let's not wax poetically and face the dragon

vig · Feb 23, 2005

this is a portion of an question and answer by scenario magazine to DAVID MARCONI, the writer of 'enemy of the state'

SM: where there any other writers on the script?

DM: after oliver stone exprssed an interest, another writer was brought in to do a production polish. a big-name writer who had all the visibility to now put his name on the script and go around town using his name to pump the script. after he completed his polish, my name was taken off the title page and sent aroud town as this rewriter's orginal matrial.

SM: what where they calling it?

DM: they said it was a original script by this polish writer. there were releases in the trades. i walk into a production officer and saw my script sitting on his shelf with somone's else's name on it. I was devastated.. i immedieatlly called the folks at bruckheimers and said, you guys cant' do this. first they said it was a mistake, then they owned up to it. said they needed to do it to get the project off the ground.

VIG: how about them apples.

Joe Calabrese · Feb 23, 2005

Get used to it. Rest assured though that once greenlit, his (or your) name will go back on it.

JennaGlatzer · Feb 23, 2005

That is so sad, though. It's amazing to me how this seems to be unique to screenwriting. In every other writing field-- books, stage plays, etc.-- the writer gets a helluva lot more respect and control over the final product.

vig · Feb 23, 2005

is that just the height of f-you. they don't even have the decency to tell the guy. it's like a guy walks into a room and everybody but him knows his wife is cheating on him, all the snickers and pity pusses layed on him.

he even went on to say that the guild is so powerless to do anything about it, the entire article is just unbelievable and what it comes down to is if these mega companies work with you, you're insignificant.

at one point, until bruckheimer stop the ship from sicking it actually turned into a comedy.... a comedy.

in the script the gene hacman character dies, etc....

i'm telling you, you want to know how act breaks work and studios percieve them, and all the other things get scenario magazine. it's priceless.

vig

kojled · Feb 23, 2005

respect

there are two reasons scripts are rewritten during pre-production. they are in poor shape when originally turned in (and if the original writer is a neophyte they will most likely freak when you give criticism). movies cost millions and nobody can afford to launch a feature (based on a lousy script) that will not attract an audience

there are two reasons screenwriters get so little respect and control over their projects. neophytes turn in poor work hoping for a huge paycheck (and freak when you give criticism). plays, poetry, etc don't cost tens of millions to produce (and the writers of same turn in highly polished technically proficient drafts) - yet neophyte screenwriters continually expect multi-million dollar projects to be launched based on their half-baked writing and balk whenever they meet the slightest resistance

examples of all of above can be found online (you won't need to look far)

zilla

vig · Feb 23, 2005

car wrecks happen all the time to, but we are talking about this car wreck. a very skilled writer whose script they kept 80 percent of the source material and virtually the entire structure of the story, and LIED to him the entire way through. lied.

we are taking the best of the best who got shafted. basically the entire incident was like what happens when someone steals your indenity.

let's stickto the subject koj. we know you like to be the village voice, that voice of logisitcal reasoning, and pious subjectivity, but can you stuff it in your bra for a second.

vig

Joe Calabrese · Feb 23, 2005

Someone once told me a great analogy of the business. (I love analogies as some of you may notice.)

The movie industry is like a family.

The producer is the father. He/she brings home the money, takes care of the bills, is the disciplinarian and stops fights and bad behavior from among family members.

The Director is the mother. He/she keeps the home in order, nurtures and guide the children and orchestrates the look, feel and decor of the home.

The actors are the children. Their job is to listen to the mother and father and be the best that they can be.

So, what is the writer?

The sperm donor. Yes, an essential part of the family to which there would be none, but one who is quickly forgotten.

JustinoXXV · Feb 23, 2005

Think of yourself as the average movie goer. Why would make you see a movie? People often go to see their favorite actors. And occassionally their favorite directors. But people seldom see movies based on who wrote it, unless it's by a high profile novelist/writer like Steven King, or a screenwriter/director like Quentin Tarantino.

The thing is, even if the neophyte turns in a good script, there are so many people who have to be good to make it a good film. You'll need good directing, acting, filming, editing, maybe a music soundtrack, etc.

So basically, zilla's comments are fair. And so are Joe's.

And yes, there are lots of beginning writers who will shatter if asked to alter a scene.

randesq · Feb 23, 2005

ahem

"And yes, there are lots of beginning writers who will shatter if asked to alter a scene." Justino

This is hardly the discussion at hand. We're talking about Sammy Sosa taking credit for Luis Soto's home runs. Yes, of course rewriting is an industry norm and so is getting your toes smushed.

"The thing is, even if the neophyte turns in a good script, there are so many people who have to be good to make it a good film. You'll need good directing, acting, filming, editing, maybe a music soundtrack, etc." Justino

Again, how is the applicable? We're not talking about a neophyte turning in a script. Koj - let's make a general assumption that the script was great to start with, not the pieces of shinola that you read on message boards.

Joe Calabrese · Feb 23, 2005

If someone is developing your script and brings in John Logan to tweak it so he can tell his investors/studio that it is John Logan's new script, that's just the way things are done to get it going-- to get it made.

The credits will eventually show who did the writing and how much. In this case Logan would get second bill.

This is done in many businesses where name recognition is involved. My wife works for a pharm ad agency who put in a particular ad "from the makers of XYZ" so people would think wow-- it must be good if it's from them. The truth is that company bought out the makers of XYZ, they never invented XYZ.

So my point is the writer should have never seen that script cover. It wasn't meant for him or the public, only the money people. It was not meant as advertising or giving credit where credit is due, it was only meant for precuring financing or a greenlight.

DoubleIT · Feb 23, 2005

joecalabre said:
So my point is the writer should have never seen that script cover. It wasn't meant for him or the public, only the money people. It was not meant as advertising or giving credit where credit is due, it was only meant for precuring financing or a greenlight.

I think thats an important thing. yes it sucks what goes on behind the scenes, but if that hadnt happened the movie may have never been made. Because it happened the movie was made AND the orignal writer saw his name on the big screen. Its win win. What happens in between doesnt really matter.

And how come first time writers wont change scenes? If/when i sell my first Ill be more than happy to fix what they want fixed.

kojled · Feb 23, 2005

assume what you want

ran (you don't mind if i call you ran?)

assume what you want. beautiful post, by the way

zilla

Joe Calabrese · Feb 23, 2005

I don't know any first timers that won't change scenes, only people who have not sold a script yet who feel that when they do sell that first script, they will never, ever change a precious word-- they will never compromise their art for money.

That just don't happen in reality.

Once you get the contract and check in hand, a writer will do whatever it takes to insure that he get's to keep that cash, credit and remain in good standing in the industry. Otherwise, he/she might as well change careers now.

On the other hand, the original writer always has the right to a first rewrite, it that writer is unable to do so, then a new writer is brought in.

But in the case in question, I'm sure that David Marconi knew that another "name" writer was being brought in to do that polish and give name recognition to the project, he just didn't expect to see his name taken off.

Pen Dragon · Feb 24, 2005

sorry

I just felt strangely summoned here for some reason, Better say poof and flutter back from whenst I fluttered forth

good to see you're still barking somewhere, vig

let's not wax poetically and face the dragon

wishes you happiness

Pen Dragon