't know, and aren't likely to find out.
Will someone else want it? Who knows. It's possible.
Getting feedback on scripts is an absolute necessity. The simplest way, is to share it with other screenwriters. Share your work here, for example. Find a screenwriting group in your area. At the very least, they'll find format, spelling and continuity errors. Don't laugh at that. I finished up a script, had six people read it. Five of them got back to me with good notes. I made the changes, then sent it off to a producer. After I had mailed it, the sixth one sent me an email. "Oh, you know, on page 72 - you've got the dialog slugs swapped for those two characters, half way down the page." Crap - I sure did. It was a very important, compelling scene. I KNEW who was saying what to whom. It was obvious in context. And five of the six readers DID NOT CATCH IT. But the sixth did. Fresh eyes are really, really important. I can only hope that the producer blows through that scene, with complete understanding, and doesn't get thrown by the swapped tags.
Whether or not you should enter a particular contest, is a tough call. IN the business, only a handful carry much merit in terms of garnering a read or a request. Nicholls, of course. Austin Film Festival, Sundance - to name probably the top three. That doesn't mean others don't have value. Look, some will offer a chunk of money, and shop it around. That's nice. Sometimes, just placing in a big contest, is validation to keep writing. Made it to the semi-finals or top ten in a major festival? Congrats! When you're doubting yourself, you know that people who had to wade through a ton of schlock, thought your work was better than most of it. And they aren't married to you. Put the certificate or trophy on your shelf, and let it inspire you to improve your work.
Some contests offer feedback and notes, simply for entering. Well, that's good if the notes are good. If you spend fifty bucks entering a contest, and get two pages of notes, that make good sense - then it was worth it.
But you can also BUY notes - from professional readers. But are the readers savvy? Do they know their stuff? What are their credentials? You have to do due diligence in researching professional readers and feedback resources.
Start with the 'free' area. Try share your work here on the forum. Ask for beta readers. See if there isn't a screenwriting group in your area. Then move on to hired help. When the script is as good as you think it can be, send it out.
Understand that people will ALWAYS want changes, have suggestions, even if they love the script. ESPECIALLY if they give you money for it. That's what makes film-making so collaborative.
Start writing your next one.
Thanks...I've located some other websites (in addition to this one) where writers can give feedback...some are probably just as inexperienced as me but getting more sets of eyes who don't know you and don't feel compelled to sugar-coat things sounds like a good idea!
Oh, and so no one thinks I haven't been listening to what people say (I've heard that), I did read scripts, get the reads and opinions of other people and fine-tuned things to their advice etc but I didn't know if there was something I missed or didn't do enough of. Getting new opinions can only help, I guess. Oh well.
I'm working on two new projects, actually. One is a romantic comedy and the other a family drama, both based on stories in my family (I've got some pretty f*ed up stories) but played up to make them interesting. How about you?
I'm working on two new projects, actually. One is a romantic comedy and the other a family drama, both based on stories in my family (I've got some pretty f*ed up stories) but played up to make them interesting. How about you?
Keep in mind that the first few scripts you ever write will probably be sh!t. I thought the first three I wrote were absolute gems, and was shocked--shocked, I tell you--when they garnered zero interest. In wasn't till years later, after I'd read many more books on screenwriting, and actually read many produced screenplays, that I realized my first three were brutally awful. I mean embarrassing.
My next three were much better but still too clinical, too stale. But I kept on learning. My last three actually made the finals or semi-finals of several well-respected competitions for my genre(s). So I'm hoping my latest two will break through.
Lesson learned? It took me about eight or ten scripts--and a whole lot of learning, rewriting, and reading other scripts--to get even moderately competent. I'd read long ago that it would take seven or eight scripts before you got any good but didn't believe it.
I was wrong. It's true for most of us.
Unless you're a savant like Tarrantino, it will take multiple failures before you get it right.
Just don't take each failure as personal. Learn from each and try to grow until you get it right,
Good luck with your writing.
My next three were much better but still too clinical, too stale. But I kept on learning. My last three actually made the finals or semi-finals of several well-respected competitions for my genre(s). So I'm hoping my latest two will break through.
Lesson learned? It took me about eight or ten scripts--and a whole lot of learning, rewriting, and reading other scripts--to get even moderately competent. I'd read long ago that it would take seven or eight scripts before you got any good but didn't believe it.
I was wrong. It's true for most of us.
Unless you're a savant like Tarrantino, it will take multiple failures before you get it right.
Just don't take each failure as personal. Learn from each and try to grow until you get it right,
Good luck with your writing.
Tarrantino actually isn't as much of a savant as people would like to make him. He's simply good at recycling creatively. Not that he's not good, but nothing he has done has been completely original...Lol...
I completely agree with what you saying to an extent.
When talking about a Tarantino film to someone that hasn't seen it I really struggle. Not because of the story or subject matter, it's trying to convey his style appropriately that I fumble on.
I wouldn't say his films and the narratives within are completely unique but the way he presents them sure is. Every movie is a labor of love and it shows, so effortlessly. He possesses and almost autistic knowledge of film and because of it he has yet to fall into any massive pitfalls.
I would definitely consider him a savant. There is just something extra with him. Intangible. Well, in my opinion anyway.
I see Tarantino much the same way I see Nine Inch Nails...you either love it or you hate it. You might like specific movies the way you like specific songs, but the overall style isn't for everyone by a long shot.
In my video production class in college, there was one guy whose style was like Tarantino's in that he liked to take risks and be 'different'. I personally liked it but some other people wished that he'd do something 'normal' for once. You could never say he was boring, that's for sure.
I wanted to bring this back for a sec. The thing is, I have read the agreement, and it is mostly in their favor, but I was thinking I may go with it. I have a show script, actually one that was requested by Evatopia, but I haven't heard back from them. Since this is not my crown jewel, it is just a show that I wrote that I'm not especially that attached to, I thought I might give it a swing. I was going to wait and see if Evatopia got back to me, but I don't know if they ever will. I may send a follow-up email, even though they hate that, and see if they even got it. Anyway, Just thought that at least if they wanted it I could say I have something that's been produced. I wouldn't go with the public review process. If other people wanted it they should have written it themselves. I am just not sure about them basically taking all the rights, and I probably wouldn't get that big of a part in the production, which worries me. Then again, it might get me some attention, and attention from the higher-ups is sometimes good...Lol...Anyway, I'll email Evatopia, and if I don't hear from them in a couple of days, It goes up on Amazon. I am actually curious about their processes and how they work things. It should be an interesting experiment. Not only that, but this is just one script out of what will probably be many. Whether it goes or it doesn't, it will be interesting.